Owen MacLean

Faculty Member Attends Winter Olympic Games

February 14, 2026 by Owen MacLean

Mr. Felhaber (4th from left, middle row) at the Olympic Winter Games with his girlfriend’s family and friends. Photo: Summer Britcher/Instagram.

Northwood students and staff have been busy watching the Winter Olympic events happening at the Milano Cortina games on TV and streaming on their phones or laptops. While we are watching from afar in Lake Placid, Mr. Justin Felhaber ’14 has had a front-row seat to the Olympic Games. He is currently in Italy, taking it all in.

Speaking with Mr. Felhaber from Italy, he tells us that he will be at the Olympics for nine days. He is there to support his girlfriend, Summer Britcher, who is competing for Team USA in the Women’s Singles Luge event. She competed on February 9^th and 10^th.

The Games are primarily using existing venues across Northern Italy, including sites from the 1956 Winter Olympics and the 2013 Winter Universiade. Most ice events, such as hockey, speed skating, and figure skating, are being held in Milan. In contrast, the sliding and snow events are held in three main areas: Cortina (alpine skiing, biathlon, curling, bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton), Valtellina (snowboarding and freestyle), and Val di Fiemme (ski jumping and cross-country skiing).

Summer Britcher is competing in the Women’s Singles Luge event in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Photo: Summer Britcher/Instagram

Mr. Felhaber is currently based in Cortina. “I am staying up the road in Vodo Di Cadore with her family,” he said.

There will be 116 medal events across 16 disciplines during the Games. Mr. Felhaber will be taking part in a few events: “I attended all of the luge disciplines and mixed doubles curling,” he said. He added that he has been having a really great time.

In asking Mr. Felhaber what his favorite Olympic moment has been so far, he says, “Getting to watch my girlfriend walk during the opening ceremonies was awesome. We were lucky to get a front row view and share the special moment with her.”

And finally, you cannot go to Italy without experiencing its famous cuisine. Mr. Felhaber says the best food he has had on the trip is pizza. “I have eaten pizza almost every day. The Cafe Crodo in Cortina was our favorite spot.”

We are looking forward to having Mr. Felhaber back on campus soon. Hopefully, he has some good stories to share.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports

Students Excited for the Winter Olympics

February 6, 2026 by Owen MacLean

Northwood has an exciting few weeks ahead, where student-athletes and students from around the world can cheer on their favorite athletes and countrymen at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy. This will be the 25^th edition of the Winter Olympic Games. The events will run from February 6 – 22, 2026.

Photo credit: nbcolympics.com.

It is expected that the student lounge will be busy after school and in the mornings, as students catch up on the day’s events. The Opening Ceremonies are on February 6 in Milan, with singer Mariah Carey and Italian opera great Andrea Bocelli performing. The highlight of the ceremonies is the athlete parade, where 92 nations will enter the stadium. It is expected that there will be over 2,800 athletes in the parade. It is always popular to see what each country’s team uniform looks like. This year, Team USA’s uniforms are designed by Ralph Lauren, and Team Canada’s by Lululemon. A survey of Northwood students found that about 5% were planning to watch the Opening Ceremonies on Friday.

There will be 116 medal events in 16 disciplines. The new sports for these Olympics are men’s and women’s dual moguls. So, what sports is Northwood most looking forward to? Here is a breakdown of the top sports that students and staff are getting ready to watch from an unscientific survey of 45 students:

“I am obviously excited to watch Team Canada for hockey, but I will definitely be watching ski jumping. It is a really cool sport, and it is also really cool that I can cheer on a former Northwood guy, Tate Frantz, who’s jumping for the USA,” said Canadian Charles Pigeon ’26.

Northwood has a long history of having former students compete in the games. In 2026, we will all be cheering on Kevin Drury for Team Canada in ski cross and Tate Frantz on Team USA for ski jumping. We hope to see them medal!

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World, Sports, Top Story

Skating History: Prep Hockey Players Take on the Rideau Canal

February 2, 2026 by Owen MacLean

Skating on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. Photo provided.

The Prep Hockey team had the weekend of January 24-25 off from games. It is unusual to have a weekend off in the last half of the season, so a small group of players decided to leave Lake Placid for a little road trip up to Ottawa, Ontario. Devin Smith ’26, Cody and Kevin Betsch ’26, and Parker Thompson ’26 headed across the border to stay at my house. The goal of the trip was to skate on the Rideau Canal.

So, what is the big deal about skating on the Rideau Canal? Well, firstly, the canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America. After the War of 1812, information regarding the United States’ plans to invade Upper Canada from Upstate New York along the St. Lawrence River was received. This would have severed access from Montreal, Quebec, to Kingston, Ontario. To ensure safe passage for military vessels between the two cities, a 125 -mile canal route was planned. Construction of the canal took six years. As many as 1,000 men died building the canal, mostly from malaria. In the end, the United States never took military action, and the canal became a well-used shipping lane. Today, the canal is mainly used in the summer by boaters sailing between rivers. In the winter, Ottawa maintains a 4.8-mile stretch of the canal in the downtown area for skating, where you can see the Parliament Building (the Canadian equivalent of the White House).

We left on Friday after school and crossed the border into Canada. The trip from Lake Placid to Ottawa is quick. It takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes, and the drive is about 138 miles from school to my house. Our plans looked a bit precarious when we saw the weather forecast. A massive storm system was moving up the US, and Ottawa was supposed to be one of the coldest places on earth that weekend. Our plan to skate the full length of the canal was not looking promising. The temperatures were projected to be about -22 degrees Fahrenheit, with a wind chill of -34 degrees.

So, we bundled up on Saturday night with the guys borrowing neck gaiters to cover their faces and warmer gloves and headed down to skate the canal. “It was pretty cold, my neck warmer froze, and my eyelashes froze over,” Kevin Betsch ’26 said.

We were not sure how long we could skate in the freezing cold, but once we got out there and the canal was lit up, we decided to skate the whole length back and forth and covered 9.6 miles. “I thought it was gorgeous; the lights and the parts of downtown we got to see were amazing. It was an experience I will never forget,” Devin Smith ’26 said.

Near the end of our skate, we stopped for an Ottawa delicacy, a Beavertail: fried dough that is stretched into the shape of a beaver’s tail and topped with cinnamon and sugar, or maple spread. “They were really good. I really liked the maple on it; it was a lot different than the fake stuff we get here,” Betsch said. It was so cold we stopped to sit in a warming hut to eat our Beavertails so our hands didn’t freeze.

This was a fun weekend to share with some of my teammates, so they could experience a bit of Canada and see some of the special things Ottawa has to offer. It was an experience they will never forget.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

ADK Science Class Attends Aerials World Cup

January 25, 2026 by Owen MacLean

The FIS Freestyle Skiing Aerials World Cup was in Lake Placid on January 11-12. It was originally supposed to be in Utah, but due to climate change, it was relocated to Lake Placid. This was the final World Cup event before the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. This was a critical event for the athletes before they head to Cortina, Italy, to compete for a gold medal.

Aerials are one of the most exciting winter sports to watch. Athletes perform crazy flips and twists trying to get the highest score based on their form, air, and landing. The higher the difficulty of the trick, the higher the score.

Ms. Fagan’s ADK classes had the opportunity to watch the men’s and women’s freestyle finals on Monday afternoon. For most students, this was the first time they had seen an event like this in person. “It was one of the coolest events I have ever seen, and I was so glad we did this trip as a class.” Said Devin Smith 26′

The events featured some high-flying tricks and two first-time World Cup winners on the podium. On the women’s side, Michigan native, Kaila Kuhn, won with a score of 105.60 by completing a back-full-full-full. Kuhn is on the US national team and headed to Italy. In second place was reigning Olympic Champion Mengtao Xu from China, and in third was Danielle Scott from Australia. On the men’s side, 20-year-old Li Xinpeng from China won the event with a massive back full-double-full-double-full, scoring 137.19 points. A huge margin of win over his teammate Wang Xindi, who scored 112.0 points, and Canadian Miha Fontaine, with 107.73 points, in third place. “I thought the winners definitely had the best technique and control. They were not going for a ton of air like the other athletes, and they performed their tricks with a lot of precision. Especially Xinpeng that day, he was on another level compared to the rest of the field.” Stated Smith.

Attending school in Lake Placid offers great opportunities to see elite athletes compete at Olympic venues. This experience has gotten students excited to watch the upcoming Olympics. “I’m really excited after getting to see these athletes in person to watch them on the big stage.” Said Smith. The Olympic Winter Games will be happening from February 6-22, 2026.

Photos by Ms. Marcy Fagan

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Humans of Northwood: Parker Thompson ’26

January 25, 2026 by Owen MacLean

“I am from Akwesasne, New York, about an hour away from Northwood. It is right on the border of New York and Ontario. Before I came here, I played for a team in Ontario called the Hawkesbury Hawks.

“My favorite artist depends on how I am feeling in the day, but of everyone, it has to be Post Malone.

“Definitely my favorite place to eat in town is Soulshine. For home games, my pregame routine is usually walk into town and go there.

“I chose Northwood because it was the first prep school I visited, and I fell in love with it when I toured. I then got to skate with the prep team, and after my skate, Coach Mallaro told me I had a spot on the team for the next year, so it was a straightforward decision.

“My favorite part about Northwood is all the different things you get to experience, like LEAP, which you can only experience here. As well as all the people you meet and how close you become to them.

“My best memory has to be all the team dinners and bus rides with my teammates. They are unforgettable experiences that have given me the best memories that will last the rest of my life.

“My plans after Northwood are to play junior hockey for two years. I then want to go to college and pursue a degree in business.

“The best advice for anyone coming here is to enjoy whatever happens here and don’t take anything for granted. My three years have flown by, and I wish I could experience it all over again.”

As told to Owen MacLean ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Humans of Northwood: Adam Sherman ’26

January 13, 2026 by Owen MacLean

“I’m from Saratoga Springs, New York, which is about an hour and forty-five minutes from Northwood. Before coming here, I played on the North Jersey Avalanche. We were in billet houses there, so getting to be in dorms with all the guys is a way different experience.

“I chose Northwood for the profound hockey program we have here. I thought it would be the best thing for me to play the highest-level 18U competition while developing on ice with the resources available and strong academics for my senior year.

“My favorite part about being at Northwood is the tight-knit community we have. Getting to hang out with the boys every day has been the best, and you get to build lasting memories with everyone.

“My best memory at Northwood so far was when my team went to the Pittsburgh Pirates game. It was at the start of the season, so it was a good way to hang out with all the guys while also being a really cool ballpark. The fireworks after the game on the bridge, too, were something I won’t forget. That whole night has been one of the best for sure.

“My plans after Northwood are to play junior hockey. I want to play NCAA Division I hockey after and major in business, finance, or sports management.

“My favorite artist has to be the Lumineers. I got to see them at a concert this summer back home, and it was the best concert I have ever been to.

“The best advice I could give to someone is not to concern yourself about the future and what is not happening now, to only focus on the present and what you can do to get better in the moment.”

As told to Owen MacLean. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Favorite Christmas Movies Around Northwood

December 20, 2025 by Owen MacLean

December has quickly arrived at Northwood, and the Christmas spirit is taking over. Decorations are starting to go up, and students are getting excited for the upcoming break. One of the most popular activities at Northwood in December is beginning to watch Christmas movies. You will see athletes on the bus watching films, or groups of students getting together in their rooms or lounges to watch.

Photo credits: 20^th Century Fox and Film Art Gallery

A quick survey of students produced a list of the most popular Christmas movies on campus. Here is the rundown of the top 5 choices:

#5 – How the Grinch Stole Christmas

This live-action movie came out in 2000 and stars Jim Carrey. It tells the story of the Grinch and his dog Max, who sneak down from the mountain to steal everything holiday-related from Whoville. This is a solid, funny film that people watch over and over. It has become extremely popular to wear Grinch merchandise, such as sweaters, t-shirts, and pajama pants, during the holiday season.

#4 – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

This comedy came out in 1989 and is a true classic! The film stars Chevy Chase as the bumbling Clark Griswold, who tries to give his family the perfect Christmas, but nothing but trouble follows him. It’s not unusual to hear people quoting the movie, and everyone knows exactly what scene the quote comes from. Here’s a couple of examples, “I don’t know, Margooooo!” and “Hallelujah! Where’s the Tylenol?”

#3 – Home Alone 2

This is the 1992 sequel to Home Alone, and Macaulay Culkin reprises his role as Kevin McCallister, who is once again left behind by his parents as they head to Florida. Kevin ends up this time in New York City at the Plaza Hotel and takes down the Wet Bandits again. Here’s a fun fact: the future President of the United States, Donald Trump, plays himself in the movie and directs Kevin in the lobby of the Plaza Hotel.

#2 – Elf

The second-most-popular Christmas film at Northwood is Elf, released in 2003. This stars Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf. He was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a baby and raised with Santa’s elves. Buddy heads back to New York City to find his real dad and brings Christmas chaos with him. This movie has lots of famous quotes, too, that you will hear, like “Son of a nutcracker” and “I’m a cotton-headed ninny muggins.”

#1 – Home Alone

Without a doubt, the most popular Christmas film at Northwood is the original Home Alone. This movie was released in 1990 and made Macaulay Culkin a massive star, playing Kevin McCallister. He gets left at home while his family leaves for Paris for Christmas. This is a classic movie that every kid has watched, and it was so popular that it was the highest-grossing live-action comedy for over 20 years. The movie was even nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. Home Alone is considered one of the best Christmas films of all time. You will never forget hearing, “I made my family disappear,” or “Keep the change, you filthy animal.” This is the film that made generations of kids think they could take on the criminals and save Christmas. It’s an authentic feel- good classic.

Make sure you take some time over the next few weeks to enjoy some of these selections with your friends. It’s a Christmas tradition.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Humans of Northwood: Cooper Plotts ‘26

December 5, 2025 by Owen MacLean

“I’m from Ponte Vedra, Florida, which is about a 3.5-hour flight from Lake Placid. I played for South Kent School in Connecticut before I came to Northwood. I chose Northwood for the Prep hockey team being very strong, while also having good academics.

“My favorite part about Northwood is playing hockey every day and playing against some of the best teams. I also love having all my friends here and being together all the time in the dorms.

“My favorite place to eat in town definitely has to be Luna’s. The best thing there is the penne a la vodka with chicken.

“My plans after I graduate from Northwood are to play junior hockey. After juniors, I would like to play NCAA hockey, where I would want to major in business or psychology.

“The best memory I have at Northwood is getting to hang out with all my friends in the dorms. It is an atmosphere you can’t describe, and you become so close with the guys. I also love playing golf with my friends in the spring. It’s always fun after class to go straight to the course.

“The best advice I could give is to be in the moment. This means not focusing on what has happened before or what will happen in the future. Focus on the present and be in that moment and enjoy it as you only get one try at it.”

As told to Owen MacLean ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Hartford Wolfpack Practice in Lake Placid

December 5, 2025 by Owen MacLean

Photo: Hartford Wolf Pack.

After the morning practice on November 5th, the Boys Prep and Varsity teams got a massive surprise on the 1932 rink, when the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack came on the rink after them to practice. The Prep team had the chance to watch the Wolfpack practice before heading back to school.

“I just really liked seeing how skilled everyone was, and they were all extremely dialled. They did not make any mistakes,” noted Charles Pigeon ‘26

The team’s reason for practicing in Lake Placid is unknown, but professional teams have been known to come into town to play on the Olympic rinks to try to break their losing streaks. The Wolfpack have started the season with a losing record of 3-6. So maybe this was a special trip to our local area to try to help out their season. Or it may be because they were making their way north to Montreal, Quebec to play the Laval Rockets on Friday night.

The Hartford Wolfpack is the AHL farm team for the New York Rangers. The team is pretty young, with several really well-known former junior and NCAA players on the Roster. Parker Thompson ’26 is a close family friend of Carey Terrance. “We always grew up together. Our parents are very close. We train together in the off-season, and I hang out with him a lot back home,” said Thompson. Terrance was the captain last season for the OHL’s Erie Otters and gold medal winner at the 2025 World Junior Championships for Team USA. Former OHL champion with the Peterborough Petes and 2023 World Junior Champion for Team Canada, Brennan Othmann, was also on the ice. As well as Gabe Perrault, last year’s Hockey East Champion with Boston College and teammate of Terrance on Team USA at the 2025 World Junior Championships. Perrault would be called up to the New York Rangers later that week.

The opportunity to watch these players up close is a unique experience. Thompson noted, “The main difference between their practice and ours was the nonstop communication between guys. They could also just do things at a lot higher pace.” It’s an opportunity to see up close what it takes to make it to the next level in pro hockey.

While their practice at the Lake Placid Olympic Center did not break their losing streak. The Wolfpack ended up losing 4-2 to the Laval Rocket on Friday night and 2-1 to the Belleville Sens on Saturday night, it hopefully was a fun experience for their players to get a taste of Lake Placid and learn a little bit about the history of the rinks.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Canadian vs American Thanksgiving: A Comparison

November 11, 2025 by Owen MacLean

Illustration: southlakeessential.com

Many students come from Canada to the United States to attend Northwood. Most of the holidays between the two countries are the same, except Thanksgiving. It truly is a cultural difference you wouldn’t expect to see coming from Canada, given how important Thanksgiving is here. “This is my second year in the U.S now, and seeing Thanksgiving here definitely was different from back home, with some things being the same,” said Quebec resident Henrik Hinse ’26.

Here is a comparison of Thanksgiving between the two countries. You can see they are both quite unique in how they celebrate.

Date. In Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. This typically marks the end of the harvest season before the weather changes. Canadians have a shorter agricultural season due to being farther north. In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. This lines up with the end of the fall harvest and the start of the holiday season.

History. The first celebration of Thanksgiving in Canada dates to 1578, when explorer Martin Frobisher held a ceremony in Newfoundland to give thanks for his safe voyage from England. Thanksgiving was later influenced by European harvest festivals. In 1957, the Canadian government officially set the date in October to celebrate Thanksgiving. On the American side, the historical origins of Thanksgiving trace back to Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the Pilgrims and the native Wampanoag people held a three-day feast to symbolize cooperation and gratitude. Congress passed a law in 1941 to officially set the date of Thanksgiving in November.

Food. Here we are the same. The holiday meal typically features turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.

Traditions. Thanksgiving in Canada is very low-key. We do get Monday off from school or work. Most people have their big Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday and use Monday to rest. It is common to go for a walk in the forest to look at the fall colors. There are a couple of CFL football games on, and many people use the holiday Monday to prepare their flower beds for winter. There are no big shopping or sales.

On the other hand, Thanksgiving in the United States is a major national holiday. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is on TV. There are lots of NFL and college football games on. It is also one of the busiest travel days of the year. Thanksgiving rolls into Black Friday, and many people take this day off to start their Christmas shopping. It is a much more festive experience.

With the extra festivities in the United States, many Canadians have adopted some new traditions to bring back home and perhaps celebrate Thanksgiving twice a year. “In my family back home, we never really do Thanksgiving, so I for sure might bring it back,” said Quebec resident Theodore Ghanime ’26.