A quick reflex at a Cleveland Monsters game led to a heartwarming story of heroism and serendipity. Last Thursday, as the hockey puck soared dangerously into the stands, one man’s instinct to protect changed the course of the evening for a mother and her young son.
Asia Davis and her 4-year-old son, Nasir, were enjoying the Monsters’ matchup when the unthinkable happened. In the final minutes of the third period, a hockey puck, described as “more dense than a baseball,” flew towards the stands, threatening the safety of the young boy. Without a moment’s hesitation, Andrew Podolak, who was seated next to the family, sprang into action. “I just saw it was wobbling and whatnot,” Podolak recounted, “The first thing I gotta do, first instinct, is protect the kid, jump in front of it.” The puck collided with the inside of his hand, and thankfully, Nasir was unscathed.
The tense moment was caught on video by Davis, who later took to TikTok to express her gratitude and search for the quick-thinking stranger. “This dude literally saved my son’s life,” Davis said, as the video went viral and caught the attention of Podolak himself. “My phone is blowing up. One person after the next, ‘Is this you? Is this you? Is this you?’” he said.
The miraculous save became more than just a momentary act of kindness. After the game, as Davis learned that Podolak had chosen to remain seated next to her active son throughout the match, she felt a deeper connection. “But he stayed in that seat, and he was like, ‘I was meant to be here,'” Davis said, a sentiment echoed by Podolak who, by chance or destiny, was seated in section 107, row 7, seat 7. This alignment of sevens, a meaningful number for both, added a layer of mystique to the incident.
Thanks to the viral TikTok, the Monsters organization got wind of the good deed and invited Davis, Nasir, and Podolak back for a special experience at Saturday’s game against the Laval Rocket. The trio was greeted by the players, met at center ice for an emotional puck drop, and received complimentary seats right against the glass.
The night was significant for more than just the game. “Everything happened for a reason,” said Davis, a sentiment that resonated with the entire group. Though the Monsters lost the match 5-1, the score seemed irrelevant to them. For Davis, Nasir, and Podolak, it was a victory of human connection, bravery, and the mysterious ways of fate.
Relevant articles:
– Stranger saves woman’s 4 yr old son from flying puck
– Cleveland Monsters find man who saved little boy from errant hockey puck, News 5 Cleveland WEWS, Sun, 14 Apr 2024 13:15:49 GMT
– Man who protected little boy from flying puck at Cleveland Monsters game has been found, WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland, Sun, 14 Apr 2024 03:19:35 GMT
– ‘Meant to be there’: Man stops rogue hockey puck from hitting 4-year-old, NBC News, Sun, 14 Apr 2024 00:42:00 GMT