John Osidach Earned William Thayer Tutt Award for Being a Hockey Pioneer in Washington D.C.

Osidach, who grew to become an American citizen in 1982, spent his early years teaching on the ice, however he additionally volunteered as an administrator, together with a few years because the membership president. In 1994, he led his youth group to a Tier I nationwide championship event look and a visit to the semifinal spherical.

Dwyer mentioned early in his teaching profession, Osidach had a imaginative and prescient wherein his groups competed in opposition to higher competitors in cities like Philadelphia, Boston, Buffalo and a prestigious yearly event in Québec Metropolis.

“No person would ever come to D.C. to play us, however John was instrumental in getting us into the Mid-Atlantic league,” Dwyer mentioned. “He was at all times very decided and aggressive. He bought loads out of sports activities, and I believe he needed to provide again. He actually ran the group for the gamers and the group fairly than for revenue. It was purely for the love of the sport.”

Within the late Nineties, Osidach helped Kush Sidhu type the primary Tier I women’ hockey program within the D.C. space, which is now often known as The Washington Delight. Osidach spent his time volunteering as a coach all through his three-year battle with most cancers. He was teaching on the ice the day previous to his passing in 2016.

“He was very powerful as a coach,” Dwyer mentioned. “He set the bar very excessive, however over time, you knew there was nothing he wouldn’t do for you and the group.”

That was notably true in his gamers. Osidach ultimately grew to become Dwyer’s stepdad after his father handed away when he was 13. However Osidach additionally served as a father determine to different gamers after dad and mom tragically handed away or wanted assist.

“What’s humorous is that I assumed I used to be the one one,” Dwyer mentioned. “However letters began coming in they usually mentioned that [Osidach] did that for them, too. He was an enormous help and also you at all times knew that he would have your again. That helped me tremendously.”

Halpern noticed the identical throughout his early taking part in profession.

“My dad and mom had been nice to me, however [Osidach] was in all probability somebody who was somewhat tougher on me and he pushed me somewhat tougher than a mum or dad might,” Halpern mentioned. “We had children from damaged properties and troubled pasts and he wasn’t afraid of that. He introduced them in and tried to attach. As he bought older, he lived shut by, so we’d have barbecues at his home and all the sudden you’d see this difficult, demanding coach to a man who took loads of satisfaction and happiness in my profession and our friendship. These barbecues are in all probability the perfect conversations and experiences I had with him.”

Osidach and Dwyer used to observe Halpern every time he got here near house for an NHL sport. Halpern performed for seven groups throughout a 14-year profession. That included seven seasons along with his hometown Capitals, as Halpern grew to become the primary member of the group to be born and raised in Virginia.

“I’d see him within the stands, and it was nice,” Halpern mentioned. “I at all times felt like after I made the NHL, John made the NHL. There’s loads that goes into each participant that makes it, totally different mates and relationships and out of doors of my household, John had the largest influence of anybody within the Washington space. I’d think about that he was proud to see me on the market and I used to be proud to symbolize him and everyone else that impacted my profession.”

Story from Purple Line Editorial, Inc.