High School Hockey Player Scores Overtime Game Winner Just Hours After Losing His Dad
I mean, how do you not get goosebumps after watching that? Such an incredible and memorable moment for that kid. I’m lucky enough to still have both my parents right now so I can’t even imagine what Doug Caliendo’s life has been like over the past 24 hours. But what a way to be able to remember your dad like this. To not only have the strength to play in the game the same day, but to have the strength to rocket home that clapper in overtime. It’s something special. I’d have to imagine that without the game, Doug Caliendo probably looks back on this day as a day of sadness, a day that he lost one of the most important people in the world to him. But he’s a kid that’s tough as nails, laced up the skates, played through the pain and now hopefully he can look back on this day later in life as a special moment in his. That’s pretty fucking awesome.
You see moments like this happen every so often across all sports. And it’s just a small reminder of why we love them so much. Stories about human perseverance. You get to see great men (and women, but good work trying to mousetrap me, Jezebel) accomplish great things. You get that whole roller coaster of emotions and it’s cool. To see a kid like Doug Caliendo go from one of the lower points in his life to one of the highest all with just one slap shot, well that’s special. Stick taps to Doug, stick taps to his family, stick taps to his team and even the opposing team who donated to the #Strong4Lou fund like a real class act. Once I find a link to donate to #Strong4Lou, I’ll be sure to throw it up here.
