Student at Chapman's Retreat Appears on Ellen

Published October 15, 2009

He's only five years old, but Chapman's Retreat kindergarten student Josh Sacco has already achieved a level of fame few people will ever experience.  With more than one million hits on YouTube, Josh's spot-on impersonation of actor Kurt Russell as U.S. Olympic Hockey Coach Herb Brooks in the movie "Miracle" has become a bona-fide internet sensation.

Being an avid hockey fan, Josh memorized the movie's inspirational locker room speech by watching the film repeatedly.  His father wanted to share it with relatives so he videotaped Josh and put it on YouTube.  But according to Josh's mother, it wasn't long before the video became a huge hit.  "All of a sudden it just started to catch fire," said Julie Sacco.  Before they knew it, Josh was being featured in everything from USA Today to espn.com.

In October, Josh and his family were flown out to Los Angeles so that he could appear on the Ellen Degeneres Show.  Josh performed his speech in front of a studio audience and Ellen presented him with tickets to see the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  But even the pressure of performing on national TV wasn't enough to scare Josh.  "I wasn't nervous," said Josh.  "I loved it."  Select this LINK to watch Josh's appearance on Ellen.