NJ Devils To Honor Westfield Teen Who Died Diving At Jersey Shore

WESTFIELD, NJ — The New Jersey Devils will be honoring the life of Westfield's 17-year-old Jeff Hoens, who died after going missing while snorkeling with friends at the Jersey Shore.

On Friday, Nov. 25, St. Peter’s Prep — where Hoens was a senior and hockey player — will play at the NJ Devils' practice facility, the Barnabas Health Hockey House, and then the team will be the team's guests at that’s night’s Devils game vs. the Red Wings at 7:30 p.m.

Additionally, Hoen's St. Peter's Prep hockey jersey will hang in the NJ Hockey Hall and will be turned around so his name and number are visible. All other jerseys up there face the other way.

Hoen's family and the St. Peter's Prep team will also have a post-game meet and greet with Devils goalie Cory Schnedier and forward Kyle Palmieri.

The tribute is very fitting for Jeff Hoens who has had a connection with the NJ Devils since he was two years old.

"When he was 2 years old he walked on the ice in the middle of a NJ Devil’s practice at Cody arena and challenged the professional players to score on him. “Score” was his first word. This last year he was back at Cody Arena as an Assistant Coach for the NJ Dare Devils, a program for young people with developmental and intellectual disabilities," his parents wrote in a touching obituary.

Hoens tragically died on July 16 when he went missing while diving at the Shark River Inlet in Avon-By-The-Sea. His body was found and identified the next morning.

(Image provided by the Hoens Family: Jeff Hoens)

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