Ethan Borg '25 Recruiting Profile

Hockey has been a huge part of my life since before I was able to talk. My parents would always joke about how the only time I wouldn’t be crying as a baby was when hockey was on the television.  I have wanted to play for as long as I can remember, and started to pursue my dream when I was 4 years old and have been playing hockey ever since. 

Over the years, I have gained a vast amount of knowledge on the game, honing my natural hockey sense in anticipation of the next play. This has resulted in my defensive skill and positioning becoming very strong which has often led to me finding myself on the first penalty killing unit. I play a hard, fast, yet calm, patient and precise game striving to make a minimal number of mistakes. When a mistake is made, I make up for it immediately, and work hard to not make the mistake again.  

While my defensive play is my main priority during games, I also play aggressively.  When the opportunities arise, I am not afraid to rush the puck up and get it in deep, while my speed allows me to get back into position immediately, ensuring I don’t adversely affect the rest of my team.  

I feel that my skill on the blueline is at an elite level, showcasing my ability to read the play, giving me the insight on the right play to make, whether to stay strong on the line or to back off and gain position. I have often found myself on the receiving end of praise for this ability, which only encourages me to continue to be aware of my surroundings.  

My positional awareness allows me to keep the puck in the offensive zone, holding the line, resulting in very few times that it gets past me. When in possession of the puck on the line, I know where to send it to give my team the highest chance of success. When letting up, I focus on my gap control and taking away the pass, angling the player into the corner simultaneously. In the defensive zone, whenever required, I will get in front of shots and block as many of them as possible, and box out the other team, giving the goalie the best line of sight possible. I feel like I am coachable and enjoy learning why a play I made may or may not have worked well. I am always striving to be one of the hardest working players on and off the ice and I am sure you will see this in me as a recruit. 

Academically, I am very proficient and get straight A’s regularly.  I study hard to ensure I maintain a high GPA.  When possible, I take part in school activities and help set up events. I am part of the senior concert band and often get the 1st part for Alto Sax.  This year, I was accepted into the “Rotary Youth Exchange Student” program and am currently spending the 2023/2024 academic year studying and playing ice hockey in Riihimäki, Finland.  

Once I graduate, my hope is to major in physics, as this is a subject that intrigues me greatly, including both my interest in math and science, as well as helps with my career desires after postsecondary schooling. 

While hockey is what I do with the majority of my time outside of school, I am also a referee and a linesperson. Lining and refereeing games has put me in the shoes of the refs and has given me another perspective and further insight into the game. This has led to me understanding the referee’s point of view as to what is happening and why some calls are made, and others are not.  It has been a great way to see the game from a different point of view. 

 When I´m not refereeing games, I volunteer as an assistant power skating coach. Assisting with the coaching of young players on how to skate faster and more efficiently teaches me how to improve my skating as well as the skating of those I´m coaching. Being able to teach others while learning new things at the same time, has impacted my ability to improve my game every time I step on the ice, and has taught me to not only better myself during practice but also how to help others at the same time. 

I want to attend a college that will allow me to push myself in the classroom as and on the ice.  I am open to most options and ultimately want to find the right college match with the ability to compete at the highest level possible. I hope that I can grow into an amazing role model to my peers, in my community, and to make my parents and those around me proud.