Date of Birth
February 12, 2008
Hometown
Martensville, SK, CAN
Current Team
Martensville Marauders U15AA (SAAHL)
Position
Defensemen
Height
6’0”
Weight
176 lbs
Shoots
Left
GPA
4.0
What are some of your main goals within the game over the next 5 years?
My short-term goal is to play AAA. I then want to make junior and go on to college hockey. I continually strive to improve my game and beat my personal best.
2. Another goal I have is to do well in school academically. This has been instilled in me since I was little. I want to maintain a GPA over 90% each semester. This will allow me to enter the college I want and prepare me for the demands of university.
3. It is important to me to enjoy each day, to be a good friend, teammate, student, and son. I want to be the best person that I can be. This is an important goal as I want to be known as someone with character, who knows who he is and what he wants. I
4. Being physically and mentally fit is both a short- and long-term goal that I have.
Why are these your goals? Why are they important to you? What would it mean to achieve them?
These are my goals because I love hockey and I want to continue to excel in it. I continually work to improve and challenge myself when given constructive feedback. I also take the time to reflect on what I did well and pick something to work on. I want to be the best that I can be. I believe goals help you get up in the morning and give you a purpose. My goals support a healthy lifestyle and my mental health which are important to me and impact my game.
I know that people who reach their goals must be focused and have a strong work ethic. After high school I would love the opportunity to play at a higher level and attend university. My parents have instilled the importance of education since I can remember. I have always enjoyed both the social and the academic parts of school. I love to learn, and it would be great to be able to go to school to earn a degree and play hockey at the same time.
Lastly, I want to have fun and enjoy everything I am doing. I want to be proud of the choices I make and how I treat and interact with others. I believe that the people who I surround myself with will be there for me during the good times and support me in challenging times.
If I was able to attain my long-term goal playing at the NCAA division 1 would be so proud of myself. Playing hockey is not easy. There are highs and lows. I have always picked myself up during more challenging times and attaining this goal would reinforce the importance of perseverance, vision, sacrifice and work ethic. I would serve as a strong role model for others that play hockey, my younger brother and friends. The message that it would send would be about believing in yourself, putting in the work that is required and perseverance.
What separates you as a player and person? What are some areas requiring work? How do you continue to get better?
What separates me as a player are my leadership skills on and off the ice, attitude, and work ethic. I see the positive in everything and know that even in difficult circumstances there is always a lesson to be learned. My friends and teachers would say that I am a caring, social, and loyal friend. I set healthy boundaries for myself, and I am not afraid to stand up for others when I see something that is not right in a constructive way. I believe and encourage others but know that I have a part on a team and need to do my own work.
Another way I set myself apart from others is that I set goals for myself and continually try to improve myself in a number of areas. Examples include tracking my diet and my workout routine on a daily basis. When I meet with my trainers, I have evidence of my work and progress.
I think many people say what sets them apart is they are willing to work hard and improve. I think it’s important to look at a person’s actions as pieces of evidence. Anyone can say they work hard. I have held down a part time job the past two summers while training, completed the National Lifeguard award, and have my First Aid and CPR certificate. I am a level 1 ref in hockey, football ref and maintained a 92% GPA in grade 9. My parents also expect me to contribute to the household chores. My coaches and teachers would tell you that I ask for constructive feedback and I act on it. I am not afraid of hard work. My parents have told me that nothing that matters in life comes easy. Their biggest accomplishments in life are what they worked the hardest for. This has stuck with me.
What do you bring to any team you play for? What could a coach expect from you if they selected you for their roster?
I bring a strong two way play with strong defensive and offensive capabilities, as well as a very strong mindset of getting better everyday. I can support the mindset of my teammates to help reach their goals l with the
synergy and positive attitude that I bring. What a coach would expect from me would be a very reliable defenseman that can play any role needed to help the team win games, whatever it may be. I am not afraid to work hard and will listen to the constructive feedback that is provided. I will lead with character on and off the ice and be a strong representative of our team. I will be a good teammate and friend.
What impact are you looking to have in your sports career? (Community, team, success, etc)
Team and hockey – The first impact I am hoping to have in my sports career is to be a productive and essential player to my team. I think I can be a role model by being a leader and a team player. One of my greatest strengths is that I know who I am. I have healthy boundaries and I am looking to help impact my teammates by showing them how much you can achieve by using your own sheer will and mindset. I am a leader because I show respect to anyone, especially when absent in the dressing room. I want to show everybody that anyone can play hockey at the highest level possible by working as hard as they can. Of course, success is something I want as well, but showing others a path that they may not have thought possible to that success is what I want them to see.
Community and the game of hockey – It has been instilled in me by my parents that when we give back we get so much in return. Many people have supported me in my hockey career from my family, my coaches, my friends and local businesses. I want to be able to give back to the local community that has supported young players and the game I love. I know that many young players look up to older players and that I have a responsibility as to how I conduct myself in the community.
What do you believe separates the best players in the world? What attributes/intangibles define them?
What separates elite players from the rest of players in any sport is mindset, attitude, and work ethic. Mindset is critical. It impacts you as a hockey player and is a reflection of how you view the world. It’s what drives you to become a better player. Your mindset and attitude show you what is possible and to keep reaching for it. Focusing on your limitations or what you did wrong does not get you anywhere. I try to learn from mistakes, put the effort in to not repeat the mistake and keep going forward.
Work ethic is not just about putting the effort in at practice. It is a continual process: eating strategically, getting enough sleep and having a targeted training schedule where you track progress. This is what sets you apart from others. Another essential piece is to manage stress and your mental health. I look after my mental health by managing my sleep and surrounding myself with people who care about me.
Favorite thing about the game (on or off ice)?
The feeling of the success of making a good pass, or scoring a goal, winning a game, or making a big check. It’s the rush of adrenaline I get from the game that is my favourite thing about hockey. I also love the friends that I have made that will last a lifetime.
- Grade 9 – maintained above 92% GPA