Zackary Ortolano '22 Recruiting Profile

     I committed full time to competitive travel hockey at the squirt level where I played for the Las Vegas Storm organization until the Vegas Golden Knights came to town. I played club hockey with the Vegas Junior Golden Knights top AA program for three seasons as well as playing for Faith Lutheran High School varsity hockey team where I lettered as a freshman. Our club team played all over the country and I have even competed in the International Tournament in Granby outside of Montreal for both of my Bantam years.

     In April 2019 our club team, Vegas Jr. Golden Knights, was able to clinch the 2019 USA Hockey National Championship vs. a stacked Atlanta team in Plano, Texas. We swept the tournament and I led all starting goaltenders with a 0.972 Save Percent only giving up 4 goals in aver 200 minutes of game time. (https://nationals.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1010771 )

     In the summer of 2019, I went with a select team to Hockey Night in Boston’s Sophomore Prep Showcase in Haverhill, MA. Our team (Western) went on to sweep the entire tournament going 6-0. I was the 3rd highest ranked goaltender in Goals Against Average and Save Percentage out of 32 goalies in our division after the tournament ended. It was there I committed to making the jump to prep school hockey where I can play the highest level of hockey and focus on my education at the same time.

     For the 2019-2020 Hockey season, I committed one more season to the Vegas Jr. Golden Knights where we were ready to defend, as National Champions. COVID-19 put a stop that. Our club team competed in the NAPHL, playing our league games in Minnesota. We competed in some great showcases such as the CCM World Invite Tournament in Chicago and the Nashville Jr. Predators NHL Showcase  where we won the tournament by beating the Jr. Sharks, Jr, Coyotes and then the Jr. Predators.

     During the first half of 2020, I toured several college prep schools throughout New England and Minnesota. After meeting with coaches and going through the application process, I was accepted by several schools and made the decision to attend Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minnesota. It was my top choice and I am happy to be here now, playing hockey for this amazing program with some of the most talented players in the world for my age group. 

In 2022, I was selected to the NAPHL Tier 1 ALL-STAR team.  In March, 2022, my Shattuck St. Mary's team was able to win the USA Hockey High School Division 1 National Championship going 6-0 on the tournament. (https://nationals.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1218304)  It was a fantastic way to end my high school hockey career with a second National Championship under my belt. I finished the season strong with a record of 22-12-0, 7 Shutouts, 2.39 GAA and 0.922 Save Percentage.  I am looking forward to Junior hockey and College hockey in the years to come!

     I have had several great former NHL, College and Pro level coaches and mentors along the way and regularly train with dedicated goaltending coaches on my own. In addition to skating on ice, I regularly cross train off ice, working on flexibility, durability, reflexes and nutrition with my personal trainer. I regularly use Vizual Edge for eye training to enhance my game.  I was selected to represent Nevada at the USA Hockey Pacific District Camp and have been selected for the new USA Hockey goaltending initiative (51 in 30). In July 2018.

     Education has always been a top priority in my family, and I have attended private schools since preschool. I attended the top academic private school in Nevada, The Meadows School, until 8^th grade where I transferred to a larger school, Faith Lutheran, which was a better fit with a school hockey program. This prepared me well for my academic life at Shattuck-St. Mary's School where the boarding environment requires proper time management and study habits.  I am a good student, although not academically gifted, I try to maintain at least a 3.5 GPA through most of the year despite missing a lot of school for hockey. I have studied Spanish and currently French as well as taking a recent interest in business management and architecture.