BRADENTON, Fla. — Hockey players are notoriously known as being the toughest athletes.
What You Need To Know
Weston Hermann was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 7
He has beaten the disease five times, endured three surgeries and undergone chemotherapy treatment for a combined two and half years
Weston credits hockey with helping him battle cancer. He has signed to play minor league hockey with the Tampa Bay Juniors
Weston Hermann might just be the toughest. Hockey has a way of bringing out the grit in every player.
“I really don’t know where I would be without hockey,” Weston said.
Weston credits hockey with helping him discover his fortitude. He has played in some tough games. Battled some tough opponents. But there’s one opponent off the ice that looms larger than all the others – cancer. Weston has battled cancer five times. And he’s beaten it each time. A perfect 5-0.
Weston was just seven years old when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. In the past decade, he has been in and out of the hospital, braved through three surgeries and endured a combined two and half years of chemotherapy treatments. Cancer has knocked Weston down five times. But each time, he has gotten back up.
“Through every surgery, it was the first thing waking up is when can I get back on the ice?” Weston’s father Jared said. “And that’s kind of been his driving force for him to be where he is today.”
His family aren’t the only ones inspired by Weston’s perseverance. Dick Vitale named Weston to his All-Courageous Team and has honored this heroic teenager at his annual fundraising gala. Weston appreciates the attention Dickie V has brought to pediatric cancer.
And he’s grateful to the Tampa Bay Lightning organization and head coach Jon Cooper’s Coops Catch initiative. And he hopes his story makes a difference for others.
“Being an example of something that people can look at and really put in perspective of how much work really needs to be put into pediatric cancer,” he said.
Weston’s a recent Parish Community High School graduate and he’s taking his hockey to the next level with the Tampa Bay Juniors. There will be hockey in his future. And thanks to his attitude of never giving up, there will be a future.
“Through all the surgeries and everything, the chances of not playing hockey, they were quite high,” Weston said. “But I kinda didn’t look toward that. I looked at when can I get back on the ice, not if I can get back on the ice.”