Congratulations to the January 2019 Hockey Mom Winner!

Congratulations to our first Hockey Mom winner of 2019, Tammy Kitterman from Bethel Park. Tammy’s son, Brock, plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins Blind Hockey Team. When Brock was 12 weeks old, he was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer. Tammy had to fight for her son’s life and she has continued to fight for her son every day to make sure his needs are met. Fast-forward to today, Brock is 14 years old and even though both visually and hearing impaired, he is one of the star players of his hockey team.

As a Hockey Mom, Tammy was described as, “the backbone of the team”. She serves as the team coordinator where she has to wear many different hats, to say the least! Tammy assists the head coach, who also happens to be her husband Grant, provides communication and information to all the parents, and searches out local rinks to find those willing to provide ice time for this small group of players so that they can practice. But above all of her other duties, Tammy is a source of support for the kids. Often times she can be found in the player’s box taking action shots and is always cheering them on.

During the day, Tammy is a school bus driver for the Peters Township School District. In between runs, Tammy acts as a Parent Advocate and Liaison for parents and children who may need guidance in receiving specialized services from different school districts in the area. Even when school is not in session, Tammy does not take summers off. For the past 10 years, Tammy is a “Camp Mom” at Slippery Rock University’s, “ENVISION Blind Sports Summer Camp”, which takes place every year during the second week of June.

Whether it is one of the ENVISION campers or one of the hockey players on the team, you can count on Tammy to pick them up, without coddling, and get them moving. The very same way she handled Brock’s life-threatening diagnosis years ago. We are honored to have Tammy as our Hockey Mom of the Month for January.

Do you know an amazing Hockey Mom that deserves recognition?  Nominate her for Hockey Mom of the Month at www.pittsburghpenguins.com/hockeymoms.  Monthly winners receive roses, tickets to a Pittsburgh Penguins® game, $500 donation to their hockey organization, skate at PPG Paints for the team, and much more!