A St. Thomas resident became the unlikely hero over the weekend at the Canada Winter Special Olympic Games in Calgary.
When the London Blazers – representing Ontario at the Games – lost their starting goalkeeper to illness, Zach Griffith stepped in to fill the void.
Griffith allowed a single goal in Ontario’s 4-1 win over Alberta in the floor hockey gold-medal game.
Griffith and fellow St. Thomas resident Chris Freeman normally play for St. Thomas, but when that squad failed to qualify for the Winter Games, they were picked up by the London Blazers.
The pair have both been dedicated Special Olympians for a number of years, taking part in soccer, floor hockey, basketball and golf, with the addition of swimming for Griffith.
However, this was the first national competition for the duo.
Griffith and Freeman are members of the St. Thomas Swish Special Olympics Basketball team and won’t have long to wait before their next big competition as the squad prepares for Provincials in May.
Listen to myFM’s interview with them prior to the Games in Calgary here.
