Brian Hackney '16 Recruiting Profile

I started playing hockey at age 3 because I was driving my parents crazy in the stands while they were watching my older brother at instructional league at the Flint Iceland arena.  Every Saturday and Sunday I'd watch my brother and say, "I can do that!  I want to do that!"  After a few weeks, my parents decided it would be easier to gear me up and send me out on the ice rather than listen to me begging to play hockey in the stands.

I have had an intense passion for the game of hockey ever since.  I have played house, travel, high school varsity, U18 AAA for Jimmy John's, and now U18 Flint Jr. Firebirds and I still love the game.  I am an encouraging person who would rather build up a teammate than tear someone else down.  I was voted a team captain as a sophomore because my teammates respected me for my leadership ability as well as my hockey skills.

I am self motivated.  Our high school hockey team did not have an off-ice program so I took it upon myself to work out nearly every night to put on weight and increase my strength which are both key things for a defenseman.  I am currently 5'10" and weigh 170 pounds.  I have been eating well and trying to gain weight.  I have put on 10 pounds per year for the last two years.  I will continue to eat well and work hard to put on another 20 to 30 pounds by the time I reach college.

As a defenseman, I have worked hard to develop the physical side of my game--playing the body, winning battles in the corners, and tying up forwards in front the net.  I am most proud of my passing ability.  On many teams I've been on, I have been a leader in assists because i have good vision and I share the puck.  I realize that while defenseman occasionally score goals, the defenseman's main job is to start the break out, set up the forwards on offense, and negate scoring chances on defense.  I also pride myself on being a tough defender with positive plus/minus numbers. Opposing coaches noticed me too and awarded me second team all-conference when playing for Fenton High School.

Academically, I have been improving.  I had a 2.7 GPA as a Freshman.  I improved that to a 3.2 GPA as a Sophomore making the Honor Roll. My current overall GPA is 2.94.  I am taking several tough classes this year along with playing AAA hockey at a rink over an hour from my home so time management has been more difficult this year but so far I have all A's and one B in my classes.  I am striving to attain an overall GPA of 3.5 when I graduate.

Along with my full load of classes at Fenton High School, I am attending the GCI skills center and taking a daily, two-hour course in "Teach-Lead-Coach" which specializes in leadership training.  I am looking for an opportunity to play hockey and continue my education with an eye on being a physical education teacher after I finish college.  If you are looking for an extremely hard-working student-athlete who is dedicated to improving each day, on and off the ice, I am your man.