Bigger than Thursday’s rivalry game between the Ottawa Senators and the visiting Montreal Canadiens was the dream opportunity it gave to a courageous 14-year-old hockey nut and the disease he is fighting.
Jonathan Pitre suffers from Epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic skin disease so painful that, in Pitre’s case, it hurts to walk, eat and breathe. (In November, the Ottawa Citizen ran a fantastic piece detailing the bilingual Grade 9 student’s struggle.)
Two months ago, Senators general manger Bryan Murray invited Pitre to join Ottawa’s scouting staff for a game against the Predators.
“I’m done with the dream of trying to play sports,” Pitre told the Citizen. “I knew I’d never be able to play sports, but I tried to have hope that I would. Now I know what’s reality. But I still would like to do something in sports. I’d like to be a scout, or a sportscaster on Sportsnet, you know, one of the commentators.”
Well, on Thursday, Pitre got his wish. He called the Senators-Canadiens game, a 4-1 victory for the home team, from the broadcast booth.
After the game, Pitre also had the opportunity to meet Habs defenceman P.K. Subban.
As Pitre continues to raise awareness for EB, please consider donating to help Jonathan and those who face his challenge at debracanada.org.
The first thing Jonathan looks for in a hockey player?
“He has to have a good heart.”
