A Huge, Robust Two-Means Defender

Josh Participant 2024 UNH Commit

“Huge, sturdy two-way defender who can add some offense and defend properly…Participant was sturdy in his personal finish, enjoying onerous on pucks and making life robust within the corners. He performs physique to physique on his man and retains himself between the puck and the web.” Impartial Zone, December, 2021

Josh Participant Defenseman, 6’1″, 182 lbs. Shoots Proper Hometown: Thorofare, New Jersey DOB: Might 13, 2005 17 years, 4 months Impartial Zone Ranking: 3.5 out of 5 Stars Present Crew: Bishop Kearney Selects 18U (18U AAA) Dedicated to UNH in August, 2022 at Age 17 years, 3 months.

Interview

I had a possibility to interview Josh Participant, by way of electronic mail, about his hockey profession and dedication to UNH:

Mike Lowry: Congratulations in your dedication to play for the College of New Hampshire. How did you first develop into interested by UNH?

Josh Participant: I first grew to become interested by UNH a couple of 12 months in the past after I first talked to Coach Giuliano. Since then, I used to be at all times very interested by enjoying for UNH.

Mike Lowry: What are the principle causes you selected to decide to UNH?

Josh Participant: The primary causes I select to decide to UNH are the tradition that’s being constructed and the belief I gained within the teaching workers. All through my recruitment course of, it was clear that UNH was the perfect match for me.

Lowry: What different school applications did you contemplate in the course of the recruiting course of? Which faculties did you go to and which of them made a suggestion to you?

Josh Participant: Throughout my recruitment course of, I thought of a number of different faculties. I used to be in a position to go to UConn, Umass Amherst, RPI, and Princeton.

Lowry: Have you ever and the UNH coaches agreed on a goal date so that you can enroll as a freshman at UNH and be part of the group?

Participant: We’ve not formally selected a goal date but.

Lowry: Which junior leagues would you wish to play in earlier than you go to UNH?

Participant: Earlier than I am going play for UNH, I wish to play within the USHL. I consider the USHL would be the greatest league for me to develop as an individual and participant earlier than coming to UNH.

Lowry: At this stage in your growth, what are the principle strengths of your sport? What areas are you attempting to enhance?

Participant: I consider the principle strengths of my sport are my skating, imaginative and prescient, management, and my capability to make a powerful first move. These areas of my sport permit me to create fast offense in transition and bounce into the offense when lanes are open. I’m repeatedly attempting to enhance my skating and motion on the offensive blue line.

Lowry: You participated within the 2021 USA Hockey Choose 16 Participant Growth Camp and the 2022 Choose 17 Camp. How do you assume your abilities evaluate with the opposite high US defensemen born in 2005?

Participant: I consider my abilities permit me to compete with any 2005 defenseman within the nation. The Choose 16 and 17 Growth Camp was a fantastic expertise for me to problem myself in opposition to the perfect gamers within the nation.

Lowry: Final season, you scored 12 objectives and 26 assists for Bishop Kearney Selects 16U, together with a aim and an help because the group gained the USA Hockey Nationwide Championship. Would you describe the expertise of profitable the championship?

Participant: Profitable the Nationwide Championship final 12 months was an expertise that can final with me the remainder of my life. All through the entire season, my group centered on turning into the tightest group within the nation. This allowed us to create a particular bond that helped us make it by way of the onerous elements of a season. The bond and belief we gained for one another allowed us to win the Nationwide Championship.

Lowry: When do you propose to graduate from highschool? What are your educational strengths and pursuits? Have you considered what you may main in whenever you enroll at UNH?

Participant: I’m presently in my Senior 12 months of Excessive Faculty and can graduate on the finish of the 12 months. I’m interested by enrolling within the Peter T. Paul Faculty of Enterprise and Economics college.

Impartial Zone Scouting Report

USA U16 Nationals, April, 2022

“Participant is a mid-sized defenseman that could be a little aggressive on his gaps however doesn’t let something by him. He pinched bit as he learn passes and jumped the lane, making it troublesome for the wingers to catch the move, not to mention make a play on the puck. He is aware of when he must strain or again off and takes sensible dangers with and with out the puck. Sometimes, if nothing is accessible, he’ll make the most of the excessive tender chip or the glass to get pucks out and relieve the strain. He steers puck carriers out extensive and might make strong contact to jar pucks unfastened.”

Youth Hockey Statistics