The Jewish Link and The Humble Toast would like to recognize Noah Weinstein as this week’s Sportstar of the Week. The third grader at Ben Porat Yosef, lives in Englewood and plays goalie for the shomer Shabbat Avalanche ice hockey travel team, in the 10U division (3rd and 4th grades), and in his very first game in September as goalie for the Avalanche, he earned his first shutout—not allowing a single goal. Since then, he has been a pivotal contributor to the Avalanche’s strong record this season. Playing goalie is a psychologically challenging position; it is hard to stay positive when you can’t stop every shot from finding the back of the net, and when all eyes are on you. Besides being a highly athletic and aggressive goaltender who routinely stops break-aways with his active stick work and ability to cut off the best shooting angles of his opponents, Noah keeps his head up and moves on to the next play when he occasionally allows a goal. This sets the tone for the entire team— a team that is comprised of players from diverse Jewish communities across Bergen, Essex and Rockland counties. As the team’s opponents are, for the most part, not Jewish, Noah and his teammates are consistently demonstrating the value of kiddush Hashem with their sportsmanship and team-wide solidarity.
Noah, congratulations on being recognized as this week’s sportstar of the week. Who is your role model and why?
My older brother Joseph is my role model, because he taught me how to play every sport, and because he always encourages me no matter how well I am playing
What is your favorite sport?
My favorite sport is ice hockey, because I like the feeling of being on the ice, and I like the feeling of stopping someone else from scoring
What is your earliest sports memory?
When my skating teacher was teaching me how to do crossovers when I was 4 years old
What is your greatest sports accomplishment?
My greatest sports accomplishment is not giving up on playing goalie, even though it is tough sometimes
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
Jeremy Swayman, the goalie of the Boston Bruins, because he makes unusual, ridiculous saves. And also because most people don’t know, but he had a bar mitzvah
What is your pregame routine?
I eat popcorn in the car on the way to the game. I also listen to AC/DC in the car to hype me up. When I am warming up on the ice, I slide across all four corners of the goalie crease
What is your funniest sports memory?
Playing goalie for the first time in practice. I didn’t even have the right helmet on or a jersey to fit over my pads
What do you like to do when you are not playing sports?
Playing with my pet tortoise, Freddie, and making Rainbow Loom designs
What is your favorite sports moment?
Playing ultimate Frisbee at school and catching aired out passes from my friend Eli
What is the best thing about being a Sportstar?
Making ultimate goalie saves
The Humble Toast Sportstar of the Week will receive a $25 gift card to The Humble Toast. Please send nominees for an upcoming The Humble Toast Jewish Link Sportstar of the Week to [email protected]