Joshua Ratusny '20 Recruiting Profile

Dear Coach, 

Thank you very much for your time to evaluate my feelings about playing for you, for the next 4-5 years.  It’s important that I find a good fit for my playing future and development as a person and a hockey player.  I will talk about some things that my various coaches (including my dad, from Canada, that also coached me growing up) have told me.  

I’ve played since I was about 5 or 6 and my dad has complimented me on my long stride and speed, although he said I need to get stronger for better balance and jump.  I play both ends of the ice and my dad also calls me a “gopher” because I’m chasing down pucks.  I’ve been told that I’m selfless because I get pucks and like to set up my teammates first.  This year my on ice goals include, good positioning, getting to the puck first, and my dad wants me to strive to get in one hit and one shot every shift, because he feels I need to shoot more and I need to be more comfortable playing against larger players.  I’ve been trying to that.  I try to skate ahead of the play and help my line mates move the puck faster.  I’m really excited to play with players that are fast and think quickly under my coach’s guidance.  

I’m very coachable and want very much to please my team and coaches.  I know I’m a great locker room influence and have always heard from different coaches that my hockey intelligence is “off the charts”. I’ve been a member of Beta Club since I was very young and maintain a high GPA.  I don’t take penalties much at all (maybe 2-3 penalties each season).  I think it hurts the team when we are on the PK.  I’ve won the Mullin’s award for on/off ice leadership & sportsmanship, plus last year I earned the offensive player of the year award.  

I’ve done various volunteer work over the past 4 or 5 years and currently work at a coffee shop.  I’ve worked on my own with a pressure washing business I do over the summers.  I expect to earn my playing time and my dad has explained to me the importance of understanding my role on the team.  Because of my hard of hearing disability, my coach’s feel that my on-icevision is excellent.  I want to earn my playing time and it is important for me to have good structure so I can get stronger and improve all aspects of my game.  

I know being a student athlete is important to achieve my academic goals, learn to balance life and develop habits to becoming successful.  I have achieved momentum in this direction already and need this momentum to continue duringmy college career.  Thank you.   Josh