Todd Sweet lives in Cheshire, CT with his wife, Sheila, and is the proud father of Ashley and Ryan. For over twenty years, Todd played sighted hockey, a sport he loved deeply. However, in 2007, he was diagnosed with B.E.S.T. disease, a form of macular dystrophy that took away his central vision. The loss of vision made it increasingly difficult to continue playing, and he made the difficult decision to hang up his skates.

A decade later, in 2017, Todd was introduced to the world of blind hockey and it reignited his passion for the game. As a member of the Hartford Braillers, Todd feels honored to skate alongside fellow visually impaired athletes. He is especially grateful for the friendships, support, and camaraderie that come with being part of the team.

Keith Haley is a veteran player and one of the founding members of the Hartford Braillers. His hockey journey began with street and dek hockey in Fitchburg, MA, before moving to Farmington, CT, where he brought his love of the game to the ice. Keith went on to play for the Farmington High School hockey team and later joined local men’s leagues in his early twenties.

It was during this time that Keith was diagnosed with hereditary glaucoma, an eye disease characterized by high intraocular pressure that damages the optic nerve and gradually takes away peripheral vision. The impact of the disease became clear on the ice when he could no longer see the puck or even his teammates. With a heavy heart, Keith hung up his skates and stepped away from the game for nearly 15 years.

In January 2017, everything changed with the formation of the Hartford Braillers. Joining the team reignited Keith’s love for hockey and sports, and restored his confidence in life. Blind hockey opened the door to new adventures, including hiking and skiing, despite his visual impairment. Keith’s determination and skill earned him a spot on the inaugural U.S. National Blind Hockey Team, and he proudly competed in the first international series against Team Canada in 2018.

Off the ice, Keith brings his passion to other areas of life. A trained chef, he worked in several area restaurants before his vision challenges once again forced a career shift. Through the State of Connecticut Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind, Keith became an entrepreneur and now operates a café in a state office building in downtown Hartford.

His commitment to service runs deep. Keith has been a volunteer with the East Farmington Volunteer Fire Department since 1992. Although his vision prevents him from active firefighting today, he continues to serve as an administrative member and gives back to his community in many other ways.

For Keith, being a member of the Hartford Braillers is more than just playing hockey—it’s about reclaiming purpose, passion, and proving every day that "Hockey is for Everyone."

Dennis Gallant was born prematurely, which led to a condition known as retinopathy of prematurity, a disease that caused significant retinal damage in both eyes and resulted in substantial vision loss. Growing up as a braille reader, Dennis believed that hockey was one sport he’d never be able to play due to its heavy reliance on vision.

Hockey, however, was part of his family’s legacy. Both his father and grandfather played on frozen ponds in Northern Maine, and those memories inspired Dennis’s father to take him and his siblings skating on frozen ponds in Connecticut. Although Dennis couldn’t fully participate, those early experiences planted the seed for a dream he never gave up on.

In January 2018, that dream became reality when Dennis joined the Hartford Braillers as a goalie. The chance to play a sport he had always admired was a powerful moment. When he told his two sons he was playing hockey, they were surprised, but by then, they’d learned not to be shocked by the bold and unexpected things their dad takes on.

As a member of the Braillers, Dennis has rediscovered his passion for sports, found a tight-knit community, and embraced the challenge of continually improving on the ice. His personal goal is simple yet ambitious: don’t let the puck reach the back of the net. While that’s still a work in progress, he’s having a great time pursuing it—one save at a time.

Frank Roberts grew up with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a degenerative eye condition that gradually reduced his vision over time. For much of his life, he felt the need to hide his vision loss, often embarrassed by the stigma that can accompany disability. But everything changed when he discovered the Hartford Braillers.

Becoming part of the team transformed how Frank saw his disability. Surrounded by teammates accomplishing incredible things both on and off the ice, many of whom had less vision than he did, he found inspiration, purpose, and pride. What was once hidden is now worn proudly on his chest in the form of the Braillers logo. That confidence has extended beyond the rink and into his professional life.

Frank has become a passionate advocate for blind entrepreneurs through Connecticut’s Randolph-Sheppard Program, fighting to create sustainable, income-generating opportunities for others who are blind or visually impaired. Watching so many fellow operators struggle to make a living, he has worked tirelessly to help improve the system and empower others.

A lifelong hockey fan, Frank started as a Hartford Whalers supporter and is now a season ticket holder for the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he and his wife Kelly can often be found cheering from the glass. But what he never imagined was that he’d one day be skating himself—playing the greatest game on Earth with the Hartford Braillers.

Jon DiPietro was born with an inherited retinal disease that has caused a slow, progressive loss of vision since childhood, a condition that will eventually lead to complete blindness. Despite this, Jon has never allowed his vision loss to become a barrier in his life. In fact, he thrives on defying expectations. “If you tell me I can’t... I will,” is the mindset that defines him.

Jon has been married to his wife, Lindsey, since 2009, and together they are raising their son, Jaxson. Both Lindsey and Jaxson are an active part of Jon’s hockey journey, Lindsey can often be found on the bench during Braillers practices, while Jaxson joins his dad on the ice, making it a true family affair.

Professionally, Jon is a Financial Advisor at Northeast Financial Group, where he takes pride in helping others achieve their financial goals. His path to hockey, however, came unexpectedly. He had never played organized hockey until he was introduced to the Hartford Braillers in 2019, at a New Year’s Eve party, of all places, where he ran into longtime friend Keith Haley.

Jon and Keith first met in 1998 as volunteer firefighters with the East Farmington Fire Department in Farmington, CT, serving their community and building a lasting friendship through their shared commitment and camaraderie.

As a kid, Jon played street hockey and occasionally skated on the ice, but hadn’t played either in over 25 years. Still, he remained a lifelong fan of the game, first cheering for the Hartford Whalers and now the Boston Bruins. Becoming a player himself was something he never imagined.

When Jon attended his first Braillers practice, he expected a slow-paced, cautious version of hockey, but what he witnessed was anything but. The game was fast, intense, and competitive. Players weren’t crashing into each other or the boards like a chaotic roller derby. And Coach Dave made it clear: no one gets special treatment.

Jon quickly discovered that blind hockey isn’t about limitations, it’s about possibilities. Skill level, age, and degree of vision loss don’t matter. What matters is effort, teamwork, and heart. Being part of the Braillers has not only reconnected Jon with the sport he loves, but it’s also inspired him to try new things and become more confident and comfortable in his own skin.

Joel Klug grew up playing youth hockey in Michigan and is a lifelong fan of the Detroit Red Wings. Due to a vision impairment, he stopped playing before reaching the high school level, as it became too difficult to follow the puck in the fast-paced game. While he occasionally played pick-up hockey as an adult, league hockey remained out of reach because of his visual challenges.

Joel’s passion for hockey was reignited when a friend from Vermont introduced him to a blind hockey event. Together, they traveled to Newburgh, NY, to attend the first American blind hockey event. Since that experience, Joel has returned multiple times to play in Newburgh and eventually helped start a new team in Newington, CT.

The Connecticut players chose the name Hartford Braillers for their team. Joel believes that blind hockey is the best adaptive sport available, as it allows people with visual impairments to play the game they love while forming meaningful social connections that often become lifelong friendships.

Liz Bottner, known as the “senior goalie” of the Hartford Braillers, is a certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist (CATIS) and Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT). She currently works as an Assistive Technology Specialist for the National Library Service at the Library of Congress.

Liz credits her passion for blindness rehabilitation to the positive professionals who supported her early on, helping her successfully navigate the world despite vision loss. Her love of blind hockey began in 2016 when a friend and former colleague encouraged her to attend a practice in New York and try playing goalie. She did, and was immediately hooked.

Though now based in Washington, D.C., where she also plays with the Washington Blind Hockey Club, Liz will always consider the Braillers her home team.

Liz earned her master’s degree in Blind Rehabilitation Teaching, specializing in Assistive Technology, from Northern Illinois University. She generously volunteers her time and expertise with several organizations in the blind and low-vision community, including the American Council of the Blind and Penny Forward.

Outside of work and hockey, Liz enjoys reading, traveling, especially to New York City, and staying active. Along with blind hockey, she loves running, both with and without her Guiding Eyes Running guide dog.

Dave Hoey often says almost like The Canadian Folklore that he “learned to skate before he could walk,” a reflection of a childhood spent on frozen tennis courts in his neighborhood, quickly moving from double runners to regular skates. Growing up in Connecticut, Dave played travel hockey throughout his high school years and continued in men’s leagues until age and skill made early work mornings too difficult.

After retiring as a player, Dave returned to hockey through refereeing youth games, rediscovering the joy the sport brought to his life. His path took a new turn after volunteering at a sled hockey tournament, which led him to research disabled hockey. That search introduced him to the emerging Hartford Braillers, who were welcoming support in all forms.

Dave attended his first practice and soon was asked to take on the role of coach after Coach Nick, who traveled from Boston, was unable to attend frequently. Embracing this life-changing opportunity, Dave has been dedicated to sharing his love of hockey with players who refuse to let their disabilities hold them back.

Always ready to do whatever is necessary to ensure successful practices and events, Dave has developed a profound gratitude for giving back to the game he cherishes.

Outside of hockey, Dave delivers mail in Old Saybrook, CT, enjoys golfing occasionally, and passionately promotes blind hockey to anyone willing to listen—especially his wife Joni, and daughters Amanda and Mary, along with her husband Ben.