Romulus Riego de Dios '23 Recruiting Profile

Dear Coaches, 

I have had my sights set on playing college hockey since I was a U9 play for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets. I remember going to Ohio State hockey games and wanted to be in their spot one day and I knew that their aspirations, drive, work ethic, and leadership inspired me to strive for the same end goal. My love for hockey is something I want to continue as I pursue a degree. This is one of the reason why I am going to continue myself at Culver Academies playing for their U18 hockey team but also pushing myself academically.

I feel that playing AAA hockey has prepared me to balance the workload of academics with practice, games, and travel.  I have maintained above a 3.5 GPA all through middle school and in High school just below a 4.0 and recently above a 4.0 GPA at Gahanna Lincoln High School where I also take honors classes. It is because of my schedule that I have excellent time management and organizational skills. My work ethic, mannerisms, promptness, and leadership skills are characteristics my teachers and coaches have often commented on.

What makes me different is my love for the game, my hockey sense, and leadership I show in the locker room and all around. Coaches have always told me how much they can see that I love the game. I would be on the ice 24/7 if I could. Another thing coaches have noticed is my hockey sense, every since I was little coaches were in awe due to how high my hockey sense was. My love for the game has driven me to very emotional moments in my career so far but what I learned is it's important to win games, but there are times you encounter a faster, better, stronger team. The value/lesson is in asking yourself if you played your best, if you left it all on the ice, if you played as a team and are proud of your attitude during the game, even in the face of a loss. I realize you cannot win every game but coaches have told me you should except to win and hate losing more than you do winning. I believe positivity and respect are two things you should always give your coaches. I feel if you're interested in college hockey, you have a skill(s) that you'll ALWAYS be developing, but your attitude and your respect toward your teammates and coaches are also two things that should be consistent and present at all times. This is why coaches have told me that I have very great leadership. Coaches have told me that other kids look up to me due to my leadership and how I act/approach situations. Those are three of the many things that make me different from everyone else.

I have been fortunate to experience placing second in the 2017 Quebec World Tournament. I can never forget the feeling of playing in the Centre Videotron in front of hundreds maybe thousands of people all to watch me play hockey. I have also been fortunate to experience winning the Warrior Cup and Bauer Motown Cup in 2014 and 2016. Those experiences have been the highlights of my career so far and effort on the ice. I can only imagine the feeling a player has stepping onto the ice in a collegiate hockey arena where the stands are full and the energy is contagious. I hope to experience that feeling in the fall of 2022 surrounded by my teammates, coaches, and fans.

All of these experiences have confirmed that I am right where I want to be. As I continue to pursue my academic and athletic goals I am committed to being a strong contributor and leader to my team and my coaches. I hope to leave whatever college I attend as an alumni that my teachers and coaches are proud of, and as someone who takes that same work ethic on and off the ice to my future career and beyond.