JARI'S STORY

On World Autism Awareness Day, CalgaryFlames.com's Torie Peterson reflects on her brother's experience with hockey.
There are a lot of things I can't tell you about my brother.
That may sound odd considering he is my only sibling, we spent our entire childhoods together, and remain extremely close as adults.

Why is there a significant knowledge gap when it comes to my brother?
Jari is autistic.
Autism Canada describes it as "a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts brain development, causing most individuals to experience communication problems, difficulty with social interactions and a tendency to repeat specific patterns of behaviour."
In short, he experiences the world in a completely different manner than most of us.
He has heightened sensory sensitivity, making sounds, sights, tastes, and touch more vibrant - more extreme - than most people could imagine. And while he is verbal, his communication skills are limited and for the most part, he isn't able to communicate his needs or wants, likes or dislikes, with his family and friends.

Understanding how he operates within the world has taken many years of observation from my parents, educators and medical professionals. We've been blessed to have an incredible network of support which has helped Jari navigate his surroundings and learn how to better communicate with those around him.
So, there are so many things I don't know about my brother, so much I won't ever be able to truly understand, but amidst that mystery, I cherish what I do know.

He loves being outdoors, whether it be out for hikes in the forest or swimming in the lake near his home. He's a Special Olympics athlete, playing year-round in different sports. He adores animals, volunteering at the local humane society.

And he loves the Flames.
Now, he may not enjoy the sport like you or I do. He doesn't have the same reasoning for liking hockey as most do. But he loves it nonetheless.
His enjoyment stems from small details: keeping tabs on the scoreboard and patterns with time-keeping, goals and the shot clock, the flames being shot off after goals at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the sounds of sticks on the ice and on pucks, and the routine that surrounds a Flames game day.
Prior to game time, he goes over the roster and selects two players he feels will play well. My parents do the same and they jot down their predictions in their season log. Afterwards, Jari goes back over the scoresheet and tabulates points from their picks, recording them in the log. Routines are key for him, as they are for many people on the autism spectrum, and having this as an avenue for structure aids in his day-to-day life.
So far this season, Chris Tanev and Erik Gudbranson have headlined as his most frequent players to watch, with Noah Hanifin coming in a close second. Defenders are his go-to choice this year.

Perhaps it's fate that he has developed an appreciation for hockey as an adult. He is, after all, named after Jari Kurri. Our dad is, unfortunately, a devoted Edmonton Oilers fan and when my mom woke up after Jari was born, she discovered he had told the nurses their son was named Jari … it was originally supposed to be Ethan.
Thankfully, he followed his mom and sister and cheers for the right side of the Battle of Alberta.
Regardless of why he enjoys the sport, I'm immensely grateful that we can share in our love for hockey as adults. Experiencing it through his eyes is a privilege, one I won't ever take for granted.