Posted at: 03/15/2013 6:36 PM
Updated at: 03/15/2013 10:58 PM
By: Jenna Lohse
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Email to a FriendRochester Raiders Earn Spot in State Tournament
(ABC 6 NEWS) -- It's been a season to remember for the Rochester Raiders adaptive floor hockey team. They're hard work has earned them a spot in the state tournament.
Senior Conor Jones is one of the captains on the Rochester Raiders adaptive floor hockey team. He's been on the team since the 7th grade.
"We have a lot of new players, so I kind of took on the leadership to kind of help them out and get them through the program," said Jones.
The team is headed to the state tournament for the 9th year in a row.
On Friday morning, the team spirit came in waves of applause and inspirational quotes from the coaches.
"I cannot put into words how excited they are,” said Coach Jeff Copler.
The team is made up of students from throughout Rochester, all of whom are physically impaired in some way. Conor was born with a heart condition.
"I played ice hockey when I was little and then by the time they started checking my doctor told me I had to quit," said Jones.
Like all the players, adaptive floor hockey has allowed them the opportunity to play the sport they love. Connor calls it the best part of his high school experience. The only thing left to do now is actually win the state tournament.
"It's been about a decade,10 years, since they won state so it would be really nice since it's my senior year to win it and it's been a decade so it's been too long," said Jones.
The Raiders' first state game at the state tournament is tonight in Bloomington and it's against the defending state champs, the Robinsdale Robins.
