Hockey-Playing
Clark Brothers Not
Slowed by Physical
Challenges
Nothing hinders Durant High teammates or their younger
siblings who also skate
By Steve Lee
The Clark brothers are like most teens when
it comes to their passion to play hockey for
their high school. Unlike their Durant junior varsity
teammates, however, Talbot and Travis have had
to overcome handicaps — though you wouldn’t
know it.
Both 17-year-olds have missing limbs. Travis is
a goalie who does not have a right hand while
Talbot, who primarily plays forward, is missing
part of his left hand. There are two more skaters
in the family with handicaps. Inline hockey player
Tate, 12, lacks a right forearm and 14-year-old
Annie, a figure skater, has no forearms.
Joe Limone who for the past 5 years has run
the Tampa Inline Hockey League out of Temple
Terrence and knows the Clark Brothers very well.
“They are great kids, I love them. They come out
and skate hard every week, they are examples of
can do, not can not do.” Limone goes on to say
that the spirit and positive attitude they display
inspires their teammates and other players in the
league. Limone says that “All three players are
always smiling and their can do approach to
hockey as well as life is refreshing and a direct
reflection of their parents Mary Ellen and Tom.”
Limone believes that Roller Hockey is very
important to the sport of hockey. “Its where a
lot of kids get their first taste of hockey” says
Limone.
TIHL is facing some tough times ahead, the
building there currently leasing has been sold
and Limone is looking for another place to play.
“Its not easy to find a open concept building
without beams. We’re working with our charity
Grow Hockey Movement along with others in the
community to find another place to play, It would
be truly sad to see Roller Hockey fail in Tampa
Bay after so much succes” said Limone.
All four skaters are from a family of 10 and are
among seven adopted children belonging to Tom
and Mary Ellen Clark of Plant City. Three are theirs
biologically with one having married and moved
away.
Photos provided by: The Clark family
“Mary Ellen and I always tell them to be
thankful to God for who they are and not
for what they don’t have,” said Tom, the
patriarch and longtime Pittsburgh area resident
who relocated the family to a ranch in eastern
Hillsborough County in 2016.
His wife is clearly on the same page, echoing that
sentiment by saying, “We totally forget about the
fact that there’s a limb difference. They find a
way to compensate.”
The parents are well aware that the story of their
adopted children skating and having success
could serve as an inspiration to others with
handicaps. “I hope it’s a help to someone,” Mary
Ellen said.
Skating was not a big part of the couple’s lives.
Tom grew up in Pittsburgh and played some
recreational hockey while Mary Ellen was raised
in Connecticut where she skated on ponds during
the winter.
The couple, who have been married for 37 years,
decided to move to Florida in 2015 for a warmer
climate. Tom had been in business with his father
and now owns a motorsports business in Plant
City.
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