Ice-hockey remains a critical driving force in my life and a defining part of my identity. I grew up playing AAA for the California Golden Bears, one of the highest-ranked youth hockey programs in Southern California. I reflect on this period fondly as the Bears allowed me to escape the confines of LA and travel the world playing international tournaments and forming long lasting friendships both with my teammates and even with some competitors.
At 15, I left Los Angeles to attend Hoosac School in upstate New York. I wanted to challenge myself in the classroom while competing at the highest level on the ice. At Hoosac, I skate in varsity NEPSAC, one of the most competitive prep hockey leagues in the U.S. It has pushed me to grow in every way, sharpening my game, strengthening my hockey IQ and demonstrating my dedication to this craft that I love.
On the ice, I’m a reliable, consistent safety defenseman. My leadership is based on showing by example rather than telling. I don’t yell, I demonstrate. I take pride in remaining calm and focused under pressure, which allows me to consistently perform my role, make smart decisions and bring my best effort to every shift. My focused personality makes me easy to coach, a dependable teammate and someone others can trust.
Off the ice, I maintain a rigorous physical training schedule around my obligations to academics. At this point in my life, I’m an honors student, I’m striving for a 4.0+ GPA, I’m taking four AP classes and challenging myself to think critically about everything. My ambitions for a career in economics keep me razor sharp, fueling both my academic goals and remaining a dominating defenseman on the ice.
My ice-hockey profiles:
Simon Ugolnik 