The catharsis of sport touched West Haven, CT, in the most wonderful way.
Doug Caliendo, a 17-year-old who plays defence for Notre Dame High School, fired his team’s game-winning overtime goal versus Northwest Catholic Wednesday — mere hours after colon cancer took his father’s life.
“I came out to the point, stepped into it and let it go and it hit the net. I was happy,” Caliendo said. “My father was the first thing that came to my mind. He was the one who got me into this sport.”
The footage is moving, and the response — as evidenced by Caliendo’s Twitter timeline — has been remarkable.
Doug was asked what advice his dad, Lou, would have given him about playing the game.
“Knowing my father for so long, he really loved the sport and always wanted me to play,” Doug said. “He would have said, ‘Just get out there and do what I do best.’ ”
Doug’s Green Knights were actually down 2-0 in the third period before rallying to win 3-2 in the extra frame.
