Farms system
Before they starred on the global hockey stage, Spencer Knight and Trevor Zegras got their start at Avon Old Farms
Before they led the United States to a World Junior Championship over Canada on Tuesday, Trevor Zegras and Spencer Knight were 15-year-old sophomores at Avon Old Farms, playing for head coach John Gardner and just beginning to blossom into the stars they have since become.
It was at the team’s Christmas tournament in 2016 when Gardner saw the two teens had it. The Winged Beavers played Tabor Academy to a 3-3 tie at the end of regulation, and a shootout ensued.
His players said to Gardner, “Look, Spencer is playing, they’re not going to score on him.”
And when he assembled his order of players for the shootout, Gardner asked team captains for advice: “Have Zegras go last.”
Knight, a goaltender out of Darien, anchored the shootout in net. And Zegras, a forward from Bedford, N.Y., made good on his teammates’ trust, scoring the game-winning goal. Two of the youngest players on the ice had made the biggest impact.
“That’s sort of when I knew,” Gardner said.
By the end of the season, no one wanted to play the Winged Beavers. The two sophomore standouts were too much for opponents to handle.
“You could see them develop at Avon,” Gardner said. “We were scary, and those were 15-year-old kids playing against 18-, 19-yearolds. You could see their skill.”
Zegras and Knight played just one year at Avon Old Farms before playing for the United States Hockey Youth Development Program. Zegras totaled 42 points in 28 games for the Winged
Beavers. Knight registered a 1.89 goals against average in 22 games as a sophomore.
Knight now plays at Boston College, and Zegras for their rival school, Boston University. Both were first round picks in the 2019 NHL Draft — Zegras ninth to Anaheim, and Knight 13th to Florida.
And over the past two weeks, the duo helped lead the U.S. to its first World Junior Championship since 2017, culminating in a 2-0 win over a favored Canada team on Tuesday. Zegras had a goal and an assist in the title game, and was named Tournament MVP. Knight posted his third shutout of the tournament.
“They’re great kids and I’m really happy for their success,” Gardner said. “It was great watching them at World Juniors.”
Zegras totaled 18 points in the tournament (seven goals, 11 assists) and tied Jordan Schroder for most all-time points in U.S. junior history with 27.
“I’m at a loss for words,” he said Tuesday. “It hasn’t even really sunk in yet.”
Knight finished with five wins, and a 1.83 goals against average. He’s posted shutouts in both of his starts for the Eagles this year.
“Spencer, he’s just elite,” said U.S. coach Nate Leaman. “He had a rough first game and we had to get him back on track. Between him and [Zegras], they were our best players tonight and we needed him tonight.”
Zegras, according to his former coach, was a “Dennis the Menace” at Avon. His confidence was on display at the World Juniors, when he claimed Canada goaltender Devon Levi had yet to be tested in the tournament.
There was never a doubt Knight was destined for stardom, Gardner said. It only took a handful of practices at Avon for Knight to show that the hype was well-deserved. With an analytical mind and a rare economy of movement, he made everything look easy. When people would ask Gardner if Knight was the real deal, he’d reply simply: “You’ll see.”
And after Knight struggled in a 5-3 loss to Russia in the opening round of the tournament on Christmas, some were quick to bash the highly touted goalie. Gardner just laughed.
“He’ll bounce back,” he said. “They’re eating their words now.”
Zegras didn’t arrive at Avon with the same level of external expectations as Knight. He was talented, sure, but Gardner didn’t expect this level of talent. One thing was for sure, according to Gardner: the kid loved hockey.
“His skill, you could see the skill that he had,” Gardner said. “There was a question whether he’d grow into his body physically and keep progressing, But the key with Trevor was, he loves the game so much. That’s why he’s so good. He emerged like — holy moly. He’s the MVP of the whole world tournament. He’s technically the best 18-, 19-year-old in the world. He’s got a lot of confidence.”
Zegras will join the Anaheim Ducks for training camp later this week. Knight will return to Boston College. The NHL is next for both, and Gardner sees great things for the two kids that stepped up in a shootout at Avon four years ago.
“I think Spencer Knight will be a generational goalie,” Gardner said. “I think he’ll be very successful in the NHL ... and [Zegras] will just keep getting better and better.”