The Newark Generals hockey team fought for an emotional win on the sixth of February.
The emotion stemmed from the celebration of Senior Night before the game, where the six seniors were recognized, one of whom was Daniel Layne, a student at Utica High School.
Layne was honored alongside Brenin Owen, Blake Sauberzweig, Mason Williams, Lucas Purington and Nash Watling.
When the seniors made their way to center ice, they first passed through a tunnel of young hockey players, a long-standing tradition that helps the seniors reminisce about what they once were—a young competitor, weighed down by their own gear.
Senior Night isn’t just important to the players; it is also a cause for celebration and appreciation from the coaches.
Patrick Brighton, the coach of the Generals’ varsity team, highlighted the significance of the night.
“Both the players and their parents are rightfully and properly honored in front of our community for, oftentimes, over a decade of relentless pursuit of a sport we all love,” Brighton told the Mount Vernon News. “The emotion of the evening, and the tears shed by parents, players and coaches, could only occur because of the dedication we all had for each other and for our sport.”
Seven goals were scored to secure the victory, one of which was a rebound tapped in for a goal by Payton Bell, with Layne making it easy by getting the puck near the net for an assist.
Senior Mason Williams and junior Jake Johnson got the job done with a go-ahead goal off the faceoff late in the first period, giving the Generals a one-goal lead going into the second period.
The match ended with a final score of 7-4.
Layne is not the only Redskin on the team—his teammate Koen Fischer, also from Utica, plays alongside him.
While Fischer is a junior, he has spent seasons with Layne on the team and greatly admires his upperclassman.
“It was a privilege to play under him because of how hardworking he is, both on and off the ice,” Fischer told the Mount Vernon News. “Even though he wasn’t a captain, he still took on a leadership role and was a great role model to look up to.”
Fischer also lit the lamp on Senior Night with a shot through multiple opponents in the second period, as well as assisting Johnson on a goal.
It’s safe to say the thrilling, high-scoring game elicited celebration from the large crowd, and many of the seniors had personal fan zones cheering them on.
Layne’s coach appreciated his communication skills, both “the enjoyable and the tough.”
“When we communicated, it felt like I was conversing with a peer rather than a child,” Brighton said. “Physically, he was respectful by making eye contact and giving a firm handshake. Mentally, he would be thoughtful in his questions and answers, while also truly considering the responses.”
From leadership to companionship to raw talent, it’s safe to say that this class of seniors will leave a lasting impact on the team.
As the goal horn sounded for the final time on the night honoring the seniors’ high school careers, emotions ran high, but so did the scoreboard.
