Freeport Athlete Brainstormed Hockey Tournament

by Jonathan Weaver

Case Haberstroh looks like a normal teenager, fights with his brother like a normal teenager and plays hard like your normal teenager.

Despite his medical history.

At birth, Haberstroh was diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s Disease – a disease detected by the absence of hair-like nerves in his intestine that cause blockage, and surgery, Case’s mother, Leslie, said.

“When Case was seven days old, he had his first surgery and they removed the bad intestine – the lower part of the colon,” Leslie said.

Unlike other nationwide cases, Case has not been diagnosed with Down syndrome or heart problems due to his Hirschsprungs.

“For as much of a struggle as he had when he was tiny, he was lucky,” Leslie said.

But, the Sarver-based family has met plenty of families struggling with the diagnosis - inspiring the third-annual Hockey for Hirschsprung’s hockey tournament, which begins Wednesday on the Belmont Complex ice in East Franklin Township with a matchup of the varsity Freeport Yellowjackets versus the varsity Armstrong Riverhawks.

“This service project for Case was a way to take what he knows is a struggle daily and let new babies and families know that it’s going to be OK,” Leslie said. “I guess, he didn’t feel normal until he started playing hockey.

“The money (raised next weekend) will go straight to the surgeons for Hirschsprung’s Disease.”

$3,500 was donated to the hospital disease wing in 2014.

More than a dozen 18U, Bantam, Pee Wee Major, and Pee Wee Minor games will be played during the tournament.

The family also helps families regularly via social media.

The now-15 year old Freeport varsity hockey and lacrosse athlete is “not at all” bothered by his condition anymore – despite years of missed classes and slumping grades. He explained how hockey eases that burden.

“I can be myself really – I take out all my stress on the ice,” Case said. “I go on the ice and free my mind.”

His disease also does not stand out to Varsity Head Coach Ryan Cooper.

“Case is a smaller player (at 5 foot, 2 inches) and anybody can see that by looking at him, but he plays like a warrior. He plays a lot bigger than he looks,” Coach Cooper said.

Case’s brother, Stone – now studying marketing at Saint Vincent College – played during the Hockey for Hirschsprung’s tournament with the Pittsburgh Vipers, much in support of Case.

“(Stone) always has – it was just normal, what (the brothers) do,” Leslie recalled.

Case, who also likes to hunt and fish, also plays on the Armstrong Arrows 16U national championship team – which continues their undefeated season Saturday, September 24 versus Tier II’s top-ranked Ashburn Xtreme.

Coach Cooper said Wednesday night’s matchup with Armstrong – the team’s first scrimmage - will be a motivation for the team “to represent Case and have his back.”

Military veterans will be honored September 25.

Case’s advice to Hirschsprung’s patients: “Just don’t let it get to you. If you want to do something, you can do it,” Case said. “Don’t let anything stop you.”