- 2021 Highlights #2
Personal Statement
For as long as I can remember, playing hockey at the Collegiate level has been an important goal of mine. I put my first pair of skates on when I was two and knew right away that hockey was going to be a big part of my life. I also knew that I had what it takes to be a goalie and fell in love with the position right away.
I began playing Mite hockey for the AA New York City Cyclones, where I was the starting goalie for the '03 teams for the next eight years. One of the things that attracted me to the Cyclones organization was that they were one of the few programs in the Tri-State area that had a full-time, dedicated goalie coach. Coach Miro Reccicar has had a huge influence on my game play, my training and my mental preparation. While the Cyclones are a competitive organization, their top goal scorers tended to move from the program to top AAA programs in New Jersey resulting in teams that relied more on defensive success than goal scoring. I had the choice to move to a AAA program myself, but chose to stay for what I knew would be a greater experience to develop my skills and see shots as a goaltender. On average, I faced 40 shots a game and played for teams that scored, at most, three goals per game. I knew I always had to bring my A game to every practice and game. In my final season with the Cyclones, I helped our team get to the New York State Championships, the highest level this team had ever achieved, which was the culmination of my Cyclones experience. I was very happy to play an important role in getting to the state championships as the only goalie on the team all season.
I carried these successes to Salisbury School where I am now a Junior.
In my first year at the school, I was one of only two Freshman to make the J.V. hockey team. While I was not the starting goalie, I brought my A game to each and every practice and played four games, winning them all. More importantly, I got the experience of higher tempo practices seven days a week, playing in a program with a rich winning history and got to practice frequently with the Varsity goalies. At the end of the season, although I had not played in every game as I had in the past, I was given the Coach's Award in recognition of my dedication to the team, my consistent hard work and attitude, and willingness to improve my game play.
My Sophomore year, I was also on the J.V. team where I was the starting goalie and played in almost every game. We had an undefeated season. At the end of the season, I was presented with the Most Improved Player Award for the level of game play I achieved and for my leadership with the team.
This past summer I played in a highly competitive 4x4 league that composed of Varsity Prep, College and USHL players run out of Northford CT by Steve Novodor, Coach of Yale Junior Bulldog and Loomis Chaffee School and C.J. Marottolo, the coach of Sacred Heart University's Mens Hockey Team. The experience playing in this league was exceptional and despite the high paced, sometimes high scoring excitement of 4x4 hockey, I was able to record the lowest GAA throughout the summer. It was a perfect summer preparation for Varsity hockey.
Now in my Junior year, I am on Salisbury's Varsity team. Not withstanding the uncertainty of our season this year due to COVID, at Salisbury we have been on the ice practicing and training since early October. Not only that, we were fortunate enough to play six games prior to the November break and compile a 5-1 record. We are planning a full winter and early spring season and I am excited to be a part of this storied program.
The experience of being a goalie and playing organized hockey throughout my life has taught me core values, including: organization, discipline, tenacity, leadership, and open mindedness. Beyond these core values, one of the things that has really shaped me as a person has been my experience growing up with a mother who has had chronic health issues through out my life. Without getting into the details of her condition, my mom more than anyone else has taught me how important every day is and how attitude above all else can help you overcome every challenge that you face. I know that my attitude has been one of my strongest traits as a student, as a teammate, and as a hockey player. Every time I step on the ice either for a championship game or a pre-season goalie session I make the most out of it and bring a positive attitude each and every time.
