Rex Baxendale '23 Recruiting Profile

Personal Statement

By Rex Baxendale.

Hockey has been apart of all my life since a young age, and I knew it was meant for me. Joining minor hockey was not even the start of my career; I played on the small basketball court in the park in front of our house. I made it my passion as a kid and I’m happy I did. It’s given me memories and friends I will never forget, and I think it has a lot more to give me.

It has been hard to try to get opportunities in Golden BC. I have been trying to “escape” the valley that I live in. I don’t get a lot of chances but when I do, I enjoy showing who I am on and off the ice. I play with my heart on my sleeve and sometimes I get upset at myself for not preforming when I know I can do better, but I am able to reel myself back and focus on the game. I love the game, there is nothing else that I can use to summarize, and I hold myself to such a high standard when I play but I have lowered that bar because it was interfering with my progress. I think I am at a good spot with myself, and my game and I really want to show it off to anyone I can.

When I look back at what I have done in the past 5 years, I realise I have done a lot that I should be proud of. I guess when I realised, I could be a competitive goaltender. I  had people telling me I had talent from other teams. I took my U13 Peewee team to the season finals and I was the MVP for the season. The next year I had to change teams because there were not enough people to make a team where I live, but I didn’t let that change anything. We ended up being the best team in our zone and we went to Provincials. We eventually won 4 to 1 against the hometown team and I got the start over the local goalie because the coach thought I could hold the team together. After that I didn’t get any offers, but I spent the season working on myself and I was getting invited to triple A camps, but I couldn’t find a right team that wanted me. When I went into my first year of U 18 and I know I have the skills to play at that level. I eventually got the chance to play practice with the local Junior B team and I have been invited to their formal camp this August. I’ve been taking camps with Okanagan Hockey Academy over the last 3 summers and I’ve been seeing a personal goalie coach named Ben Vandervies from Evolution Goaltending in Calgary. He has helped me so much with the time I’ve spent with him. Also, I’ve been invited to a five-day camp with Notre dame Saskatchewan. I’m excited to see where all those opportunities take me. And I hope that with NCSA will bring me more opportunities like those.

My goal is to play U Sport or in the NCAA because I value my schooling. I would have no problem with any other opportunities, but my goal is to play in either league. After that I would want to play professionally anywhere in North America or Europe; that is where I want to end up playing at the highest level I can wherever I am. I hope after reading this personal overview, you see me as a functional fit into your program and that I can live up to those expectations.

Regards,

Rex Baxendale