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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, February 15, 2013 · 24 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-632-0588 (ext. 294) email sports@oakvillebeaver.com Fighting for a cause PHOTO BY JOHN WRIGHT / COURTESY OF NORFOLK ADMIRALS WHATEVER IT TAKES: Norfolk Admirals forward John Kurtz (in white) has transformed his game from an offensive threat to a checking role as he attempts to reach the National Hockey League. The 23-year-old Oakville resident is also donating money for every Admirals win this season to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in support of his father, Peter. John Kurtz and his father taking on very different battles buying another pair of shoes." The Admirals encourage their players to be active in the community and give back in whatever ways they can, but Having already been in 11 scraps this season, John Kurtz Kurtz said the initiative was something he came up with on is quickly developing a reputation around the American his own. Multiple sclerosis was the obvious choice as a beneficiary, since the crippling disease has had a profound Hockey League of being a good fighter. That's a trait that runs in the family, but in a much differ- impact on Kurtz's family. In 2005, Kurtz's father Peter -- a man John describes as a very active guy, a man who was ent sense than you might expect. And there's obviously a soft spot to the 23-year-old often outside playing with his children when they were youngsters -- was diagnosed with MS. Oakville resident that belies the number of "I didn't really know exactly what it was, penalty minutes -- 67 in 32 games -- that "It didn't change his what kind of effect it would have on him," he's racked up this season. routine at all. He still John said. "I was in shock, in disbelief. You Every time his Norfolk Admirals win a did everything he don't really think stuff like that happens to game, Kurtz is donating $25 to the Hampton you." Roads Chapter of the National Multiple wanted to do. He used MS is an complex disease of the central Sclerosis Society. Last weekend, the Admirals it as an excuse that nervous system characterized by relapses, posted their 20th win of the campaign, we could beat him remissions and often progression of disabilmeaning Kurtz -- a pro hockey player but no in sports." ity over time. Currently, there is no cure. millionaire, having signed a standard AHL The Kurtz family faced a decision: either player contract last fall -- has already donat- John Kurtz, on his father mourn the diagnosis or be grateful for the ed $500 to the cause. Thanks to additional Peter's reaction to being good time Peter had left. Led by Peter's donations from family, friends and fans diagnosed with MS example, they chose to do the latter. (including $500 from former OHL Sudbury "It didn't change his routine at all. He Wolves teammate and current Buffalo Sabres player Marcus Foligno), Kurtz's online donation site has still did everything he wanted to do," John said of his father. "He used it as an excuse that we could beat him in sports. raised nearly $5,000 this season. "I'm not really making the big bucks. Not yet, anyway," We'll let him have that for now." Peter, who runs his own pump distribution company out Kurtz chuckled. "But when I have a little bit of money, it's good to spend it in good ways, rather than going out and of Oakville and his hometown of Windsor, isn't one to feel By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR sorry for himself. He hasn't even told most of his employees that he has the disease. "I'm hobbling around with a brace on my leg and I shrug it off as old hockey injuries," said the 54-year-old, who moved to Oakville in 1990. "It's kind of nice for me because my shop is in Windsor and I work out of my house here in Oakville. I've been able to hide it very well, not being around employees all the time. I don't want to get any sympathy." Peter hasn't been able to run for more than seven years, but he still continues to lift weights each morning to maintain his strength. To Peter, it's about focusing on what he can do, rather than what he can't. "I hobble around, but so what? I just have to keep fighting and keep life normal and keep doing what I can," Peter said. "There are worse things out there. I'm still vertical." John determined to make NHL John has a similar mentality when it comes to his hockey career. John, who captained the Wolves from 2008-10, was Sudbury's second-highest goal scorer in the 2009-10 season and was third in team scoring the previous year. But he was undrafted by NHL teams and is now fighting -- literally, on some nights -- to keep his NHL dream alive. On top of his role as a checker and protector of the Admirals' top talent, John has also emerged this season as a strong penalty killer. "I'm just willing to do whatever it takes to make it here and go on to the next level," said John, who has scored three goals this season and has 11 points in 98 career AHL games. See Kurtz, page 25