Geneseo hockey takes on Down syndrome









GENESEO – Tyler Brickler watched in awe last September as Kevin Reed returned to work in the SUNY Geneseo's admissions office.

It was 10 days after Reed's third child, a son, had been born with Down syndrome. But there was no pity party. The college's interim director of admissions wore a big smile and proudly carried a bag of yellow and blue rubber bracelets as he walked around the office.

I believe in Jack/Down Syndrome Awareness the bracelets read.

"And that's when it clicked with me," says Brickler, a senior center on the Geneseo hockey team. "Look at this guy. He's coming in here, and he's not sad. He wants to spread awareness. And I need to help him."

Brickler met with his teammates and told them know about little Jack. Told them he needed to do something for the family, and for families like the Reeds.

"The guys couldn't be more supportive," Brickler says.

Brickler created a logo with a yellow and blue ribbon — Down syndrome colors — that says "I believe in Jack." Geneseo defenseman Derek Stahl of Londonderry, New Hampshire, knew a man back home who made stickers. The man was so touched by Jack's story that he printed a bunch with Brickler's logo on it for free.

The Ice Knights wear it on the back right part of their helmets.

"It's a very touching thing," says Brickler, who entered the week as the team's leading scorer with 8 goals and 13 assists for 21 points. "The last piece of equipment we put on is our helmet, so we see it before every game."

But Brickler, who turns 24 on Jan. 27, had a bigger plan and shared it in an emotional meeting with Reed.

"He had tears in his eyes," Reed says. "He said, 'I've been talking to the guys, and I want to do something. This is my senior year. I have a chance to make an impact.'"

That impact will reach its zenith Saturday night, when the Ice Knights host "Down Syndrome Awareness Night" against Canton at 7 p.m. at Ira Wilson Arena.

Bracelets will be sold for $3 (Brickler already has raised $120 through campus sales) and will continue to be available for every home game the rest of the season. Donations also will be collected, and there will be a raffle for a jersey and stick autographed by the Geneseo hockey team. All proceeds go to the Arc of Livingston-Wyoming, which provides services to developmentally disabled individuals and their families.

'He was just beautiful'

The Reeds met at Geneseo 13 years ago when both worked in the Geneseo admissions office. Kevin, 42, is from Eden, south of Buffalo. Christie, 38, is from Troupsburg, south of Hornell.

They've been married 11 years.

Jack Ford Reed was born three weeks early on Sept. 17 at Unity Hospital in Greece. Kevin was on a recruiting trip in New York City when he learned Christie had gone into labor and immediately got in his car and rushed toward home. But he was still 2 ½ hours from the hospital when he learned his wife had delivered a baby boy.

The couple lives in Mount Morris. Their 10-year daughter, Abby, and 8-year-old son, Kyle, attend York Elementary School and are both active in sports. The Reeds had turned down pre-natal testing for Jack — "To us it didn't matter," Kevin says — and were shocked when doctors said the baby was showing signs of Down syndrome.

"We all have two folds in our hands, and children with Down Syndrome typically have one," Kevin explains. "They can see it in his eyes, too, and the bridge of the nose is flatter."

Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects one in 700 babies. It is characterized by the presence of a full or partial copy of chromosome 21. The average IQ of an adult with Down syndrome is 50, equivalent to the mental age of an 8-year-old.

Christie said the news was "overwhelming" at first, especially since her husband wasn't there. Her caretaker that day was close friend Margaret Foster, who had driven her to the hospital and stayed all the way through. She is now Jack's godmother.

"I wasn't upset that he had Down syndrome," says Christie, who works in the communications office at SUNY Geneseo. "It was more, 'What does that mean? Is he going to have health problems?' It was the unknown."

Nurses cleaned Jack up and handed him to Christie.

"And then it didn't matter," she says. "He was just beautiful. From that moment on, I knew we had to take this day by day."

Foster called Kevin with news of Jack's birth, giving him the size and weight.

"Then I said, 'Is everything OK?' And she kind of paused, and I heard her say, 'Christie, do you want to talk to Kevin?'''

That sent Kevin into a panic. His wife got on the phone and calmly said, "He's showing signs of Down syndrome."

Kevin kept his emotions in check until he reached the hospital. Then, he broke down, an exhausted and confused emotional wreck. While Jack was still in the hospital, Kevin got a tattoo on his lower right arm. It reads: "There are no unbeatable odds."

Awareness for Jack

Brickler played hockey at Division I Massachusetts-Lowell his freshman year. But the Chicago native blew out is knee, didn't play much and transferred to Geneseo. He began working part-time in the admissions office almost immediately, answering phones and assisting students. The hockey star known as "Bricks" formed a quick bond with Reed.

"Kevin stood out more than anyone because he was so welcoming," says Brickler, an assistant captain. "He just has a heart of gold."

The Reeds were also diehard supporters of Ice Knights hockey, almost never missing a game for years. Having a star player working with dad was a dream come true for Abby and Kyle.

"They got to meet him and get autographs, and he just ate that up," Kevin says. "Abby became the unofficial president of the Tyler Brickler Fan Club."

The Reeds sit in the first row for games at Ira Wilson Arena. The kids always ask Kevin to make several signs for each game, like Bricks built this house' and a No. 4 (Brickler's number) with a heart on it."

Last March, Geneseo trailed Norwich 2-0 in an NCAA Division III Tournament quarterfinal before Brickler scored three goals to rally the Ice Knights to victory. After celebrating with teammates, he skated toward the Reeds and put his stick over the glass — a keepsake for Abby.

"She has since created a shrine to Tyler in her room," Kevin says, smiling. "She has the autographed stick, a broken stick, a picture of them together, newspaper clippings . . . To my kids, the Ice Knights are like the Buffalo Sabres. They're rock stars."

The feeling is mutual for Brickler, an economics major who hopes to continue playing hockey next season in Asia or Europe.

"They're just a great family," he says. "We were all excited in the admissions office when we learned Kevin and Christie were pregnant. And your heart breaks to learn Jack was born with Down syndrome. But he's still a baby, and he's still beautiful."

That's a point Geneseo head coach Chris Schultz can relate to.

"I have two young boys, and both births were very difficult," the Aquinas Institute graduate says. "So now every time a friend is having a baby, you think of things differently. But the Reeds don't look at Jack as a child who has Down syndrome. It's just their child. And Tyler had fed off that."

The Reeds realize Jack will have many obstacles in his life.

"But we will help him overcome every one of them," Kevin says. "He will be raised to know there is nothing he cannot do."

Jack is watched by private sitters during work days. They've been working for the Reeds since Abby was born and treat the kids like their own, Kevin says.

Jack is engaged in Early Intervention, a systematic program of therapy, exercises and activities designed to address developmental delays that children with Down syndrome encounter.

"He is going to be behind developmentally in almost everything," Kevin says. "We have friends who had babies at the same time, and they're already sitting up and holding their heads up."

Abby and Kyle have become educated on Down syndrome and are very supportive of their baby brother. Abby will roam the stands Saturday night selling bracelets.

Children with Down syndrome grow up to marry, hold jobs and live on their own. They can attend public school, usually with an aide. It is rare, but not impossible, that they will have children of their own.

Better people than players

Before the season began, Schultz held a meeting with his team. The Ice Knights were coming off a trip to Division III's Frozen Four, and he had been honored as national Coach of the Year. But winning a national championship wasn't on his mind that day.

"I don't want you guys to be the best hockey players this season," he told his team. "I want you to be the best people."

By that definition, Tyler Brickler has been everybody's All-American.

"You look at him and all he has going on," Christie Reed says. "He's a senior, with a career and maybe pro hockey ahead. And yet, his main concern is our son and our family. He's amazing."

Brickler's first thought was that 80 percent of the money raised in Saturday's game would go to the Arc of Livingston-Wyoming, and 20 percent would go to the Reed family.

"Kevin refused," Brickler says. "He said 'No. All of it will go to Down Syndrome Awareness.' He is so unselfish."

That's a word that describes Brickler perfectly, Kevin Reed says.

"Tyler is a great hockey player," he says. "But he's an even better human being."

The Reeds sit next to the players' bench at home games. The symbolism isn't lost on the family.

"We like to pretend the bench extends out another 10 feet, and we are part of the team," Kevin says. "Now we truly feel we are."

JMAND@DemocratandChronicle.com

Twitter.com/jmand1

Down syndrome

Here are some facts about Down Syndrome from the National Down Syndrome Congress.

What it is: A genetic condition where a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21, causing delay in physical, intellectual and language development.

Who gets it: Approximately 1 in 700 babies in the U.S. is born with Down syndrome. There are more than 400,000 people living with it in the nation

Life expectancy: In 1983, the average life expectancy of a person with Down syndrome was just 25 years. Today, it is 60.

As adults: Many people with Down syndrome grow up to marry, hold jobs and live on their own. Very few have children of their own.