At first glance, Type 1 Timer might look like a regular hockey camp. But suppose you ask “What’s going on on the Blue Rink today?” to the staff at Hertz Arena. In that case, you’ll hear a very different story because what looked like kids working through drills, chasing pucks and taking direction was actually something much more meaningful.
This camp held at Hertz Arena blends a passion for the game with empowerment for the cause, creating a space where kids with Type 1 diabetes can connect and compete because for the Hoffmanns, it starts at home.
“Henry [Hoffmann] was diagnosed at the age of seven, so he’s lived with type one for nine years. That’s more than half of his life. He’s 16 now,” said Megan Hoffmann, Henry’s mother. “From day one, we’ve been all in on this as a family. That’s really how we live our lives, family first.”
And from day one, Type 1 Timer has been inviting campers to not only improve their skills on the ice but also their confidence off the ice, it’s also built a foundation for mentors to get involved, such as Florida Everblades players Jordan Sambrook and Logan Lambdin.
Everblades Give Back:
For Jordan Sambrook, stepping on the ice for this camp wasn’t about strategy or playoff pressure. It was about connection.
“It’s cool to see them out there, and they’re just having a great time,” he said. “It brings me back to when I was doing all the camps as a little kid.”
Logan Lambdin echoed the same sentiment, that after a full weekend coaching and witnessing what campers overcome, it’s made him aware of the privilege he has.
“It does ground me,” said Lambdin.
Something specific that stuck out to Lambdin during his time at Type 1 Timer was something out of the ordinary for him, but routine for the campers.
“I’ve been running around and grabbing the kids when their sugar drops and they’re low, then they have to go and get some snacks,” he said.
“That’s the part that stands out to me. All the things that they have to go through just to play this game that we’re allowed to play with not many issues.”
Though Sambrook and Lambdin had the opportunity to see the impact of managing type one diabetes within the realm of the game, there are far and few between who live that experience.
This camp gives these kids the opportunity to connect with other kids who relate in their struggles, which is something that they might not have otherwise.
Camper Turned Coach:
Former camper Hogan Cooper returned this year to help lead the drills he once followed.
“It’s just been good meeting people like me,” Cooper said. “It helps you realize you can still play at a high level even with type one diabetes.”
With the Hoffmann family continuously working to make this weekend as memorable as possible for campers, Type 1 Timer has evolved in more ways than one. A larger group of kids each year, a longer list of guest coaches and more. But for Cooper, the heart of the experience has remained the same.
“It just helps, because it just shows you that you’re not alone with having type one diabetes in hockey,” he said. “It [Type 1 Timer] makes it feel like there are people everywhere that has the same thing too.”
Where Hockey and Health Go Hand in Hand:
Each day at Type 1 Timer focuses on different aspects of the game—how hard you can shoot the puck, details in skating and small-area games. The camp ensures participants are set up for success by incorporating tools for managing diabetes, thanks to guidance from sports psychologists, nutritionists and mentors who live with the disease themselves.
Ensuring campers receive the best care possible at Type 1 Timer, Tandem Diabetes has been their official partner since their first year running the camp in 2022. A partnership that thrives on proper medical care and education surrounding the topic.
For instance, Tandem provides a nursing staff that is typically in charge of 10 kids each where they’re consistently monitoring their blood sugar on, and off the ice, a testament to the safety that Type 1 Timer promises.
“Their safety is our number one priority,” said Megan Hoffmann.
Sambrook touched on how easy it was to forget about the physical limitations and demands of type 1 because of how they push through it.
“They’re all congratulating each other, giving each other props and you know, picking up each other’s sticks when they drop them. Little things like that,” he said.
While many might focus on the physical aspect of living with type one diabetes, the mental aspect is just as important to the Hoffmann family which is why they’ve stressed the importance of mental skills coach Max Cook.
With hockey being physically and mentally challenging, Cook’s role revolves around instilling mental fortitude, not only for competing and practicing at a high level, but also for navigating the daily realities of having a chronic illness as an athlete.
“It’s a really holistic approach for trying to cover the physical, the mental and the medical piece, all while making sure that all these kids are just having a lot of fun,” said Hoffmann.
This is the type of energy and intentionality that is fostered at Type 1 Timer and expands to far more than just a weekend at Hertz Arena. From former and current Blades players, to Megan and Geoff Hoffmann, who are all invested in a cause greater than themselves, reflecting the culture that is embedded at Hertz Arena.
“The most powerful thing for us to see as not only parents, but as the founders of the camp, is just to see other kids doing what our son’s doing. That’s really all we wanted,” said Hoffmann.