Finding the Puck

“Blind hockey is a powerful force in our game. I’m inspired by stories like his!” –Teemu Selanne, NHL Hall of Fame player

“Craig Fitzpatrick is what we all strive to be. Brave, strong, committed, unselfish, and humble. Facing daunting odds, Craig never wavered and never gave up. His perseverance was rewarded with success in all aspects of his life. Craig is a true American hero.” –Joe Sakic, NHL executive and Hall of Fame player

“I believe leaders in sports have a responsibility to expand access to disabled athletes. It’s so great to share this passion for expanding access to hockey, the game we love.” –Linda Cohn, ESPN SportsCenter and NHL analyst

“This is a wonderful story. Disabled athletes having access to hockey is critical to our game.” –Scotty Bowman, Hall of Fame coach

“Wow. This man is a giant–on the ice, in the corporate world, and as an American. His book will likewise go down as a modern treatise on how to live life andsucceed. It is a must-read for coaches, athletes, businessmen, veterans, and anyone ready to look challenges in the eye. For a book about blindness(and so much more), damn if it didn’t make me see.” –S.C. Megale, award-winning author of Hockey’s Hidden Gods

Craig Fitzpatrick played forward for the U.S. Blind Hockey Team, competing across North America. He has helped found numerous blind hockey teams. Craig is a longtime Colorado Avalanche fan and trained in Colorado during his competitive hockey career.

He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and served five years in the U.S. Air Force before being diagnosed with Stargardt disease, leading to his near-complete blindness and 100 percent service-related disability. He is currently the chief innovation officer at Akira Technologies, an AI and cybersecurity technology company in Washington, D.C.

Craig holds a master’s degree in public administration (Summa Cum Laude) from Saint Louis University. His charitable work focuses on serving as a senior technology fellow at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, where he guides C4ADS’ technology commercialization efforts.

He has worked with the National Hockey League to build charitable programs that expand access to sport for disabled children across the United States and Canada, including programs with five NHL teams. Craig and his wife, Jenny, reside in Great Falls, Virginia, and welcomed their son, Pace, in February 2024.