Joey and Jack Musa, two brothers from Florida, have spent their lives in friendly competition. Now they’re both playing hockey for UMass Amherst. Growing up, the two were always at each other’s throats, whether it was over sports, board games, or fishing trips. Their sibling rivalry was the driving force behind their success, pushing each other to get better. Growing up they would spend hours shooting pucks in their garage. Eventually, they both moved away from home to chase their hockey dreams, wounding up at UMass. Joey was the first to leave, heading to Trinity-Pawling High School in New York, while Jack followed a few years later to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite. Both brothers had successful baseball careers before fully committing to hockey. Baseball was encouraged by their dad, a former minor league player. At UMass, their competition continues, with Jack sometimes trying to outdo Joey on the ice, like the time he scored a hat trick on senior night to steal the spotlight. Despite their constant bickering, the brothers continue to support each other, in ways such as Jack helping Joey prepare for games. The Musa brothers’ journey from playful sibling rivalry to hockey teammates at UMass shows just how far their heart-warming brotherly competition has taken them.

Noah Lee, a senior at UMass Amherst, almost won $10,000 during a halftime promotion at a women’s basketball game. Unfortunately, his dream was crushed by just a few inches. Lee completed the challenge which involved making a layup, free throw, three-pointer, and half-court shot in under 30 seconds. The crowd went wild when he made the final half-court shot until the promotional company, Odds On Promotions, later reviewed the footage and noticed that his foot was barely over the half-court line. Because of this, they said he can’t claim the prize. Even though he lost the $10,000, UMass Athletics and the basketball team’s head coach, Frank Martin, stepped in to make things right. UMass gave Lee tickets, gift cards, and a chance to shoot for $1,000 at a future game. To make it even better, a group called the Massachusetts Collective offered Lee another chance to win the $10,000 at a future game. The whole situation blew up on social media, and the video of the near-win quickly went viral.