Tara Den Hoed '25 Recruiting Profile

My story is not the typical one for Hockey- I spent the greater part of my final eligibility year in Minor Hockey Rehabilitating an Injury from our Home opener. I lost the majority of what was going to be an amazing season with great Coaches and  team that was highly competitive, However  that only meant my role was adjusted To become a mentor to my Goalie Partner and Players - Strategizing with Players In the intermission based on what I was reading from the games, Luckily for me I am now back on the ice trying to get back up to speed because We are hosting and playing in the Provincial Finals ( Like State Finals) and I am getting faster and stronger every day.  My post secondary Plan shifted to now looking at Playing Jr. and then trying to find a University/ College from The AFJHL  All I know is my story didn't end with that Injury it just shifted for me and Now I know wherever I go to play will be at 100%  

Hockey has been my passion and my life for as long as I can remember.I have always wanted to play hockey at the collegiate level. When I was 7 I fell in love with the position of goaltender, I wanted to be just like the female goalie from the local college who had befriended me during a "skate with a Trojan" event  In fact to this day we still have stayed in touch and have bonded to be as close as sisters. For me I want to play Competitive Hockey -  However I want to be on a team that the players  are equally striving to be better every-time they step on the ice, and  where the team bonds as a group, Creating a good Team Culture I want to be where the team works out together and ultimately gave back to the community and the  sport- a team that has high expectations to perform and consequences for actions.  My Desire to be on a High Functioning Team is probably why I feel a pull to eventually work in an Emergency Service First Responder Career Such as Fire or Police 

I am a very competitive person. I play Hockey with a high compete drive each and every ice time. I do not want that puck in my net.  I am also huge on communication, I see the whole ice and can therefore direct my team using verbal cues to help my team gain an advantage.  I work hard on the ice ( but everyone who is playing at high levels should be)  but additionally I can say I work hard off the ice sometimes that's by analyzing game tapes, or by working out,  one of the things I have been told over and over throughout my hockey career has been play dual sports, "you must play multiple sports" so with that I have played competitive box lacrosse, basketball, horseback riding and through my past few high school years I have discovered a passion playing female rugby. And this year will be coaching at my High school.  

I have been Volunteering my time over the last several years to help Mentor and Goalie Coach athletes in my Local Minor Hockey Association and I love the Bond that I create with them and being able to see where they go in their Hockey journey and celebrating their successes with them, this passion has carried over into being able to contract with a Goalie Training Company locally coaching Minor Hockey Goalies. During my Hockey Academy thru school I have been very fortunate to have become a member of Big Brothers, Big Sisters Canada and this is something I can foresee continuing past my high school credit term. 

Overall the biggest thing to note about myself is that I always wake up wanting to push myself -daily to be better,  and that I am looking to find the "right fit" with not only the Post Secondary School that I attend but also the coaching staff & teammates as I value being a part of a team and I can't wait to be cheering for and being a big part of a school and Campus life being available to support Sports teams, clubs, and school achievements.