Pucks and Patience
Three years after playing hockey in the JCC Maccabi Games, they’ll finally be back on the ice in San Diego. STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I
t’s August 2019. Detroit is hosting the annual JCC Maccabi Games & ArtsFest. Hundreds of teenage Jewish athletes and artists are in the area competing, creating and socializing. Brennan Gesund and Lucas Hutten are playing for the Detroit “B” hockey team.
They’re defensive partners and team leaders. They’re having a great time even though their team isn’t winning because it’s facing teams with older and more experienced players. Gesund and Hutten are looking forward to playing hockey for Detroit for as many as three more years
SARA YUNKER
Detroit hockey player Brennan Gesund, right) shares a moment with David Brandes and Josh McGuin from Toronto at Novi Ice Arena during the 2019 JCC Maccabi Games & ArtsFest hosted by Detroit.
before they become too old Hutten, 16, a junior to participate in the Maccabi forward on the Novi High Games. School hockey team, echoed That opportunity was those sentiments. ripped away from them by a “I understand why global pandemic. it happened, but it was Concerns about COVID-19 disappointing to have two caused the JCC Association years of playing hockey in the of North America, which Maccabi Games taken away organizes and conducts the from me,” he said. Maccabi Games, to cancel the “My family hosted event in 2020 and 2021. two hockey players from Those decisions were Cleveland when the Maccabi historic. The Maccabi Games Games were held here. had never been canceled That was great. I’m looking since they began in 1982. forward to staying with a It’s now 2022. The dead host family when I go to San of winter. But here’s a warm Diego. thought. There will be a “Participating in the Maccabi Games this summer Maccabi Games was fun [in in San Diego. 2019] because I It looks like got to meet a lot of Detroit will have 22 other Jewish hockey athletes in California players I otherwise during the July 31 would have never through Aug. 5 had the opportunity event. to meet,” he said. Gesund and Gesund and Hutten will be in Hutten said they Brennan Gesund San Diego for the became friends Maccabi Games, through playing playing hockey. hockey for Detroit in Detroit doesn’t the Maccabi Games have enough players three years ago. for its own hockey Mark Berke was team, so Gesend the coach of the and Hutten will join Detroit “B” hockey players from other team at the 2019 delegations to form Lucas Hutten Maccabi Games. a team. He remembers That doesn’t matter. Gesund and Hutten. He “It’s my last year for the named Gesund the team’s Maccabi Games. I want captain and Hutten an to go,” said Gesund, 15, a alternate captain along with sophomore defenseman/ forward Spencer Werner. forward on the Walled Lake “It was very, very, very Western High School hockey easy to name those three team. kids the captain and alternate “I love hockey. I play it captains,” Berke said. “I saw anytime I can. It was so cool their leadership qualities to play with and against immediately and I could tell other Jewish kids when they were talented hockey the Maccabi Games were players. in Detroit. I want to do it “Our team didn’t win any again,” he said. games and I think we scored LAURA HUTTEN
TODD GESUND
SPORTS
continued on page 44 FEBRUARY 3 • 2022
|
43
