Tyler Ribera '21 Recruiting Profile

School is very important in my life.  I have always been involved in school whether academically, in sports, or in the arts.  In my elementary school years I received straight A's every semester and was named to the Honor Roll and President's Honor Roll.  I also very much enjoyed art.  I was awarded third place in a local book cover illustration contest.  I also participated in many school stage productions.  I enjoyed being a part of fundraising for the school by participating in walk-a-thons and bake sales.

Entering middle school, all of my classes were Honors classes and I was named to the Honor Roll every semester.  Since seventh grade I was able to take classes with High School credits and was named to the National Junior Honor Society.  I also began playing the clarinet and performed in several school concerts.  I joined the volleyball team which I thoroughly enjoyed as it was so different from ice hockey.  I was involved with the school clean-up committee and  volunteered to help during book fairs and 'Learn to Play (hockey) 'programs.  In the last year of middle school I continued my interest in playing the clarinet and also playing volleyball.  Activities outside of school include travel ice hockey, recreational lacrosse, basketball and trail biking, and I recently discovered golf!  I also have gained an interest in computers, specifically with videos and video editing.  I enjoy creating edits of highlights from different sports and adding effects and music, making it my own.

For my freshman year of high school I attended Cardinal Gibbons High School. It was a busy year of school and hockey but I enjoyed the transition from middle school to high school. I was able to play for my High School hockey team, which was a nice break from a rigorous travel hockey schedule.  I enjoyed being exposed to so many different possibilities that could peak my interest and I made a lot of friends. 

I decided to try a prep school for my sophomore year of high school, transferring to South Kent School in Kent, Connecticut. Being a hockey player from south Florida, you basically have to travel north to play the better competition, so you have to work extra hard to be the best you can be and remain challenged as a player.  The sport of hockey is growing down here, though, and I'm proud to be a part of that. I've played at the AAA level for six of the last eight years.  My teams have won State Championships five out of 8 years I've been playing.  I’ve been to the National Championships twice so far, and I love the experience and the electricity of the atmosphere.  But for my sophomore year I felt I was ready for the move and the challenge of a AAA hockey team on the South Kent Selects U15 hockey team, as well as living in dorms away from home for the first time.  It was an amazing year! I did very well academically and had a very productive and growing experience playing hockey.  Our team had a truly successful year making it all the way to the National Championships in Michigan. Nationals were a great experience and test as there were many great players there. Now that the season is over I’m ready to regroup, and concentrate on getting bigger, stronger, faster to prepare for the upcoming U16 season.  I am transferring to a new and exciting program in Rhode Island and will be playing for Mount Saint Charles Hockey Academy for the 2019-2020 season. I’m very much looking forward to playing for my new coach, Devin Rask, as The Mount launches its new AAA program. The hockey history at Mount is incredible and I’m honored to be a part of this amazing program.  Not many schools can boast 26 straight years of State Championships! I will do my best to live up to this legacy. This July I am looking forward to attending the USHL National Development Camp with some of the best ‘03’s in the country.  I will be spending June preparing for the camp off the ice with my performance coach, Steig Theander, and on ice with Coach Kam, as I am more committed to my hockey than ever before.

I have two major goals for college.  First I'd like to graduate with a degree in Engineering in perhaps either the computer field or architecture.  My inspiration in the computer field is my mother,  a photographer and videographer, who inspired me to have an interest in media and video production.  My influence in architecture is my favorite uncle who is an architect and has created amazing buildings.  My second goal is to play ice hockey.  My father is a good hockey player and grew up in Connecticut playing ice hockey.  Therefore, I grew up with hockey games on our television every single night during the season.  And even though I was introduced to baseball and soccer as a child, it was ice hockey that became my true passion.  

About me and my game:  I am a 6', 3 1/2" forward and a right handed shot.  I’m currently at 187 lbs. Skating has been my focus and what I work on the most, but I have pretty good hands and a good shot with a quick release. I happen to find the back of the net often but I am well known for my passing, team play and battling in front of the net.  I've been with my private coach, Kam Brothers, for over 6 years now, who is the skating coach for professional hockey player PK Subban and other pro hockey players, and he has been an amazing mentor not only with hockey, but for my life. I have also been attending the same hockey camp for the last four years in New York and now Maine, Townshend Hockey Developmental Camp. Graeme Townshend is the owner and hands-on instructor who has also been a great mentor and guide for me, as well as helping me hone the technique in my skating to be more powerful and efficient. The motto is 'do it until you can't get it wrong'.  This year I’ve added performance coach Steig, to enhance my workouts to be more hockey-specific.

The sport of hockey has taught me so much.  It has taught me responsibility, time management, discipline and accountability. I’ve definitely faced a lot of adversity through my hockey journey to this point, and I like to feel as though I handled it well.  My coaches will tell you I have a very positive bench and locker room demeanor.  I try to be the best teammate I can be on and off the ice.  I have the reputation as a very coachable, hard working player.  I give my coaches 100% attention and the respect and trust they deserve.  If they give me a job like battling in front of the net I battle hard every shift. I don't shy away from criticism or instruction.  I'm not afraid to work hard or to self-examine to see what I could be doing better, or what i need to be working on.  I know what it's like to be part of a team, work with others, and to honor and support my hockey team as well as the organization.  I believe these attributes help shape me into a better student in the classroom as well.  

Down the road in college, I am also looking forward to meeting and getting to know different people from all over.  I know I will meet people who will be friends for life. Those who inspire me and hopefully those who I inspire.

My parents have instilled in me a sense of virtue and sincerity.  I always try and hold myself accountable and am willing to learn from my mistakes.  To adults, friends, family, peers and teachers, I try to be polite, respectful and loyal, but I like to be silly and funny as well.  My years of travel hockey have taught me determination, obedience, structure and dependability.  I'm not afraid to challenge myself or step outside my comfort zone to effect positive change.  I am not perfect and have a lot to work on, but I feel that I am an honest person with integrity and a compassion for others. 

I have been involved with several different fund raising activities.  I volunteered to help raise funds for my teammate, Vincent, who was struck with brain cancer at eleven years old.  We held a skate for Vincent where over 2,000 people came to show their support and raised over $65,000.  I helped with activities, and with the younger, less experienced skaters.  It was an amazing experience for me and the community and we raised a lot of money for he and his family.  My teammates and I participated in a fund raiser car wash to support Vincent's legacy foundation, The Vincent Strong Foundation. Another example is donating Christmas gifts to families in need at the Chapman Partnership Homeless Shelter in Miami.  Recently I participated in the Learn to Skate Program held by the Florida Panther and Palm Beach Blackhawk organizations where I assisted skaters as young as 5 with learning to skate and play hockey.  It is one of my fondest memories for the season because the kids really looked up to myself and my teammates.  It really made an impression on me when one of the boys actually remembered my name! This summer I will be working with Habitat for Humanity with some friends because I know I have a responsibility to give back and appreciate the things that are afforded to me as a hockey player. 

I would like you to know that I am a hard worker, and I always try to do my best at anything that I am faced with, whether it is on the ice for my team, or when i do my daily chores at home.  I know that my hard work today will pay off tomorrow.  I believe that family comes first, then school, then hockey.  I am a high achiever and don't like to lose, whether it's getting a bad grade on a paper or losing a game.  I see myself becoming a successful, happy adult who makes a positive impact on those that are around me.  I always strive for the greater good and not just that which will benefit me personally.  I try to always do what i can to help those less fortunate than me.  I love my family and friends, nature and animals.