BOSTON – Former Suffolk men's hockey player John Gilpatrick, who was paralyzed in January 1996 and walked again five years later, will be featured in a short sports film airing in the premiere of NESN Next Producers Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 p.m.
NESN is launching season 2 of NESN Next Producer immediately following the Bruins post-game show. Part Shark Tank, part America's Got Talent, the innovate series showcases New England college filmmakers who create short sports films with the hope of winning $20,000 and a job opportunity at NESN.
The weekly series will feature two student produced films and backstories on the filmmakers during each of the first six episodes. The film shorts are judged by two legendary Hollywood producers with local ties – television Hall of Famer and Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner and renowned Co-creator/Executive Producer, Brad Falchuck (Glee, American Horror Story, Scream Queens, etc.).
Emerson students Brooke Goshtigian and Mia Doyon retell the inspiring story of Gilpatrick in the short film, "Bar Down." On January 25, 1996 Gilpatrick collided with another player and went crashing into a goal post at Walter Brown – the same arena where just four months earlier Boston University's Travis Roy was paralyzed after taking a spill into the boards. Unlike Roy, four-and-a-half years later, Gilpatrick was able to walk again. He began getting a burning sensation in his chest a week before his first steps.
There is a lot of speculation as to why Gilpatrick can walk again. The spine never severed, so maybe the blood collected and dissipated and started to flow again. Or, perhaps, it was just sheer willpower.
In 2000, the same year Gilpatrick began to walk again, he acted as assistant coach at Suffolk. He graduated in May 2000 on the same day as Roy.
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, NESN posted the top-12 short films on the show's website – NESNNext.com. Viewers can watch and vote for their favorite with the winning student filmmaker receiving a $1,000 cash prize. NESN selected students from nine different New England colleges and universities to showcase their work.
To view Goshtigian and Doyon's short film on the Rams' legend, visit NESNNext.com.