Matthew Ripplinger '22 Recruiting Profile

I am currently 18 years of age (March 3, 2022) and I have compled my final year (grade 12) of secondary education at Martin Collegiate High School in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. I chose to attend Swift Current Comprehensive for the majority of my grade 12 year so that I could play U18 AAA hockey with the Legionnaires. That decision allowed me to not only focus on academics but also my hockey skills (playing at the highest level of U18 hockey in Saskatchewan). This is important to me because in every aspect of my life, I am committed to being the absolute best I can be. In the classroom I am well organized as a student and I am always focused on ensuring that I am prepared for every aspect of student life. My academic average at the end of my grade 12 year was  97.4%.  I am proud of the marks I have been able to maintain while focusing a great deal of my time on hockey commitments and aspirations. In the hockey world, I have always been fortunate to be considered a leader on the teams I have been a part of. In my first year of Bantam AA hockey, I was an assistant captain for the Pat Blues. In the 2018-2019 season I was the captain of this same Bantam AA team. My coach, Cody Mapes, awarded the "C" to me based on my work ethic in practices and games and on my commitment to my teammates and to the overall success of the team. For the 2019-2020 season, I experienced injuries for the first time and this allowed me to only play 15 out of 38 regular season games for the Midget AA Regina Vics. Sitting and watching as I rehabbed from injuries was very difficult for me. For the 2020-2021 season I made the decision to move to Swift Current, Saskatchewan so that I could play for the Swift Current Legionnaires in the SMAAAHL. This was a difficult decision as I had to move during the COVID-19 pandemic and I was living with another teammate in a new city. Unfortunately, the realities of the COVID pandemic limited our hockey season to just 6 regular season games. I again played for the Legionnaires in Swift Current for my final year of AAA U18 hockey, and I did so as the captain, taking on key leadership roles with the team. I had a positive relationship with our head coach and we had many discussions on how we wanted to try and move the team forward in the 2021-2022 season. When I am practicing or playing in a game, I pride myself on the fact that no player on the ice will outwork me and, because I am not the "biggest" player on the ice, I believe this example has inspired my teammates to commit to similar work levels. In the dressing room, I understand the importance of sending positive messages to my teammates and to ensure that different players receive specific words of motivation based on their particular situations in games and practices. I believe that such an approach has always "set me apart" from other teammates and has been viewed positively by my teammates and certainly by those who have coached me. Such an approach is simply part of my "DNA" and it will never change regardless of the team I am playing for. This is why I believe I am a good fit for any team and any coach. I also pride myself on my "hockey IQ" and my ability to pick up quickly the systems a coach is running and the adjustments that the coach may be emphasizing as a game is being played. Further, I am often able to convey these adjustments to teammates in positive ways and I am always looking at "picking someone up" in situations when mistakes have been made and possibly criticism has come from a coach or coaches. Negative feedback does not bother me and I believe that constructive criticism and self evaluation are key to moving forward and growing as an athlete (hockey player) and as a person. I have learned from my parents and a number of terrific coaches/teachers that mistakes will happen; the key is not letting these mistakes define you and, instead, focusing on what you can learn from mistakes to ensure that you are always growing and moving forward in life. God willing, I am hoping to continue to grow as a hockey player and, for me, this includes playing hockey at the collegiate level. I am hoping to impress an NCAA coach with my skills, my attitude, my IQ, and my work ethic, and, once part of a collegiate program, then contribute positively to the team in every way possible. I know that, if given the chance, I will not disappoint the coach and my team. Highlighting this would be the recognition I received from my U18 AAA team at the end of our 2021-2022 season for my contributions; they honoured me with five different awards: (1) Scholastic Award (I maintained a 97.4% average), (2) Most Game Stars throughout the year, (3) Top Scorer and Points for the team, (4) Player Choice Award (the players' pick for the individual that inspired the team most throughout the season), (5) Team MVP. I started the 2022-2023 season in Kindersley, playing hockey their and taking online university classes part-time (to maintain my NCAA eligibility) at the University of Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, hockey in Kindersley did not work out for me and I am now currently playing with the Pilot Butte Storm Junior team. Our team is in first place in the standings and I am averaging 1.5 points/game. I am on the second powerplay unit and penalty kill on a regular basis. I have a positive relationship with our head coach, Drew Kocur, and I feel that I am contributing positively to the team with my play and my work ethic in games and practices.