Islanders help visually impaired skate for first time

The New York Islanders had practice in East Meadow, New York, on Thursday, then opened their rink to visually impaired students from the New York Institute of Special Education and Third Eye Insight.

Captain John Tavares and defensemen Travis Hamonic and Nick Leddy took the lead by helping some young fans get around on the ice. For many of the students, it was the first time they'd been on skates.

"To give these kids a chance to feel the crackle of the ice, the wind in their faces, it was a lot of fun seeing them smile," Tavares said in a tweet posted by the Islanders.
The New York Institute for Special Education, based in the Bronx, a borough of New York City, provides programs for blind and visually disabled children. Long Island-based Third Eye Insight offers physical fitness classes, including martial arts/self-defense and yoga for blind or visually impaired people.
Leddy continues to show off his philanthropic side this week. On Wednesday he was at the Empire State Building for the Pucks and Paws
calendar reveal party
that supported North Shore Animal League of America.