Jacob Modry '17 Recruiting Profile

My name is Jacob Modry. You've looked at many of other prospects, and your question would be; is this the guy we want in our school, community, and locker room?  Well coach, I can tell you, yes.  This is my story.

Growing up, my father played in the NHL and I learned from a very young age that hard work is everything.  Nothing is ever given, it has to be earned. I loved hockey ever since I can remember. I started out playing for the Jr. Kings Mite A as my first year of organized hockey.  Everything was going great until, boom! my dad signed with the Atlanta Thrashers.  While living in Georgia I learned some new things. I was old enough to know different personalities in the Thrashers locker room. This is where I started to learn how to be a presence in my own locker room. By observing individual personalities I saw how the respect was given to each player. I wanted to bring all that I learned to my own team.  Two years later we were traded to Dallas.  Again I used this experience of being on different teams to better myself as a hockey player.   After Dallas we were traded back to LA. where I played as a squirt.  After LA we were traded to the Flyers in Philadelphia.   It was a great experience for me to play on the east coast and see the difference between the east and west teams.   I enjoyed playing in Philadelphia because there were so many teams nearby and great competition. In 2008 my family decided to move over seas.  My dad wanted to play in his home country of the Czech Republic.  I was very excited for this move. We lived in Prague for three years.  I played in a little town called Kladno, I was proud to play in the same arena that some NHL players came from.  It was at this point I knew I was lucky to have experienced all that I had.  Playing hockey in North America and now in Europe.  In Europe they pride them self in skating and stick handling.  I am very fortunate to have been able to live in Europe and learn the culture and experience playing hockey.  One memory that stands out in my mind was, when our team traveled to south Czech. We played in my dad's home town of Ceske Budejoice.  My Czech grandma came and watched me that game it made me proud to play in that arena.  While living in Prague I attended the  International School Of Prague.  I was lucky enough to have met kids from all around the world.  I experienced many cultures and languages.  After my sixth grade year my family decided to move back to the USA because my dad retired.  We moved to my mom's home town in Albany, New York.  Here I entered middle school up to freshman year.  I was able to play for a AAA hockey team in Albany.  I again used all of my experience living over seas and throughout the US in my development. I played three years in Albany then we moved to LA.

I play AAA hockey for the LA Jr. Kings U-16 minor team. I am a strong defenseman who takes pride in moving the puck. I'm always moving my feet to get into the play.   I am the difference in a game where we win. I love to play the 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 games where it's tight checking, physical and intense. I always bring a physical presence to the game. I finish my checks and I'm tough in front of the net. I work hard in school and my GPA will reflect that. My academics have never suffered with all of my traveling, in fact it made me the player/person I am today.   

Overall, I feel very fortunate to have the experiences of living in many different places.  I have learned from each city I lived in how to be a better person on and off the ice.  My goal is to play division 1 hockey and become an excellent student/athlete.  Through my experience I have learned how to become part of a community and know what each place has to to offer.