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Jim Kyte’s Story
by Alanah McGinley on 07/31/08 at 11:41 AM ET
Comments (3)
From Sabina Lam at The Hockey News,
Jim Kyte was like any other tough guy in the NHL – big, tough and intimidating – except for one thing; he was legally deaf.
When Kyte entered the league in 1982-83, he became the first legally deaf player to suit up in the NHL. He was also the first player to wear hearing aids while playing and required a special helmet to protect them.
Kyte was born with perfect hearing, but discovered he was hearing impaired when he was three years old because of a hereditary hearing deficiency that cause his audio nerve to degenerate.
Filed in: NHL Teams, San Jose Sharks, Hockey Related Stories | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: deafness, jim+kyte,
Comments
I remember this guy with the Jets. I think I still have his hockey card. I was only six when he left but remember him fondly
Posted by Matt Fry from Winnipeg on 08/01/08 at 03:35 PM ET
I respect anyone - win, lose or draw who has the guts to drop them and go toe-to-toe. Jim Kyte got knocked out a few times in his career but he did his share of knocking out others too. You live by the sword, you die by the sword. Today’s fighters are grabbers compared to the old days.
Posted by Jared from Timmins on 08/05/08 at 06:16 AM ET
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Thanks for the link Alanah. Kyte was always a favorite of mine. The guy gave his all in every game, but you guys out West certainly know that already. In Detroit, most people remember him for nearly dying at the hands of Joe Kocur. Immortality comes in many forms though…
Posted by JAMESinMI on 07/31/08 at 05:08 PM ET