MEDICINE HAT, AB – The scream of a whistle at a hockey rink is used to draw the attention of players.
But for Nathan Flodell, he hears the game differently.
“I just pay attention to the refs when they blow the whistles.”
Flodell a member of the Prince Albert Bantam AA Pirates, one of the 16 teams that took part in the 45th annual Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds Tournament.
He’s also hearing impaired, unable to hear much of the action that goes on around him during games.
Shawn Phaneuf has coached the 14-year-old over the last two seasons, and said Flodell’s skill on the ice hasn’t taken a hit due to his condition.
“I actually didn’t even realize when we picked him last year that he was hearing impaired until after the fact and I was like, ‘Oh wow,’” said Phaneuf. “But I mean his level of skill… he’s got a lot of natural talent. He competes really hard for a little guy, he throws his body around.”
Losing his hearing at birth, Flodell relies on sight rather than sound to pick up cues around the rink, which includes lip reading and leaning on teammates for support.
“It’s awesome, just like playing with him is pretty cool too,” said Pirates captain Gabe Klassen. “Like, you know where he’s going to be and stuff, he’s a pretty smart player too.”
His on-ice production is among the team leaders as well, with Flodell scoring eight goals and 13 points in 13 games for the Pirates this season.
Phaneuf said where Flodell lacks in hearing ability, he makes up for it through his other senses.
“He actually pays a lot of attention, he reads lips very well,” he said. “His awareness to his surroundings on the ice is impeccable, he’s probably more aware than most guys that actually do hear.”
According to the Prince Albert coaching staff, Flodell was fairly quiet and reserved when he joined the team last year.
Since then, they say he’s come out of his shell in the locker room, joking with his teammates and interacting with coaches and officials.
Klassen said the Prince Albert native’s effort isn’t lost on his fellow Pirates.
“It’s pretty cool just to watch him, and how good he actually is with that problem.”
“It’s really actually very inspiring, because I mean he does compete with guys that aren’t hearing impaired,” said Phaneuf. “Very good players in a very good league, and he excels at what he does.”
And, it’s a love of the game that’s fuelling Flodell, getting to hit the ice with some of his closest friends.
“I like to play with my [friends] and stuff, with my teammates.”
Flodell’s beating the odds, proving that sometimes life’s hurdles are no match for heart and determination.
