Jessica Pitaniello '20 Recruiting Profile

Many successful athletes have the ability to say that they were born to play. What stands me apart from them is that I really wasn’t “born to play.” No one in either family had played hockey or even knew how to skate for that matter. So when I asked to play it came as a shock. 

I first began a clinic at a half-size ice rink in my town. However, it happened to be with all boys that were not beginners themselves. This was very frightening considering I was a 10 year old girl who still didn’t know how to skate! My love for hockey is what kept me going even when I knew I wasn’t as good as them. For years I had watched the Rangers and despite the team difference, I fell in love with Patrick Kane’s stick handling (which did raise some eyebrows).

Playing hockey as a girl in Fairfield was very difficult. The longest I had stayed with a team was two seasons; I went from Bridgeport, to Yale, to Hamden, and now I am currently in Northford with the Sharks. Teams were discontinued or abandoned and I was forced to switch clubs. My dad and I were driving an hour each way to get to a practice. While this was very tedious I never abandoned hockey like the teams before me had. 

Hockey was that one sport I couldn’t get rid of, even if I had tried; to this day, it continues to grow on me! From the high intensity play in a game, to a laughing, friendly scrimmage, every drill, game, and practice, made me love hockey even more. Throughout my 5 years as a hockey player, I have learned hard work is essential and that I need to put in the time and try my hardest at every practice because ice time isn’t always available. My first team, The Wizards, was run by a man that I can thank for my determination. His way of teaching consisted of yelling, calling us names, and giving our ice time to his boys’ team. Looking back, he may have not been the perfect coach, but he helped make me into the player I am today.

As for my life outside of hockey, I play for my high school’s JV soccer team as well as a competitive spring and summer soccer league. I just recently made the Symphonic Orchestra and I have been on the Headmasters list since starting high school. I am a hardworking, coachable, ambitious, talented young woman who is eager to play for a competitive college program with a great coach that will bring my game to the next level.