killed in a car accident in British Columbia, Canada.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Orca Wiesblatt was\u00a0a key member of the inaugural\u00a0 Rock Lobsters team that heavily exceeded expectations. Experiencing a career resurgence of his own, Orca Wiesblatt scored 17 goals and 42 total points through 37 games with the Rock Lobsters, adding a goal and an assist in Athens\u2019 lone postseason series.<\/p>\n
Despite his passing, his brothers\u2019 careers are taking off in his memory.<\/p>\n
Having played in just five NHL games before Orca\u2019s passing, Ozzy Wiesblatt would go on to make Nashville\u2019s roster full-time, suiting up for 39 games in his full rookie campaign. Orca Wiesblatt is also survived by a sister and two more brothers who have played professional hockey: Oasiz Wiesblatt, the youngest brother, who is currently having a successful first professional season with the Predators\u2019 AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, and Ocean Wiesblatt, who had a brief stint with the Rock Lobsters alongside Orca.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Playing in a depth role for the Predators,\u00a0Ozzy Wiesblatt finally broke through on Dec. 2, 2025, scoring his first career NHL goal against his hometown team, the Calgary Flames. As his teammates raced to the crease to collect his puck, Ozzy Wiesblatt pointed to the sky, honoring his late older brother.<\/p>\n
Wiesblatt\u2019s battle with grief during his rookie year is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of how hard he has worked for everything he has earned. The Wiesblatt brothers were raised by parents in the deaf community, and their mother, Kim White, worked multiple jobs to support them after becoming a single parent during their childhood. Ocean Wiesblatt stated that he and his siblings learned sign language as their first language, learning English primarily through television.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite all the challenges, Ozzy Wiesblatt pursued his dreams all the way to the highest level. On April 8, he was named as the Predators\u2019 nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, an annual award given to the NHL player who \u201cbest exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty cool to be recognized as someone that\u2019s had a tough path to get where they are,” Wiesblatt said. \u201cEverybody has, in a sense, and it\u2019s pretty cool that mine’s recognized in that sort of way.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the Predators are currently in a heated Western Conference playoff race, Wiesblatt continues to channel both his grief and gratitude into every shift, determined to honor his brother\u2019s legacy with each opportunity he earns on the ice. In doing so, he has become not only a symbol of perseverance for his team, but an inspiration to the community and a reminder that purpose and success can be found through passion and resilience.<\/p>\n
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