YouTube's Latest Sensation And a Coaching Protégé

In 2006 the hockey world was introduced to Brendan Peters, otherwise known as “mini kipper,” an 11-year-old boy who copied Calgary Flames goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff has done. But now the Internet world is introducing young impersonator Josh Sacco.

Sacco has become the latest YouTube sensation with his impersonation of Kurt Russell’s speech to the U.S. Olympic hockey team before upsetting the Soviet Union in 1980. Russell played famous coach Herb Brooks in the movie Miracle. A four-year-old toddler from Spring Hill, Tennessee, a town just outside of Nashville, Josh enjoys the movie Miracle so much that has seen it close to 150 times. He is even nicknamed "Rizzo" after the gold medal-winning team's captain Mike Eruzione. In his rendition Josh hits the mark on everything that Russell has to offer, from the pat on Jack O’Callahan’s back (Saaco pats his air hockey table) to the beige sport jacket and powder-blue button-down shirt. The only thing the kid seems to be missing is Russell’s comb-over style haircut and his illustrious plaid pants. Maybe a pair of checkered Joe Boxer pajama pants would have sufficed for Josh. The video, which is posted on YouTube, has reached over 839,000 views and 554 comments. And it doesn’t stop there: The Ellen Degeneres show as well as the Sports Illustrated and USA Today websites have featured the video too. Not to mention that The Minnesota Wild and The University of Minnesota have contacted Jim, and the Nashville Predators invited Josh to recreate the speech for a scoreboard video that will debut during the team's home opener on October 8th. One of the most impressive parts about Rizzo’s interpretation of Russell is that he is unable to even read yet. Meaning that there was no speech coach or script to help Josh along the way. But what’s next for Josh? With the 2010 Winter Olympics only months away and the U.S hockey team skating is as an underdog, maybe they need a little Josh Sacco to push them in the right direction. “Tonight we skate wif em. Tonight we stay wif em and we shut them down because we can.” – Josh Saaco. Check out the video, it's sure to make your day.