Sidelined by Injury, Teen a Hockey Star on the Rise

What a difference a year makes.

Sixteen-year-old Township resident Steven Windt is probably saying that every time he takes to the ice.

Just a year ago, Steven, a junior at and active hockey player, was sidelined for emergency surgery to remove his appendix. 

Add to the unfortunate stew both recent concussions and a broken collarbone.

"It was the worst time imaginable because it was tryout time for hockey and he wanted to play for a Junior Hockey team," said Paula Windt, Steven's mother. "Well, he couldn't try out, not for any team. We all were so upset because who would want Steven if they couldn't see him tryout? He was devastated."

Devastated, but not out of it.

Lou Windt, Steven's father, made a phone call the New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey organization. "They said they would have to investigate with other people on what kind of player Steven was," said Paula, a Special Education teacher at Morristown High School. "Thank God they called back right away and said Steven had a spot on the team. It ended up being the best thing."

Remember what we said about what a difference a year can make? It turned out two of Steven's teammates on the youth hockey team were brothers of a pair of active National Hockey League players, which meant scouts were a regular sight.

And, that's how Steven got noticed by Cushing Academy in Massachusetts, where he has been accepted to attend next fall. He'll be on the "five-year plan," but Steven said he didn't mind.

"In the hockey world, when you go to a prep school they want you to repeat your junior year over because D1 (Division I) schools want you to be older, bigger and better," Paula said. "So this should really help him. He would never get into a D1 school from MHS, it just doesn't happen. They want you from a prep school."

"We will really miss him when he leaves for school," Paula said. "There will be many road trips to watch him play hockey. It will be so different for us because we used to be at every game."

One of those games was for the state championship, against perennial hockey powerhouse Randolph High School. Morristown High School powered through, , though they were able to show the youth hockey world there was more than Randolph to look up to in this area, including . 

Add to that some honors exclusively for this hockey phenom, including first team all area for the Halversen Division, as well as second team All Daily Record. Steven also was picked for the Public A All Tournament team from the New Jersey Devils for playing at the Prudential Center in Newark for the state playoffs.

Still, MHS' defeat over Randolph was, as Steven–a teen of fewer words than actions–said, "a let down, because Morristown's never been that close. But, it was still a great experience."

"We're proud of his accomplishments," Lou Windt said. "We realize, with hard work, great coaching and a phenomenal team ... it's not just one person. Everything his coaches instill in him, and he works as a team."

"We are so grateful and proud of how far Steven has come," Paula Windt said.