High school hockey player scores OT goal hours after father's death

BY foxsports • February 4, 2016

Doug Caliendo paid tribute to his late father the best way he knew how - by scoring an overtime goal in his honor.

Hours after his father, Lou, lost his battle with colon cancer, the Notre Dame-West Haven (Conn.) senior defenseman summoned the strength to compete in Wednesday afternoon's clash with Northwest Catholic-West Hartford. After his blast ended the contest just 25 seconds into overtime, Caliendo promptly pointed to the sky to honor his father before he was mobbed by his teammates.

Via GameTimeCT:

"Knowing my father for so long, he really loved the sport and always wanted me to play. He would have said, 'Just get out there and do what I do best.' "

Caliendo scored three goals this season for the fourth-ranked Green Knights, but none bigger than the one on Wednesday.

Are you kidding me? A goal from above, Doug Caliendo lights the lamp in OT. Lou helped that one get past the goalie too! ND wins 3-2. #cthk
— Notre Dame HSWH (@notredamewh) February 3, 2016

A stick tap also goes out to Northwest Catholic-West Hartford, which donated to #Strong4Lou in honor of Caliendo.