- 2020 Highlights
Personal Statement
To start, here are some details about me. I've always been a leader but not the type of guy that will tell the whole team what to do during intermissions, or express displeasure with them, I have always been a quiet leader, leading the team with extreme work ethic, and will to win. I became interested in hockey when I was around 5 years old. I went to a Worcester Sharks game, and was instantly hooked. Then, as I would watch more games, I would pay more attention to the goalies, and found the position very interesting. So, after I was a good enough skater to play goal regularly, I never looked back.
Hockey has taught me so much about how to handle myself off the ice, as well as on it. The game has taught me to be humble in victories, and learn from the losses and to bounce back better and stronger. In Pewee's, our team was one of the top three in the state, and one of the best in the country. We won the championship 3 straight years, dating back to Squirts. We were on top of the world, or at least it felt that way. We lost the league championship game the year we were 12th in the country. It was the worst feeling ever. We've lost before, but this one stung. I never wanted to feel that feeling ever again, that disappointment. So ever since that day, every time we suffer a loss, I just have the urge, and passion, to get into the weight room, or back on the ice for practice, and work off that loss, and come back stronger, both physically, and mentally.
My academic goals for high school are pretty straight forward, I want to have a GPA of 3.2 or above, and an SAT score of around 1000 or 1200, I feel like that would be a very good score to aim for, and possible go pass it.
The biggest obstacle that I had to overcome, happened actually pretty recently. I was in the middle of my freshman season in high school last year (2016/17 season) and it was the first practice in February, and I was down in the RVH, or basically in the butterfly hugging the post, was a little late getting to where the pass was going on the opposite part of the ice, for a one-timer option. And I caught a real bad edge, and my skate caught up between the bottom of the post and the ice, and felt an immediate pop in my hip. Felt normal for the second I wasn't moving, then as soon as I moved, instant pain and discomfort. It felt like the bone was in the wrong place, so I panicked, and starting pulling my leg and stretching it. Felt another little pop, and got up, with all the pain in the world, and continued to practice for the 30 minuets that was left. Worst decision ever. It was a major struggle walking after that, so the doctor said to use crutches, which is what I did for two and a half months for a torn labrum. It was brutal, it ended my season, and I was just bored basically for 2 and a half months. The part that was the most difficult for my to deal with, was not being able to be with my teammates, and skate everyday, that was hard to deal with. I eventually decided to try to play full-season U16 hockey instead of playing high school. So, tryout season is rolling around, and I'm hoping to be back, but doctors orders was to stay off the ice, so I couldn't try out. Another killer. But, I took the challenge of getting back as fast and strong as possible head-on. Started going to physical therapy around 3 times a week, each session being around an hour. They had to hold me back in my development. I started going around the beginning of April, and it wasn't very fun. When it wasn't me being iced up with some heat after, it was very painful messages that seemed like they lasted three years. But when I was starting to feel good again, and started walking around with little pain, instead of extreme pain, I was going full steam ahead. I was always staying a little longer doing extra to come back stronger. Only about 2 weeks after just starting to walk at a good pace again, I starting doing sled pushes, and running a mile or two each session on the anti gravity running machine. It felt great to be back, I starting skating three times a week at the beginning of June, and through the summer. So, I also starting training at my gym 3 times a week, I needed to get stronger and faster, and I did just that.
So, through this all, this process has taught me to be patient, and to keep persevering through the tough times, because the good times will follow shortly after. I have the ability to lead, through my work ethic, and will to win, and compete level. Perseverance is one of my strongest traits as well, as proven in my injury analysis. So, in short, I am definitely the person, leader, and teammate you want on your team!
