U16 Assistant Coach Justin Felhaber ’14. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
The 2025-26 season has started for the Northwood boys 16U hockey team. The team played two games against the Buffalo Jr. Sabres on September 13-14 at the Nexus Center in Utica. This was their first time playing together as a team.
While the games did not go as they had hoped – losing 5-2 and 3-1 – Assistant Coach Justin Felhaber ’14 noted, “For being our first weekend, we went and played against a highly ranked 16U team that has played together for a few years and played more games.” Northwood’s 16U team had only been playing together for about ten days before they headed to Utica. “We kind of expected this would be a great challenge. It was ultimately positive. We did a very good job bouncing back, and we did not lose our confidence throughout the games. Our belief in ourselves really helped us coming into the second game getting some very good chances,” Coach Felhaber ’14 added.
“The boys played strong; now just got to play into our systems, and we will be fine for the next games,” Ethan Fitzpatrick ‘27 said.
As this is the first season in several years that Northwood has offered a 16U hockey team, it is a season of firsts. Kelly Matozzo ‘28 scored the first goal, down low from a pass from the point by Luca Staffieri ‘27. Remember their names; they have become part of Northwood’s rich hockey history and may even become the answer to a school trivia question one day.
Coach Felhaber ‘14 named a few standouts from the first games. “I got to give my hat off to the new guys, it is always a challenge getting acclimated to a new team. Chase Brock ‘27 as well, he really established himself as a leader on this team, and his positivity was really infectious through the squad this weekend.”
This week, the team has been practicing daily. Coach Felhaber ’14 says the focus has been on “locking down our D zone and transition game. With another week together working on systems as a team, it will set a solid foundation for the rest of the season.”
The team is looking forward to the upcoming Yale Showcase on September 20 – 21, in Hamden, Connecticut. They will be playing against the Valley Forge Minutemen and Boston Advantage. Their goal is to record the first of many wins this season.
