Hockey team holding fundraiser, inspired by hearing-impaired fan

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte Checkers game helped change a young boy's life. Now, the hockey team is doing the same for his friends.

Luke Brenes is nearly deaf and his hearing is getting worse.

He went to one Checkers game last year and fell in love with the sport. He has gotten so good at it he's been invited to an exclusive summer hockey camp for hearing-impaired kids.

Brenes' dad says his hearing loss has never stopped his love for the game.

"As with Luke, playing hockey and not being able to hear on the ice, but still competing and having fun -- A hearing-impaired child can do anything they want to do," father Robert Brenes said.

The Checkers will hold a fundraiser at Sunday afternoon's game for the hard-of-hearing association Luke Brenes is involved with.

WSOC