Brenden Polek '24 Recruiting Profile

I first began playing hockey at the age of seven at my neighborhood outdoor rink. My brother and I would skate every day after school until closing and open to close every Saturday and Sunday and all day any day school was out. I was the youngest on the ice playing a game of chase and keep away with a lot of older boys that were hockey players. They got a kick out of me and my speed and nicknamed me Ginger. I was having the time of my life. A couple of months later I started the ADM program and by spring was on my first hockey team, the Bulldogs. I wasn’t sure it was possible to love hockey any more but it was. 

At the rink, I consider myself very much a team leader. I always push myself to be the hardest working player on the team.  Every moment is the moment. 

I started with the SCS Saints in 2017 and was the head centerman for the team. I won all my faceoffs and ran plays. I get along with everyone and everyone gets along with me. About two years later I was named Captain of the team. It was an honor to be their Captain.

This past fall, my travel team, Saint Clair Shores Saints Red 18U AA won the MAHA State Championship and will play the 2024 Chipotle-USA Hockey National Championship tournament April 2024. I graduate from Grosse Pointe South High School June 2024 and currently have a 3.0/4.0 GPA. Last season, at South High School, I was goal leader until the final two weeks of  the season. 

For ten years, I’ve played both high level competitive travel baseball and travel hockey. I’m very athletic and understand the need for endurance and giving it your all, all the time. My motto is time, effort and consistency. This is what it takes to always be reaching to push past where you are today. This is what it takes to win games. 

Playing college hockey is my life long goal and one I’ve been steadily working toward for over 12 years. I know achieving this goal is going to set the path for my life. I’m not afraid to work hard. I know the next chapter is going to be great and I’m ready to get started.