The Jewish Link and The Humble Toast would like to recognize Zac Nussbaum as this week’s Sportstar of the Week. The Yavneh Redhawks goalie put up a great performance this year as the Redhawks won the YMSSA championship and the Weiselberg tournament. When asked about his goalie, Yavneh hockey coach Yaniv Besterman told The Jewish Link, “A few weeks ago, we won the Wieselberg tournament. Zac stood on his head the entire day giving up only one goal in four games. He made some very big saves when we needed him. Zac is one of the main reasons the Yavneh Redhawks were so successful this year winning the regular season championship, as well as the Weiselberg tournament.”
Zac, congrats on the championship and on being recognized as this week’s Sportstar of the Week! Who is your role model and why?
My dad is my role model. He is an amazing athlete and not only plays so many sports, but also coaches me and all my siblings. I strive to be as good as him one day.
What is your favorite sport?
Hockey, because I love the pressure and action of playing goalie.
What is your pregame routine?
My pregame routine is simple: relax by listening to the music that the team plays. It puts me in the right mindset to be the best I can be.
What is your greatest sports accomplishment?
My greatest sports accomplishment was winning the hockey championships this year for Yavneh and also winning the Weiselberg hockey tournament with all the same teammates!
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
Igor Shesterkin, because he is my favorite hockey team’s goalie (Rangers) and he is the best goalie in the NHL.
What is your earliest sports memory?
My first sports memory is playing PAL Soccer with my long time friend and Yavneh teammate Benji Shiner. We won the championships and I got a shutout in the championship game as the goalie.
What is your weirdest sports memory?
Funny enough it happened at the Weiselberg tournament, before one of my games. I had misplaced my phone and my dad was helping me look but we couldn’t find it anywhere. The game started and 30 seconds into the game I felt a buzz in my pocket (under my pads) and I realized my phone was in my pocket! I made one save, got a whistle and gave it to my coach. After we won the game our championship, Coach Yaniv Besterman told my dad he had seen many things in his 18 years of coaching, but this was a first!
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not playing sports?
My favorite thing to do when not playing sports is hanging out with my family and playing video games with my friends.
What is your favorite sports memory?
It was this past summer when I went on a trip with three of my good friends and my dad. We went to three baseball games, in three days, in three states: Yankees vs. Red Sox in Boston, Nationals vs. Cubs in DC, and Yankees vs. Rays at Yankees Stadium. It was the best sports memory of my life.
What is the best thing about being a Sportstar?
My favorite thing about being The Jewish Link superstar of the week is bringing recognition to my teammates, as well, who are also some of my best friends.
The Humble Toast Sportstar of the week will receive a $25 gift card to The Humble Toast. Please send nominees for an upcoming The Humble Toast Jewish Link Sportstar of the Week to [email protected].
By Jewish Link Sports Desk
