Whitestown Hockey Squirts Go Green To Support Beloved Coach Otto

The Whitestown Youth Hockey Squirts are coming together to support the man they call Coach Otto, after he was diagnosed with cancer.

In Whitesboro, hockey is an important part in the lives of many kids - and within hockey, few coaches are as beloved as Coach Otto, Otto Isenberg. He's coached the Whitestown Youth Hockey Squirts for two years, and was a hockey standout himself, playing the sport since he was 3, and going on to play during college.

Earlier this fall, Otto was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He has been fighting his disease - undergoing chemotherapy, and trying to regain his strength. While treatment has kept him from coaching the 9- and 10-year-old hockey squirts, since being diagnosed, he hasn’t missed a practice or meeting with his team. And the team has made sure they're thinking of him every time they step on the ice.

The team is showing their support for #teamotto by taping all of their sticks green and getting special stickers. The team feels like this is just a small way they can show how much they love Coach Otto, and how much he means to them.

Otto is the kind of man that is always giving to others: he's a supporter of Utica College and Comets hockey, and has been a passionate participant in the Ride For Missing Children for several years.

Otto's family and friends are also helping to support their son by creating #teamotto. They've already hosted a fundraiser and have created t-shirts and a F-cancer #teamotto bracelet. If you'd like to support Otto, you can contact his father, Duane Isenberg to purchase a t-shirt or bracelet.

We know Coach Otto is going to make it through this challenge and emerge stronger than ever - and when he does, his #teamotto hockey squirts will be thrilled to welcome him back to the ice.