Tyler Ribera '21 Recruiting Profile

School is very important in my life.  I have always been involved in school whether academically, in sports, or in the arts.  In my elementary school years I received straight A's every semester and was named to the Honor Roll and President's Honor Roll.  I also very much enjoyed art.  I was awarded third place in a local book cover illustration contest.  I also participated in many school stage productions.  I enjoyed being a part of fundraising for the school by participating in walk-a-thons and bake sales.

Since entering middle school, all of my classes are Honors classes and I have been named to the Honor Roll every semester.  Since seventh grade I was able to take classes with High School credits and was named to the National Junior Honor Society.  I also began playing the clarinet and have performed in several school concerts.  I joined our volleyball team which I thoroughly enjoyed as it was so different from ice hockey.  I have been involved with the school clean-up committee and have volunteered to help during book fairs and 'Learn to Play (hockey) 'programs.  In this last year of middle school I have continued my interest in playing the clarinet and also playing volleyball.  Activities outside of school include travel ice hockey, recreational lacrosse, basketball and trail biking.  I also have gained an interest in computers, specifically with videos and video editing.  I enjoy creating edits of highlights from different sports and adding effects and music, making it my own.

As I enter High School I am excited that I will be exposed to so many different possibilities that could peak my interest in new ways.  First and foremost, I will continue with maintaining a high GPA.  I want to support my school and maybe join a club that will help my school in positive ways.  Of course I would like to play sports for my school, especially ice hockey.  But I am also interested in maybe playing lacrosse or even joining the lacrosse team.  I want to join different clubs and maybe even the student government.  I am ready to fully immerse myself in this next chapter of high school and all that it offers.

I have two major goals for college.  First I'd like to graduate with a degree in Engineering in perhaps either the computer field or architecture.  My inspiration in the computer field is my mother,  a photographer and videographer, who inspired me to have an interest in media and video production.  My influence in architecture is my favorite uncle who is an architect and has created amazing buildings.  My second goal is to play ice hockey.  My father is a good hockey player and grew up in Connecticut playing ice hockey.  Therefore, I grew up with hockey games on our television every single night during the season.  And even though I was introduced to baseball and soccer as a child, it was ice hockey that became my true and deep passion.  

I am a 6' 1" forward and a right handed shot. Skating has been my focus and what I work on the most, but I have a good shot. I happen to find the back of the net often but I am well known for my passing, team play and battling in front of the net.  I've been with my private coach, Kam Brothers, for over 4 years now, who is the skating coach for professional hockey player PK Subban and other pro hockey players, and he has been an amazing mentor not only with hockey, but for my life. I have also been attending the same hockey camp for the last four years in New York and now Maine, Townshend Hockey Developmental Camp. Graeme Townshend is the owner and hands-on instructor who has also been a great mentor and guide for me, as well as helping me hone the technique in my skating to be more powerful and efficient. The motto is 'do it until you can't get it wrong'.  I will be attending his camp again this year.

I am currently in my seventh year of travel hockey here in South Florida.  Playing hockey down here in Soflo you basically have to travel north to play the better competition, so you have to work extra hard to be the best you can be and remain challenged as a player.  The sport of hockey is growing down here, though, and I'm proud to be a part of that. I've played at the AAA level for four of the last seven years.  My teams have won State Championships four out of 7 years I've been playing, including this 2016-2017 season.  My Bantam AA team for this season competed in Nationals here in Coral Springs, Florida, and although we came up short in the quarter finals, I had an amazing experience and was lucky enough to score a big goal to keep our team in it.  I loved the atmosphere and the big crowds watching. I will have these great memories for a lifetime. Last season my Pee Wee AA team won the State Championship and the Southeastern District Championship in Charleston, South Carolina, where I was fortunate enough to have the game winning goal of the tourney.  

I was recently evaluated for the invitation only USA Hockey Developmental Camp and was selected to participate this July in Ohio.  Also, this upcoming season I have been selected to play for the South Florida Hockey Academy U16 AAA team and will be competing against Tier 1 competition the entire season in 15 out of state tournaments.  I'm excited to play for and be trained by my coaches: Olli Jokinen, Tomas Vokoun and Radek Dvorak.  It's going to be an amazing year of growth for me and I'm very grateful they have faith in me as a player.

I've played my own age group a few years, but I usually play up an age group, and hockey at this level has been such a big part of my life.  It has taught me responsibility, time management, discipline and accountability.  My coaches will tell you I have a very positive bench and locker room demeanor.  I have the reputation as a very coachable player.  I give my coaches 100% attention and the respect and trust they deserve.  I don't shy away from criticism or instruction.  I'm not afraid to work hard or to self-examine to see what i could be doing better, or what i need to be working on.  This year I was given the role of battling in front of the net and I took my job completely seriously and battled hard every shift. I know what it's like to be part of a team, work with others, and to honor and support my hockey team as well as the organization.  I believe these attributes help shape me into a better student in the classroom as well.  

In college, I am also looking forward to meeting and getting to know different people from all over.  I know I will meet people who will be friends for life. Those who inspire me and hopefully those who I inspire.

My parents have instilled in me a sense of virtue and sincerity.  I always try and hold myself accountable and am willing to learn from my mistakes.  To adults, friends, family, peers and teachers, I try to be polite, respectful and loyal, but I like to be silly and funny as well.  My years of travel hockey have taught me determination, obedience, structure and dependability.  I'm not afraid to challenge myself or step outside my comfort zone to effect positive change.  I am not perfect and have a lot to work on, but I feel that I am an honest person with integrity and a compassion for others. 

I have been involved with several different fund raising activities.  I volunteered to help raise funds for my teammate, Vincent, who was struck with brain cancer at eleven years old.  We held a skate for Vincent where over 2,000 people came to show their support and raised over $65,000.  I helped with activities, and with the younger, less experienced skaters.  It was an amazing experience for me and the community and we raised a lot of money for he and his family.  My teammates and I participated in a fund raiser car wash to support Vincent's legacy foundation, The Vincent Strong Foundation. Another example is donating Christmas gifts to families in need at the Chapman Partnership Homeless Shelter in Miami.  Most recently I participated in the Learn to Skate Program held by the Florida Panther and Palm Beach Blackhawk organizations where I assisted skaters as young as 5 with learning to skate and play hockey.  It is one of my fondest memories for the season because the kids really looked up to myself and my teammates.  It really made an impression on me when one of the boys actually remembered my name!

I would like you to know that I am a hard worker, and I always try to do my best at anything that I am faced with, whether it is on the ice for my team, or when i do my daily chores at home.  I know that my hard work today will pay off tomorrow.  I believe that family comes first, then school, then hockey.  I am a high achiever and don't like to lose, whether it's getting a bad grade on a paper or losing a game.  I see myself becoming a successful, happy adult who makes a positive impact on those that are around me.  I always strive for the greater good and not just that which will benefit me personally.  I try to always do what i can to help those less fortunate than me.  I love my family and friends, nature and animals.