Madison’s ‘Ultimate Hockey Dad’ dies, son scores four goals the next day

MADISON, Wis. — From travel teams, to Memorial High hockey, everyone knew one thing. Eric Feinstein was the ultimate hockey dad. 

“He was the loudest dad in the stands he had his video camera at every game, he was so proud of his kids,” said Jamie Beyler, one of Feinstein’s co-workers, friends, and fellow hockey parents. 

“You’d always here like you walk into the rink and he’s fired up, ‘lets go,’” Madison West assistant coach Rich Smith said. “I always said I want him on my team! He’s got the most energy in the building.” 

The man described as larger than life, as everybody’s best friend, died suddenly on December 29th.

Caden, Eric’s 16 year old son decided to play in the Culver Cup semi-final the next day. He scored four goals and three assists. 

“It was a very a special night under just heartbreaking circumstances,” said Peter Brenner, the Head Coach at Vel Phillips Memorial High School. The coach went on to say that he gave his team the option to not play that next day, but Caden insisted.

“Eric was a diehard Bears fan and he would be so mad at me, but it was a Brett Favre moment,” Beyler said.  “It was like when Brett Favre came out and played the game after his dad passed away … Cayden came out and played his heart out he did a phenomenal job, and I think Eric was there.”

At that game, and at Eric’s 13-year-old son’s Carson’s game the next day, bitter rivals came together for something bigger than sports, for a man bigger than life.

“When we got here and all the families were here, and the Memorial team and West teams came together and everyone had green on,” Beyler said. “We had a mom from Memorial handing out Spartan sweatshirts, I put one on, I graduated from West and the only person that I would wear one for is Eric”

Players from both teams took the ice with the brothers, taking a moment of silence for Eric. 

West and Memorial play each other once more this year. This year they called the rivalry the Cookie Wars, battling to see which team can sell more cookies for charity. This year all money is going to the man’s family who gave so much for everyone else. Eric. 

The game is on January 10th, and all are invited. If you can’t attend, you can donate the family GoFundMe here.

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