Connecticut high school hockey player scored game-winning goal hours after his father died
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Doug Caliendo, a senior at Notre Dame High School in West Haven, Connecticut, was able to find a ray of happiness in a day filled with heartbreak.
Caliendo’s father, Lou, died Wednesday morning after a long battle with colon cancer. Hours later, Caliendo decided to honor his father by suiting up and playing in his hockey team’s game against Northwest Catholic, GameTime Inc. reported.
“Knowing my father for so long, he really loved the sport and always wanted me to play,’’ Caliendo told GameTime Inc. “He would have said, ‘Just get out there and do what I do best.’’’
Caliendo’s Green Knights were down two goals in the third period but tied the game, forcing overtime.
Less than 25 seconds into the extra period, Caliendo—who had scored only three goals this season—scored the game-winning goal.
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“I came out to the point, stepped into it and let it go and it hit the net. I was happy,’’ Caliendo told Gametime Inc. “My father was the first thing that came to my mind. He was the one who got me into this sport.’’
“He probably would have said, ‘At least you hit the net finally,’’’ he added.
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Read the full story at GameTime Inc.
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