Kylie O'Keefe '22 Recruiting Profile

As a young woman in today’s fast paced society, I welcome the challenges and rewards that playing multiple sports offers, while also striving to excel in my academics.  As a freshman in High School I captained the freshman soccer team which went undefeated, started on a Division 1 Varsity girl’s co-op hockey team; comprised of three towns which consistently make the MIAA Division 1 State Tournament, and run track as a sprinter competing in the 100 and 200 meter, as well as the long jump.  I do all of this while consistently making the honor roll,  and am a member of the National Honor Society, taking 6 Honors courses.  The challenge I speak of is mostly time, yet the ultimate reward for me has been success in all facets of the sport and academic world.  What this success has taught me is that dedication, self-discipline, time management, and the prioritization of these while still having personal time for my family and friends is of the upmost importance. 

Of all sports my true love is of everything hockey and this was fostered at a young age by my father who taught me power skating, and coached some of my club teams.    I learned the rhythm of the game from him by playing for him and by watching NHL hockey with him as well as going to women’s college games in the area.   My father played college hockey starting all 4 years for the UMASS Dartmouth Corsairs.  He won the 1993 ECAC Division III Championship in his last year, as well as receiving the James Costa Scholar Athlete Award.  This is where I get my competitive edge and understanding that beyond the game is the need to grow academically moving forward through my high school years and making myself viable as a future college scholar athlete.  I believe my skills make me an impact player that is always hustling and putting my team and its wins ahead of any personal gain.  My intensity, ambition, and determination in cohesion with my superior speed, quickness, and agility pushes me to drive to the net with or without the puck, and fosters my passionate forechecking and backchecking.  Preventing your opponent from organizing a breakout or entering your zone from the neutral ice area unencumbered on a goal scoring opportunity is as equally important to me as scoring a goal.  

At the finish of this past Junior season, I was chosen as a member of The Sun Chronicle 2021 Girls Hockey All - Star Team (which chooses their votes from the Conference), I received our teams Seventh Player Award (Chosen by the Coaches), and was elected as Team Captain for the 2021 - 2022 Season by my peers.