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Michael O'Neil '26 Recruiting Profile
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Personal Statement
My name is Michael O'Neil, and I am a right-shot defenseman who relocated from Florida to Alabama with my family during the summer of 2023 following my mom's retirement from active duty after 24+ years in the US Air Force. I attend Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, MA, as a boarding student for the 2023/24 academic year, and have re-classed to be a sophomore again which delayed my graduation year to 2026. For my hockey this season, I played split-season for the Central Mass Penguins 16U "AAA" National team, and I currently am a member of the Cushing Penguins Varsity B team in the NEPSAC.
I am 5'8" tall and 165 pounds and can play either side as a defenseman, but generally play on the right-side. My parents were both in the military for over 20 years, so I have moved around a lot (including living in Germany for 2.5 years). From my earliest memories, my parents instilled in me a very strong, yet humble, work ethic. Whatever I do, I do to the best of my abilities; if it is a team event, the team comes first, always. Hockey and lacrosse are my two main team sports, and I have earned varsity letters in both my freshman and sophomore years of high school. Individually, I am a PADI certified advanced open water scuba diver with a NITROX certification, and continue to advance my skills and certifications each year with the goal of becoming a rescue diver and divemaster. I was a member of the National Junior Honor Society in middle school, was an active cadet in the Civil Air Patrol, and a member of the National Honor Society for my accomplishments during my freshman and sophomore years. Academically, I have an unweighted 4.0 GPA / weighted 4.38 GPA after completing my sophomore year in Florida, where I was on the honor roll and finished with straight "A"s even though I took classes more advanced for my grade level (eg Pre-Calculus Honors, normally a grade 12 course) and have completed both AP Human Geography and AP World History - Modern, receiving a "5" on both AP exams. With my academic and hockey path taking me to Cushing Academy for 2023/24 and beyond, I made the decision to reclassify back to be a sophomore again even though I have excelled with my studies up to this point; I will still be advancing to the next level in my academic classes although I will still be a sophomore. I felt that an extra year of development at Cushing Academy in an outstanding environment for both academics and athletics would have benefits of extreme value for me personally.
After graduating from Cushing Academy in 2026, my goal with hockey is to play junior hockey for a club which will continue to develop my skills. After 2 years of juniors, I would like to play collegiate hockey at a school with strong science and math degree programs while pursuing my undergraduate degree.
Sincerely,
Michael O'Neil
Athletics
High School Information
- Years w/ Varsity
- 4 years
- Varsity Starter
- 3 years
- 2024 Varsity Team
- Starter- Jersey: #7
Individual Awards
- Defensive Player of the Year
Team Awards
- Rust Cup champions
- 2023 Varsity Team
- Jersey: #21
Team Awards
- Rust Cup champions
- 2022 Varsity Team
- Starter- Jersey: #40
Individual Awards
- Alternate Captain
- 2021 Varsity Team
- Starter- Jersey: #40
Individual Awards
- Alternate Captain
Team Awards
- State Champions 2022
Club Information
- Seasons of Club Experience
- 4 seasons
- 2024 Central Mass Penguins (18U AA)
- 2023 Central Mass Penguins (16U AAA)
- Split-season, playing in the EHF Selects 16U National league before the Cushing Academy NEPSAC hockey season starts in November.
- 2022 Florida Alliance (North) (15O AAA )
- 2022-23 season '07 birth year team. Our team will play in the Elite Prospects Cup Series, plus several AAA showcase events.
- 2021 Tampa Jr. Bulls (14U (major) AA)
- Major year bantam team playing in Statewide Florida Hockey League Bantam AA Division. Alternate Captain.
Coach References
- High School Head Coach
- Daniel Fontas
Events
- Camp/Event
- Junior Chowder Cup
- 7/27/23 to 7/30/23
- Playing in 2007 Elite Division with DevCo Hockey.
- Camp/Event
- Harvard College Hockey Experience
- 7/23/23 to 7/25/23
- Playing on Team 11.
- Camp/Event
- Kenai River Brown Bears (NAHL) Main Camp
- 7/13/23 to 7/16/23
- Camp/Event
- Air Force - Summer Showcase
- 6/23/23 to 6/25/23
- Camp/Event
- Tri-City Storm (USHL) Main Camp
- 6/15/23 to 6/17/23
- Camp/Event
- Northern Iowa Bulls (NAHL) Pre-Draft Camp
- 5/26/23 to 5/28/23
- Camp/Event
- Elite Prospects Cup Series 15O playoffs
- 1/27/23 to 1/29/23
- Camp/Event
- Bauer Music City AAA Invitational
- 12/29/22 to 1/01/23
- Camp/Event
- Elite Prospects Cup Series 15O
- 12/02/22 to 12/04/22
- Camp/Event
- CCM World Invite
- 11/04/22 to 11/06/22
- 15O SUPERTACKS Crosby division. Round-robin games: vs Chicago Mission (Nov 4, 11:10 am, Olympic rink), vs Philadelphia Flyers Elite (Nov 4, 7:05 pm, Olympic rink), and vs Oakland Jr Grizzlies (Nov 5, 9:25 am, NHL rink). Other games TBD.
- Camp/Event
- Elite Prospects Cup Series 15O
- 10/21/22 to 10/23/22
- Camp/Event
- Elite Prospects Cup Series 15O
- 9/30/22 to 10/02/22
- Camp/Event
- Eastern Alliance Kickoff
- 9/02/22 to 9/05/22
- Round-robin games Sep 2 at 3:50 pm (rink 2), Sep 3 at 8:10 am (rink 5) and 3:10 pm (rink 1). Games on Sep 4 & 5 are TBD.
- Camp/Event
- Elite Hockey Prep Camp
- 8/10/22 to 8/12/22
- Playing in U16 Elite division on Millionaires, wearing #3.
- Camp/Event
- Junior Chowder Cup
- 7/28/22 to 7/31/22
- Playing on Tampa Aces, wearing #43. Round robin games are 6:50 pm July 28 at Canton Ice House Blue, 10:20 am July 29 at Canton Ice House Red, and 6:40 pm on July 30 at Bridgewater Ice Arena East. Possible playoff rounds (single elimination) are all on July 31 at 7:10 am at NESV Sec, 11:10 am at NESV Sec, 3:10 pm at Foxboro Sports Center rink 3, and 5 pm at Foxboro Sports Center rink 2.
- Camp/Event
- AAA Sunshine Cup
- 7/19/22 to 7/24/22
- Playing in Bergeron Division for GPA Florida '07, wearing #43.
- Camp/Event
- Elite Edge Hockey Showcase
- 6/13/22 to 6/16/22
- Playing on Futures Royal, wearing #4.
- Camp/Event
- CCM Hockey Showcase
- 5/27/22 to 5/29/22
- Playing on FUTURES Team 5: Red, jersey #1.
- Camp/Event
- USHL Phase 1 Combine
- 4/21/22 to 4/24/22
- Invitation received & accepted on March 3, 2022. Playing on Team Guentzel (07), wearing #5.
- Camp/Event
- SAHOF USA Hockey Player Development Camp & Florida Alliance 2007 "AAA" tryouts
- 4/15/22 to 4/17/22
- SAHOF selection camp for players to proceed on to the USAH SE District Player Development Camp, and also serves as the tryout for the 2022-23 season Florida Alliance "AAA".
- Camp/Event
- NAHL Combine
- 4/08/22 to 4/10/22
- Playing in the "Prospects" division for the Wolverines, wearing #5. Games are Fri Apr 8 at 12:45 pm on North 2, Sat Apr 9 at 8:15 am on North 3 and 3:30 pm on North 1, and Sun Apr 10 at 8:45 am on North 1.
- Camp/Event
- USAH Youth Tier 2 14U Nationals
- 3/31/22 to 4/04/22
- Playing on Tampa Bulls '07 "AA" team, wearing #43. Round Robin games are Mar 31 at 1:30 pm (Wings West - Blue), Apr 1 at 7:45 pm (WEC The Arena), and Apr 2 at 11:30 am (Wings West - Blue).
- Camp/Event
- USAH High School Nationals
- 3/24/22 to 3/28/22
- Playing for Mitchell Mustangs in the Tier 2 division, wearing #40. Will update times & rink locations once posted.
- Camp/Event
- SAHOF State Championships -- Tier 2 Youth Hockey
- 3/04/22 to 3/06/22
- Playing for 14U "AA" Tampa Bulls, wearing #43.
- Camp/Event
- SAHOF State Championships - Varstiy High School Hockey
- 2/25/22 to 2/27/22
- Playing for Mitchell Mustangs, wearing #40.
- Camp/Event
- Bauer Music City AAA Invitational
- 12/30/21 to 1/02/22
- Tier 1 AAA event, that Tampa Bulls was accepted to play in as a Tier 2 club team due to our strong performances to date. Games will be at the Ford Ice Centers in Antioch and Bellevue, TN.
- Camp/Event
- CCM World Invite
- 11/05/21 to 11/07/21
- Playing in the 2007 JETSPEED division, team is Tampa Bulls. Round robin games are 8:20 am Nov 5 (Fox Valley -- NHL rink), 3:50 pm Nov 5 (Center Ice of DuPage -- NHL rink), and 12:30 pm Nov 6 (Fox Valley -- International rink).
- Camp/Event
- FM Hockey Columbus Day Shootout
- 10/08/21 to 10/10/21
- Our team (Tampa Bulls) is the only Tier 2 club team invited to participate in this Tier 1 event. Games will be held at The Rinks in Exeter, NH and Skate 3 in Tyngsboro, MA.
- Camp/Event
- National Showcase Hockey (NSH) Labor Day Puck Drop
- 9/04/21 to 9/06/21
- '07 Tampa Bulls
- Camp/Event
- CCM Summer Invite MA/RI
- 8/06/21 to 8/08/21
- Team is Tampa Bulls. '07 bracket is being held at both New England Sports Village (MA) and Dennis M Lynch Arena (RI).
- Camp/Event
- USAH Southeastern District "Select 14" Player Development Camp
- 7/18/21 to 7/23/21
- Team color & number TBD; selected from Statewide Amateur Hockey of Florida (SAHOF) affiliate.
- Camp/Event
- Hockey Night In Boston Jr High Festival
- 7/09/21 to 7/13/21
- Playing on Team Southern. Round-robin games July 9th at 9 am (Gold rink), 10th at 6:30 pm (Blue rink), 11th at 9 am (Blue rink), and 12th at 6:30 pm (Blue rink). Playoff round on July 13th, time TBD.
- Camp/Event
- USAH/SAHOF Player Development Camp 2007s
- 6/18/21 to 6/19/21
- Camp/Event
- Memorial Day Hockey Tournament
- 5/28/21 to 5/31/21
- Team is Tampa Bulls, Bantam AA bracket
- Camp/Event
- NAHL Junior/Prospects Combine
- 4/30/21 to 5/02/21
- Participating in the Prospects (2005-2007) division.
- Camp/Event
- President's Day '07 AA/AAA Showdown
- 2/12/21 to 2/15/21
- All 2007 birth year teams. Games scheduled vs Carolina Hurricanes AAA, Compuware AAA, Northwest Chargers AA, Krivo Hockey Academy AA, and Palm Beach Hawks AA.
- Camp/Event
- CCM World Invite Finale
- 1/16/21 to 1/18/21
- 2007 Tampa Bulls AA
Additional Sports
- Lacrosse
- 3 years
- Club/Travel Team
- Lacrosse
- 2 years
- Varsity Team
- Received varsity letter for lax for 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons.
- Golf
- 1 year
- Junior Varsity Team
Statistics
| Statistic | 2022 Florida Allian | 2021 Varsity Team | 2021 Tampa Jr. Bull |
|---|---|---|---|
| +/- | 15 | 15 | 65 |
| Assists | 5 | 6 | 26 |
| Game Winning Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Goals | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Points | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Short Handed Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Games Played | 7 | 28 | 60 |
| Record | 4-2-1 | 23-7-2 | 50-9-3 |
Academics
Grades
Test Scores
Academic Accomplishments
Are you in honor classes?
Yes. Grade 10 academic year 2022-23 completed May 19, 2023. Chemistry 1 Honors (final grade "A"), Pre-Calculus Honors (final grade "A"), and English 2 Honors (final grade "A"). Grade 9 academic year 2021-22 completed May 6, 2022: English 1 Honors (final grade "A"), Biology 1 Honors (final grade "A"), Algebra 2 Honors (final grade "A").Are you in AP/IB classes?
Yes. Grade 11 academic year 2024-25. AP US History, AP Biology, AP Statistics. Grade 10 (reclass) academic year 2023-24. AP European History (final grade "A"), received a grade of "5" on AP exam. Grade 10 academic year 2022-23 completed May 19, 2023. AP World History (final grade "A"), received a grade of "5" on the AP exam. Grade 9 academic year 2021-22 completed May 6, 2022: AP Human Geography (final grade "A"), received a grade of "5" on the AP exam.Registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
YesAwards and Activities
- AwardsMember of High Honor Roll at Cushing Academy for both semesters and overall for year, 2023-24 and 2024-25. Member of Honor Roll (every report card period of every academic year). Member of National Junior Honor Society in middle school. Member of National Honor Society for both freshman and sophomore years, with induction ceremony on May 16, 2022.
- ActivitiesFormer cadet in Civil Air Patrol, certified Advanced Open Water (AOW) and NITROX scuba diver, certified Level 2 USA Hockey referee, member of chess club in elementary/middle school (multi-time district champion).