Livescore
At their best, sports are a reflection of the best of us. We see the sacrifices that are made on and off the playing field, and we can’t help but to cheer on the people and the stories they have to tell. And another brilliant, heart-wrenching story unfolded Friday when Nashville Predators right winger Ozzy Wiesblatt made his NHL debut.
Wiesblatt’s parents are members of the deaf community, and his mother, Kim White, worked tirelessly to give her children opportunities to excel at hockey. So, when Wiesblatt gave White a puck over the glass during warmup before his first NHL game, anyone who knew what the family had endured over the years had to be extremely touched.
The 22-year-old didn’t play all that much in his first two NHL games. In his debut — a 3-0 win over Vancouver — he logged only 9:42 of ice time, and in his second game Saturday — a 4-1 win over Calgary — he played 10:41. But, every shift he played was a tribute to the countless hours his parents put in to give their four sons the chance – just the chance – to succeed on the ice.
Wiesblatt’s mother in particular is an inspiration for the deaf community and for terrific parenting in general. White gave her children everything, and now that they’re realizing their dreams, she deserves all the credit for helping them get there. Wiesblatt’s brothers Orca, Ocean and Oasiz Wiesblatt all have played at high levels, but Ozzy Wiesblatt’s success on the road to playing in hockey’s top league is especially wonderful.
Even if he never plays another NHL game, Ozzy Wiesblatt’s achievement is a testament to the power of hard work and White’s selflessness. He’s done something that very few of us will ever do, and White can be extremely proud of what her children have achieved.
People from the deaf community can look to Ozzy Wiesblatt’s rise through the ranks and see a road for themselves to playing elite hockey games.
Here’s hoping for much more success for White and the Wiesblatts. They’re wonderful role models, and the sport is better for having them participate in it.
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