Jonathan Heiser '26 Recruiting Profile

I have played hockey for over eight years, and it is my passion. I have to make many sacrifices in order to compete in this sport. I live in a state where hockey is not a popular sport, and ice rinks are few and far between. The closest rink is two hours away, and I have to plan my entire day around practicing my skills. I manage to go to my high school classes for seven full periods and then immediately travel the two hours for practice time. Most kids who love this sport have nearby rinks, easy access to practice facilities, and multiple teams and coaches. I have a very limited range of where I can choose. Despite the obstacle of finding a team and rink, I still would do anything to play hockey daily.  

When it comes to who I truly am on the team, I fulfill several roles. One, I am honest and am the first one to help someone if they need advice on how to improve. I can take myself out of a teammate role and focus on a coaching aspect. I explain what their downfalls seem to be and where they need to put more focus. I include myself in those who may need extra help. I know my faults and what I need to do in order to assess and improve all of my downfalls. I also try to build up my teammates. They can get down when we're losing, and it can be a battle to get everyone's head on straight, but I am usually the one trying to get everyone pumped and focused on moving forward. Also, I don't fight coaches on their feedback; I embrace it. Many players get defensive and refuse to accept criticism. I want to know how I can improve and what the coaches need from me. I flourish when given direction, and I enjoy proving that I can meet all the requirements and exceed expectations. As far as my future goals, I aspire to play at a D1 college, and I want to focus on a career in the medical field for my future.