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front row<br />
focus<br />
Spencer<br />
Knight<br />
Interviewed and written by Emily Peters<br />
Photos by Eliot J. Schechter and Lauren Sopourn<br />
Most people you meet in life<br />
want to help you achieve<br />
your goals. Spencer Knight<br />
however, is tasked with doing<br />
the exact opposite.<br />
“I don’t remember my life<br />
before hockey.”<br />
As the 2019 first round, 13th overall draft pick, Knight<br />
is one of two goaltenders currently on the Florida<br />
Panthers <strong>2022</strong>-23 season roster. Making his introductory<br />
appearance just one day after his twentieth<br />
birthday, the ice hockey prodigy is currently the youngest<br />
goalie in the NHL.<br />
“I want to put forth my best effort, win for my team, have<br />
a positive impact on my community down here, and do all<br />
that with a smile. As professional athletes, we should hold<br />
ourselves to a high standard, no matter what age.”<br />
The Darien, Connecticut native has been skating since<br />
he was two-years-old, continuing his generational familial<br />
passion for the sport.<br />
“Both my parents played in school, and put me on<br />
ice skates at such an early age, that it became a natural<br />
routine. I knew once the winter months approached, it<br />
was hockey season... and I was ready.”<br />
Joining the USA Hockey National Team Development<br />
Program in 2018, Knight set an all-time record<br />
by winning 59 games in two seasons. The talented<br />
netminder continued on, playing for the Boston<br />
College Eagles, where as a sophomore he was<br />
named the Hockey East Goaltender of the Year, and<br />
was a two-time finalist for the Mike Richter Award.<br />
COPYRIGHTED<br />
60 | DECember <strong>2022</strong> | www.<strong>Atlantic</strong><strong>Ave</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.com
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