'A student of both games.' Northern Highlands hockey goalie moonlights as football kicker

Playing goalie in hockey is regarded as one of the most dangerous positions in all of sports. Fast-skating forwards collide near the goal and fast-moving pucks are thrown at the net from all angles

Playing kicker in football is regarded as one of the safer positions in sports. Kickers rarely take any contact from opposing players.

Northern Highlands sophomore Daniel Moor makes both positions look easy, and he says the two positions aren't as different as people may think.

"I feel like they compliment each other in a way," he said. "They might not look like they go together, but it's pretty much the same thing in terms of training, and I get to do both sports that I love."

Moor isn't just a goalie with strong legs. Both positions require technique and finesse, which Moor takes seriously. Both also require a great deal of mental fortitude.

"He's really a student of both games," Northern Highlands hockey coach Jason Beswick said. "I know when he became a kicker, he was up late at night watching YouTube videos for technique and everything else. He studies both positions a ton."

In 11 starts for the Highlanders' hockey team this season, Moor has allowed just 12 goals. He has a .947 save percentage, averaging just more than 19.5 saves per game.

Last fall, Moor made his varsity debut for the Highlanders' football team. He was successful on all five of his field goal attempts and 34 of his 38 extra point attempts. His leg helped Northern Highlands win the North 1, Group 4 sectional title.

By the time the Highlanders' football season concluded, the hockey team was already a week into its regular-season schedule.

"For the team, it was a challenge because he's the foundation of the team and everybody knows that," Beswick said. "At the same time, he was playing football and we all wanted the team to win. We have other goalies behind him that did an admirable job."

In Moor's first game back, he stopped 47 shots in the Highlanders' 2-1 win over state powerhouse Gloucester Catholic.

Getting his start

Moor sees many similarities between goaltending and kicking. Both positions are very isolated during games but face high-pressure situations. Good kickers need to block out distractions when lining up for a big kick, the same way good goalies need to block out fans pounding on the glass when making a key save.

"Goalies are a different breed and you always hear about how unique kickers need to be," Beswick said. "A lot of that mental strength translates well and there's not much that you need to tell him when the game is on the line."

Long before he stepped foot on a football field for the first time, Moor got his start on the ice. In fact, Beswick has been a coach to Moor for most of his playing career, dating back to his start at age 4.

"Coach is the one that taught me how to skate," Moor said. "His son, Brent, is also on this team and has been a great teammate and a big part of my life outside of hockey as well."

It wasn't until Moor's freshman season at Northern Highlands that football came into the picture. He played football in order to have fun with friends, and took on the role of kicker when the varsity team needed one. He's on the ice at least four times a week during football season for his club team, allowing him to shift from football to hockey with ease.

"It's a pleasure being his coach, I can tell you that," Beswick said. "He provides a certain amount of confidence that radiates to the other kids. He's pretty much immune to anything."

Up next

Moor has already been part of some memorable sports moments at Northern Highlands.

This past football season was the first undefeated regular season for a Highlanders team since 1976.

On Thursday, he is expected to be in goal as Northern Highlands takes on Don Bosco at the Ice Vault in Wayne in the Bergen County tournament final. A win would give the program its first county title ever.

"I try not to think about the opponent or how big a game is supposed to be," Moor said. "On the rink, I pick a spot on the boards and I focus on it and it locks me into the game and what's going on on the ice. I don't think about anything else."

Robert Aitken is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app.

Email: aitken@northjersey.com

Twitter: @robertaitkenjr

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Northern Highlands NJ hockey goalie moonlights as football kicker