Aidan Pasic '26 Recruiting Profile

My father hails from Canada and came to the United States to play hockey at Princeton University after two years of Junior Hockey in Canada.  He had me and my siblings on skates since the time we could walk.  My older sister transitioned her ice hockey skills to the field when she started high school and now plays D1 field hockey in college. For me, it’s always been about ice hockey. I love the thrill of competing and while I have played multiple sports over the years, hockey has always been my number one passion.

I grew up in Manhattan where I started playing hockey in an outdoor rink in Central Park for the North Park hockey organization where I led my team in scoring every year.  A highlight of my early years was playing in the Quebec Pee Wee tournament where I got to play against teams from all over the world.  Many of us didn’t even speak the same language, but we connected through our shared love of hockey as we exchanged pins with each other.

At age 14, I transitioned to the New Jersey Avalanche AAA program and played for former NHL player Peter Sykora.Despite being the newest member and coming from a different organization, I earned my way up to the first line (and PP1 and PK1) and scored some significant goals that advanced us to the league championship.  As U15 (2022-23 season), I played for Rob Hutson and was named sole captain of the team which advanced to the AYHL league championship. I played on the top line (and PP1 and PK1) and led the team in scoring with 19 goals and 28 assists for 47 points in 58 games.  I ended the season as one of the top 5 scorers in the league.  As U16, I played for Anthony Day, Eric May and Jamie Cahill and was again named sole captain. Unfortunately, my season was cut short due to a wrist injury.  While I was disappointed to miss most of my season, I was determined to come back strong. In my first tournament back (USHL Frosty Cup Showcase in Dallas, Texas), I ended up as the leading scorer with 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points in 4 games.  Unfortunately, I reinjured my wrist shortly thereafter and had to miss the remainder of the season.  I was able to make it back for the playoffs and helped my team win the AYHL league championship.  We ended up losing in the Atlantic District best of 3 finals to the NJ Rockets. 

I was selected to attend the U16 USA NTDP Atlantic District Camp Main Camp and chose to participate, despite my injury, accumulating one goal and three assists in three games. This year, I was drafted by the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL as one of only three 2007s drafted in the USHL from the Atlantic District.  I attended the Muskegon Lumberjacks camp and was selected to participate in the Final 40 All Star Game. I also was invited and attended two NAHL camps (the Philadelphia Rebels and defending NAHL National Champions Dallas Brahamas) as well as the Liberty Cup.

I have played Varsity Ice Hockey for Delbarton High School, which is one of the top ranked programs in New Jersey, since my freshman year.  Delbarton made it to the New Jersey State Championship my freshman year, but we lost in the finals to St. Augustine. This past season, as a sophomore, I started on the top line for Delbarton and was on PP1 and PK1. While my season was cut short due to my wrist injury, in 15 games, I scored 6 goals and 15 assists for 21 points. Delbarton advanced to the State semi-finals but lost to St. Augustine which went on to win the New Jersey State Championship.  

I’m a true competitor with a mindset that is all about winning and pushing limits. I’ve played more than just ice hockey over the years – lacrosse, football, and basketball were also in the mix.  These sports taught me different ways to think about the game and how to be a better teammate. While I stepped back from most of them in recent years due to the demands of ice hockey, I still play lacrosse for Delbarton. I’ve always enjoyed team sports because of the bond that forms with teammates and the way you work together toward a common goal.  

On the ice, I push myself to make a difference in every game but I’m also thinking of how to create opportunities and bring out the best in my team. The fact that I’ve been named captain of every club team I’ve played for (to the extent captains were named for the season) is something I am very proud of. I was also the only captain for my Avalanche AAA teams the past two seasons.  As a leader, I know how important it is to support each other, to maintain a positive attitude (even under pressure) and to show resilience after defeat.

As a player, I’m known for my defensive contribution as much as my offensive ability. I play both ends of the rink with equal intensity and don’t back down from challenges.  I am coachable and disciplined and pride myself on my strong hockey IQ and unselfish play.  I get as much joy from setting up my teammates to score as I do from my own goals. I also respect the game immensely and have a strong work ethic committed to continuous improvement.

I am equally committed to making an impact in the community as I am on the ice.  Hockey is an expensive sport which limits its availability to some players so my father and I started a gear exchange program with the North Park Hockey League where players could donate old uniforms and gear to other players in the same program.  We are hoping to expand the concept to other hockey leagues in the NY/NJ area in the coming months.  This summer, I also volunteered for youth hockey camps in Newark and Morristown, New Jersey. 

I am driven to succeed in the classroom as much as on the ice.  I chose to attend Delbarton, an academically rigorous private school, where I have been successful in balancing a difficult courseload, including honors and AP classes, with the demands of both high school and club hockey.  My GPA at the end of my sophomore year was 3.8. The academic rigor of Delbarton has positioned me well to succeed academically in college where I hope to pursue a degree in finance or economics.

Finally, I have immense respect for the game of hockey and its players, coaches and institutions. I remember the grief I felt when I injured my wrist last season and was not able to play. I appreciate what a privilege it is to be able to play hockey at the collegiate level and I do not and will not take that for granted. I will do whatever it takes to be a valuable contributor to both your hockey program and your university.