Hockey coach Brian Damiani of Warrington was the one who couldn't sleep. His son Cole was the reason.

The 19-year-old high school student, born with a developmental disability, was steeped in hockey. He attended all of his brother's games. He pumped up the players in the locker room, and often led the crowd in cheers.

What if, Brian Damiani wondered on that sleepless night, there were a way for the cheers at the rink to be for Cole - the hockey player?

Brian Damiani turned on his computer in those early a.m. hours and clicked on Google. He typed "special needs hockey" into the window. The answers appeared on the screen, and within months, the Bucks County Admirals were a reality.

Nearly a year later, the Bucks County Admirals are a team of 13 players ages seven to 21. They have different disabilities, and varying levels of hockey ability.

They practice in rinks around Bucks and Montgomery Counties, and this week, they will travel to Marlborough, Mass., to participate in the fourth USA Disabled Hockey National Festival, scheduled for Friday through Sunday.

"It's about self-esteem and fitness," said Damiani, a logistics consultant. "They are exerting energy, which is a good thing. You don't want them sitting around dormant watching TV, and this could help them in their focusing. You have to concentrate to skate."

The team is only part of Damiani's involvement with special-needs youth. For years, he has coached special-needs and other youth sports, including basketball, baseball, and soccer.

In 1994, he started Bucks County Special Needs, a nonprofit group that provides grants to Bucks County families so that special-needs children can attend camps.

The Admirals are part of the American Special Hockey Association, which includes more than 60 teams and 1,000 players. The association oversees hockey for players with a broad range of physical and developmental disabilities, said Mike Hickey, president of the organization.

The festival is the equivalent of a national championship, minus the fervor about winning and losing.

"Everybody compares it to hockey in its purest form - pond hockey," Hickey said. "They play for the love and joy of the game rather than winning or losing."

Not Cole Damiani, though. When asked what he's looking forward to in Boston, Cole Damiani excitedly said "winning." When asked if he's looking forward to anything else, he said, "not losing!"

Cole Damiani, who attends Central Bucks High School West, has Jacobsen's Syndrome. The condition is characterized by developmental delays, and also required heart surgery when Cole Damiani was younger.

Most of his teammates have disabilities along the autism spectrum. Some are learning to skate. Others can skate and score. Brian Damiani and his assistants teach them the basics: skating, stick-handling, shooting, and then game situations - all within each player's ability level.

The teams play with a special set of rules. There are no offsides, icing, slap shots and body checks. Coaches can join players on the ice to help them play, if necessary.

"I'll be honest: I was sceptical," said Kevin Meyer, of Buckingham, whose son Patrick, 16, plays with the Admirals. "We decided to give it a try. We had worked with Brian in the past and had good experiences." Also, Patrick Meyer already knew how to skate.

"It's a fun game," said Patrick Meyer, who has a disability along the autism spectrum. "You have to just focus on trying to make a goal and working as a team."

The big challenge for the Admirals is not only securing already scarce ice time at area hockey rinks, but also finding teams to play, Brian Damiani said.

The Admirals have played two games since they first took the ice last fall. Both have been against the Philadelphia Fearless Flyers, a special-hockey team based in Aston.

When the Admirals compete at the hockey festival, they will be part of a combined team with the Flyers.

At a recent practice, Monica Fitzgerald, of Holland, helped her 10-year-old son, Shawn, put on his uniform. Shawn Fitzgerald, who is developmentally delayed, joined the team without knowing how to skate.

At first, he played hockey while sitting. A coach or assistant pushed the equipment-clad youngster around the ice on a chair.

"He had a smile on his face like he was on a ride at Disney World," Monica Fitzgerald said. "He thought that was awesome."

Then, Brian Damiani had a brainstorm, but this one didn't come during the wee hours. He had assistant coach Rob Turzanski build a device that resembles a walker with skating blades.

Now, Shawn Fitzgerald stands on the ice, moves about the ice on his walker, and pushes the puck with it.

"Our job as parents is to give our kids as much experience as possible and let them be exposed to as many things as possible until they find a passion for something," Brian Damiani said. "That's my goal."

For Information

To learn more about the Bucks County Admirals, Bucks County Special Needs, or local sporting activities available for youngsters with disabilities, visit www.bcsn1.org or call 267-679-8831.