BOSTON – It has been over three decades since J.P. Giuliotti has laced up his skates for the Rams. Since his blue-and-gold days the tri-captain of the 1988-89 Suffolk men's hockey team traded his stick for a whistle coaching at a variety of levels of youth hockey and skating clinics. It wasn't until 2012 when he found his true passion, the California Condors Special Needs Hockey Team.  

Found in 2006, the California Condors, is an ice hockey experience for kids and adults with special needs at the Ice-O-Plex in Simi Valley, California. The Condors are the first Southern California special needs ice hockey program where individuals with autism, intellectual disability and other development disabilities can learn to skate and play the exciting game and be a member of an ice hockey team, in a fun, safe and supportive environment. Ice hockey develops physical skills and self-esteem, friendships; team work, team spirit and camaraderie.  

Giuliotti, who suffered his own life altering experience of suddenly falling deaf from an un-diagnosed Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL), joined the effort as a volunteer head coach and he continuously helps bring the skills, thrills and friendship of ice hockey to individuals with developmental disabilities.  

"Those that have been involved with ice hockey at any level know that there is a unique passion and excitement that one experiences when playing the game," Giuliotti said. "I see this same passion in these special needs players and how it has helped them."

Giuliotti continued, "Because of the tremendous effort required in dealing with their individual special needs situations, the parents and caretakers of the players continuously and tirelessly give of themselves – far above and beyond what life normally demands of any of us. How they are able to do it, I don't know but they do it. So, I feel that being there to help teach this great game to these players it he least I can do and coaching them has deeply touched me in many ways." 

The opportunity came at an unexpected time for Giuliotti, who moved to Los Angeles to pursue a professional acting career in 2012. After receiving a call back for the show, "Up All Night," starring Christina Applegate and Will Arnett, for the role of Arnett's hockey teammate, Giuliotti headed to a local rink to get his skates sharpened.  

"While waiting for the sharpening I saw the flyer on the rink's bulletin board stating the Condors were looking for volunteer coaches," Giuliotti said. "Despite a good audition, I didn't get the part, but I found the Condors."  

To help promote the program, Giuliotti has combined his two passions of hockey and film and is currently working on piecing a documentary on the Condors. To view the trailer, click the link below.