Mark and Jesse Woinicki’s Father-Son Bond Concluded with a Warrior National Championship
As the clock was ticking down, Jesse Woinicki entered the offensive zone while controlling the puck.
Woinicki’s New Jersey Warriors were competing in the Tier 5 championship match at this year’s USA Hockey-Long Drink Warrior National Championships, which took place from April 23-26 in the Dallas region.
Leading 4-0, New Jersey was on track to secure the title. During a power-play opportunity in the final minute of the game, Woinicki skated wide to draw the defenders of the Dallas Stars Warriors away from the goal. He passed to one of two teammates in his line of sight, and that player shot and scored with 44 seconds left, marking the final goal of the match.
“I intended to pull the defenders wide and pass it to whoever was available,” Woinicki stated. “It just happened to be my father.”
Indeed, the 29-year-old Jesse assisted on a goal scored by his 65-year-old father, Mark Woinicki.
“This was the first time we connected for a goal in organized hockey,” Jesse remarked. “To have it happen in the national championship is simply incredible.”
New Jersey coach Ted Curtin had kept Mark on the ice late in his shift, hoping for this outcome. It was Mark’s only goal in the tournament.
“Everyone on the team wanted Mark to score,” Curtin noted.
“I was exhausted, and they told me to ‘Stay out,’ so I remained on the ice,” Mark recounted. “I moved into the high slot, and he passed it to me. It felt great, and I put it in.”
The team celebrated enthusiastically at the father-son goal, which concluded New Jersey’s sixth consecutive victory after the team lost its initial game in the preliminary round.
“Ending the tournament on that note is certainly a high point,” Jesse expressed. “You could sense the team’s excitement that we were able to connect as father and son.”
“He was definitely at the end of his shift and trying to catch his breath. It was great that he still had enough energy to take that shot and score.”
This goal is just one of many memorable moments Jesse and Mark have experienced together over the years.
In addition to both playing hockey, the father and son also officiate games. They both served in the Air Force and currently work together in civilian aviation maintenance.
Mark retired from the Air Force in 2002 after over 21 years of service. Jesse aspires to do the same one day. He continues to serve in the Air Force Reserve at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, despite his disability rating.
“You can have a disability rating and still serve,” Jesse explained. “I truly enjoy serving this country. I look forward to continuing for the long haul, that’s for sure. If I’m able, I can’t imagine not serving.”
Like his father, Jesse started as an aircraft crew chief and later became an aeromedical evacuation technician.
Jesse then followed in his father’s footsteps after Mark began participating in Warrior Hockey.
Both share a deep appreciation for the discipline and its annual national tournament.
“When you leave active duty or depart from your military units, you feel like family and miss them,” Mark stated. “It brings that sense of camaraderie back. You rely on one another, and there are individuals from all walks of life.”
“The Warrior program is incredibly beneficial, beyond just playing hockey. You find so much in common. Regardless of the team you’re on, there’s a lot of shared experiences. It’s good for the mind and the spirit. I’m grateful it exists.”
As Jesse highlighted, the Warrior Hockey National Championships offer off-ice resources to assist the veterans participating in the event. He noted that regardless of the jerseys they wear, players exchange their experiences and challenges with one another.
This year marked Jesse’s second appearance at nationals, and it is likely not the last for either him or his father.
“Bringing all these veterans together, I’ve never been part of anything like it,” Jesse remarked. “We all come from different backgrounds, but the commonality is that we’ve all served. No matter which branch we were in, we’re all brothers and sisters at the end of the day. Everyone shares a passion for hockey as well.”
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
