Jim Crane, 22, a Bexley High School graduate and a Gallaudet student, is the captain of US ice hockey team playing in the 16th Winter Deaflympics 2007 at Salt Lake City, Utah.

Columbus Dispatch interviewed Jim Crane not too long ago and published an article this morning: Hockey a gift for deaf athlete.

I've never met Jim Crane in person but I wish him and his ice hockey team all the successes in reaching for the gold. GO USA! His team played against Russia this morning in the first game (by the time I blogged this, there is no score result yet). I wish all the best to all US deaf athletes in the Deaflympics.

I really liked this part: Crane said deafness isn’t a major issue on the ice. Though he can’t hear the whistle, he knows to stop playing when other players stop. He can’t hear a checker approach, but he compensates with peripheral vision.

"I think we have better eyesight than hearing people," Crane said. "We notice things easier, I think."

Truer words rarely spoken. ;)

UPDATE 2.3.2007: Team Russia beat Team USA, 9 to 6, yesterday in the first ice hockey game of the Winter Deaflympics. Oh, well. Better luck next time, Team USA.