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Niagara IceDogs select 16-year-old stroke survivor Ben Fox with last OHL draft pick
Last name called, first in determination.With all acknowledgement of the Ottawa Senators' playoff push, a truer homeback comeback story is that of Ben Fox, the Ontario midget player who's made a remarkable recovery after suffering a stroke during a practice last summer.
If not for that life-altering and life-threatening carotid artery dissection — an occurrence more improbable than tFox "be(ing) hit by lightning" — Ontario Hockey League teams would have been angling to draft the defenceman from Fonthill, Ont., during Saturday's priority selection draft. As it happened, Fox, who managed to resume attending high school classes just five months after the stroke that affected his left side, got the validation he deserves. With permission from the OHL, the the Niagara IceDogs were given an extra selection, No. 302 overall, so they could select Fox.
In the 15th round of the OHL Priority Selection, the Niagara IceDogs are pleased to select Ben Fox. #OHLDraft
— Niagara IceDogs (@OHLIceDogs) April 11, 2015
Fox had his stroke during a practice with the Southern Tier Admirals minor midget team on Aug. 5, 2014 and the swelling in his brain was so severe that doctors had to temporarily remove part of his skull bone. If not for a quick reaction by his Admirals coach, Scott Barnes, it might have been critical. Fox had to learn to walk again, but doubled up on therapy in order to get back to school. (Just this week, he also got his first driver's licence, according to a tweet from his mother, Jodi Marasco-Fox.)
Ben also drew strength by forging a bond with another southern Ontario hockey player who's a stroke survivor, Hamilton Red Wings forward Riley Dunda.
Congratulations to my boy Ben Fox on getting drafted by the Niagara Icedogs! @HopeforBen
— Riley Dunda (@Dunda_72) April 11, 2015
In 2013-14, Fox was "pretty much" the best defenceman on the Southern Tier bantam team and also served as an alternate captain, so he was well on his way to getting on the radar of junior hockey teams. Given his accomplishments in minor hockey and the way he's taken the challenge head-on, he and his family deserved a chance to feel good. Talk about a grand gesture by the IceDogs.
Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.
