Ozzy Wiesblatt's journey to the NHL has been anything but ordinary. So it only makes sense that his first impression on Nashville Predators fans was one-of-a-kind.
The 22-year-old was recalled from AHL Milwaukee on Thursday to make his NHL debut in Vancouver against the Canucks on Friday night, and in a video posted to Nashville's social media, Wiesblatt paid tribute to his mom.
"My name's Ozzy, people call me 'Oz,'" he said in sign language.
"I learned sign language from my mom — my first language, you could say — all my brothers know it and my little sister," he explained. "I'm very excited to be here. Excited for my family and everything."
Raised by his mom, Kim White, who is deaf, Ozzy is the third-youngest of four hockey-playing brothers and the middle child of five siblings.
As White's sons developed into stars on the ice, she worked multiple jobs to ensure they got the chance to play hockey while growing up in Calgary.
"It's kind of hard to explain what she did for all of us," Ozzy said in a Meet The Future feature on Sportsnet in 2020.
"I think everything we do is for her, and we want to give back to her and thank her for all she's done for us and the all the sacrifices she's made for us," he later said.
The youngest Wiesblatt brother, Oasiz, is currently captaining the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers after spending NHL training camp with the Washington Capitals as a free-agent invitee.
The two oldest Wiesblatts, Ocean and Orca, both played junior hockey in Western Canada, and now play in the independent Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) in the United States.
Ozzy, meanwhile, was drafted 31st overall by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the 2020 draft. He spent the next few seasons back with the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders and in the AHL before a trade last June sent him to Nashville, leading to Thursday's promotion.
In 27 AHL games this season, the right-shot forward had seven goals and seven assists for the Admirals.
While he didn't crack the scoresheet in a 3-0 win over the Canucks, Wiesblatt logged nine minutes and 42 seconds of ice time and laid two hits.
The pre-game intro video wasn't the only special moment Wiesblatt had before getting his first taste of NHL action, as he tossed a puck to his mom during warmups.
"Oh, that would be a thrill," White signed of one of her sons making it to hockey's highest level in Meet The Future. "An NHL team. I would cry."
"It would be life-changing. It really would be life-changing."
The memorable start to Ozzy's career is sure to continue for the Wiesblatt family on Saturday night, as the Predators are set for a clash against the Flames back in Calgary on Hockey Night in Canada. You can catch all the action on Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. MT.
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