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ORIGINALLY
AIRED: March 17, 2004 |
PATRICK
O'SULLIVAN'S STORY
Always a top prospect, Patrick had
been scouted and scrutinized since his teens.
He'd been ranked as high as 14th among all eligible
players in North America - a guaranteed first round
pick for the NHL draft.
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A
hockey prodigy all of his life, Patrick had
high hopes for his first NHL draft.
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But with millions of dollars on the
line, NHL teams leave nothing to chance. Days before
the draft are packed with medical exams and physical
tests. One of the most crucial stepping stones is
the team interview - part job application, part
psychological evaluation. Patrick's history was
already common knowledge among NHL executives.
PATRICK O'SULLIVAN: I can understand how the teams
would be leery of someone in my situation, I think.
THE NHL DRAFT
Only six months after the disastrous night in Ottawa,
Patrick was at the pinnacle of his hockey career
and about to be selected to a NHL team.
The day of the draft he was assigned two league
bodyguards because the Canadian restraining order
wasn't in effect in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Patrick
O'Sullivan was a second round pick for the
Minnesota Wild.
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CATHIE MARTIN: We knew he couldn't
do anything but you were just hoping and praying he
wouldn't show up. And, of course, he (John O'Sullivan)
was there. And he sat across the way from us so we
could see him.
When the first round came to an end, 30 players had
been chosen and Patrick was not one of them. Across
the arena, John O'Sullivan gestured to his family.
He wondered what had gone wrong.
CATHIE MARTIN: It was as if what's wrong with you?
What have you done?
BOB MCKEOWN: Would he not know that perhaps he was
one of the reasons why?
CATHIE MARTIN: He has no idea.
Just before the end of the second round, Patrick was
chosen by the Minnesota Wild.
DON CHERRY: That hurt him because he had the numbers.
He should have been a first rounder all the way.
BOB MCKEOWN: So a general manager would look at him
and say...
DON CHERRY: Don't want the problem.
MEETING WITH A HOCKEY
HERO
Then Patrick got a message that Wayne Gretzky wanted
to see him.
WAYNE GRETZKY: I just wanted to be able to say to
him what you're doing is better than anyone else.
You've stood up not only for other kids who are being
physically and mentally abused, but you've stood up
for yourself. I wanted to go over and shake his hand.
(Read the entire interview with Gretzky online)
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Patrick
O'Sullivan heard a few reassuring words from
his hockey hero, Wayne Gretzky.
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It was exactly the kind of re-assurance
Patrick needed to hear.
PATRICK O'SULLIVAN: He said he thought I had a good
future ahead of me and he thought I was a good hockey
player. For someone who's the greatest player to ever
play the game, to give me a compliment like that,
it was the ultimate compliment.
In the fall of 2004 Patrick O'Sullivan went to the
training camp with the Minnesota Wild.
He's spent this season with the Mississauga Ice Dogs
where he's been the lead scorer. The betting is that
soon he'll be back in the NHL to stay.
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