Brendan Buckley '16 Recruiting Profile

    I still remember the cold evenings in the winter, watching my dad battle on the ice at an outdoor rink in the Bronx, NY.  Watching the intensity of his games and capturing look in his eyes after the game had finished. To me it was crazy how much fun he had after the games with the crew he seemed to be fighting against only minutes before. As I watched my dad zip around the rink I knew that I wanted to be just like him.

    I remember my first day on the ice when I was about four. I was filled with excitement thinking I would zip around the ice just like my Dad does.  However, I could not stand on the skates and cried to come off the ice looking for my parents to take me off.  The instructor motioned to my parents to leave the rink.  My parents returned 30 minutes later to me skating on my own around the ice.  I never looked back.

    As a mite our team won the Silver Sticks International tournament in Canada versus a very good and much favored Canadian opponent. It was at that tournament that I realized that while it is fun to score, it is probably more fun to make the good pass that leads to the score which I did on the game winning goal late in the third period of the championship game. Ever since then I have been known as a unselfish hockey player.  I also learned at that tournament that if you work hard good things can happen and if you come together as a team anything is possible. So many amazing hockey experiences like this over the years have shaped me as a person and have motivated me to continue to pursue my dreams to be a college hockey player. 

It was then that it really started to sink in what hockey was.  A bunch of individual players working as a unit for a common goal.   Each member needs to work hard and contribute on the ice to make the unit successful.  I have played a lot of baseball in my life as well and while your contributions work towards the goal of winning the game, it is much more individual.  Work ethic is what I have prided myself on which is one of the reason I have worn number 24 for most of my hockey career watching Ryan Callahan of the Rangers tireless efforts on the ice and intensity. I am the type of guy who will work 120% for as long as I am on the ice and know when it is time to take a shift change. I will also stay 2 hours after a practice or game to improve my skills.

    Bottom line is that I am realistic about my ambitions.   I want to get a good college education to prepare me to be successful as an adult and be able to give to my potential family all my family has given to me. Does every youth hockey player want to play in the NHL some day?  Of course.   This is why I work as hard as I do and have continued to improve my game and increase my strength to now be able to play on an AAA National team.  Everyone peaks at different times and I believe my best hockey is in front of me.  As stated before, hockey has done so much for me as a person and for my character over the years.  It has enabled me to appreciate the importance of being a member of a team working towards a common goal but understanding the individual effort I need to put forth to contribute. It has helped me develop leadership skills both on and off the ice.  Academics is very important to me and I continue to work very hard to get the best grades, getting extra help when needed.  Hockey has helped me in my academics, especially when it comes to group assignments.   The importance of understanding that each student has a role to play in the project and along which each person  having different skill sets is tremendous.  Bottom line is that the goal is to produce the best project just like working together on a shift and in a game in hockey.  I fully understand the odds of playing in NHL are small and my education in college comes first. 

    What make me different from other recruits is hard to say. Bottom line is that I am good person, from a good loving family who has taught me to work hard, respect others and just be fun to be around.  Hockey continues to teach me  life lessons and continues to shape me as a person. The importance of teamwork, leadership, honor, good sportsmanship and friendship.  As my dad says to me all the time that even if you stopped play hockey today, he is happy the person that hockey has helped me become and I cannot disagree.