Oak Park youngster needs no helping hand

When young Gabriel Zelicos told his mother two years ago that he wanted to play roller hockey, she had the kind of natural apprehension that any parent in her position would feel.

NO. 1 GOALIE—Gabriel Zelico, 9, of Oak Park, plays for the Devils of the Thousand Oaks Rollerdome. He holds the trophy he won for best goalie in the mite division in only his second year of playingGabriel, now 9, was born with a malformed right hand, and Cheryl Zelicos had hoped her son might choose a sport less reliant on the use of one’s graspers.

“My husband and I tried to gear him toward soccer or track . . . but he only wanted to play hockey,” Zelicos said. “And I figured if he was that determined to play, we’d find a way for him to do it.” Little did she know a few seasons later at the Thousand Oaks Rollerdome that Gabriel would be one of the most highly regarded players in his age group. This past season, Gabriel was the top scorer in the Squirt Division (9-and-under) and was selected as the top goalie in the Mite Division (7-andunder).

Using a specially-designed prosthetic goalie glove that combines stick and glove into one piece, Gabriel allowed just 17 goals in 10 games to earn the honor.

Gabriel’s coach, Kirk Terry of Simi Valley, said the outgoing youngster quickly found a home among fellow roller hockey-loving youth.

“He doesn’t see (his hand) as a disability at all,” Terry said.

“(Gabriel) is very well accepted and it’s a credit to his personality. He’s fun to be around. He always has a lot of friends around him.” Cheryl Zelicos had any doubts put to rest soon after Gabriel figured out how to properly execute a wrist shot. She quickly went from watching with tepidness to watching in wonder.

“Not only did he learn how to play but he became one of the best out there. It’s really cool,” Cheryl Zelicos said. “When he was born, I was worried about everything, worried that it would hold him back.

But he’s just soared.” Last month, Gabriel overcame a broken wrist on his malformed hand (caused by a fall at home) to score four goals in a game for the Devils of the Squirt Division—further proof that this youngster won’t let anything get in the way of playing roller hockey.

“For being so young, he’s got a lot of character,” Terry said, “and I think the other players take notice of it. It’s a great example for others.” Gabriel said his favorite hockey team is the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and his favorite player is Ducks’ goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere. He is currently a third-grader at Brookside Elementary. His father is Alon Zelicos.