2018 | North Carolina | BOYS

Charlotte Rush | 18AA | BOYS

As the head coach of the 18UAA team, I have had the privilege of coaching Patrick this season. Patrick’s leadership skills, good work ethic on and off the ice, and positivity make him a great teammate. Patrick’s leadership skills were evident from the beginning of this season. He is always very vocal in the locker room as well as on the ice, constantly trying to boost the morale of his teammates. In fact, Patrick is the most vocal player on his team. His constant encouragement on the bench during games as the backup goalie is something that will be greatly missed next season and something that is just as valuable as his encouraging words when he is in the net. Patrick always has kind and encouraging words for his teammates, even during the toughest games. Patricks’ team has benefitted greatly from his ability to lead by example. Sometimes, the team needs to see what needs to be done instead of simply being told what needs to be done. Patrick’s good work ethic is evident both on the ice during practices and games, as well as academically. While the team may be tired or distracted, Patrick chooses to work hard and try his best at every game and practice for the sake of his team and for the improvement of his own skills. I can always count on him during practice or games to bring his best to the ice. Patrick also works very hard in school and has been working diligently to achieve acceptance into the United States Naval Academy. I am happy to see that he realizes the importance of school for his future. He has been visiting campus and participating in interviews this entire season to get into the United States Naval Academy. His commitment to higher education is something I do not see in all of my players and it truly shows his maturity. As I have already mentioned, Patrick always has encouraging words for his teammates. His positivity is contagious and therefore so important during our tough games. Everyone has bad days, but Patrick seems to leave his at home when he is coming to the ice rink. Patrick is absolutely an asset to his team because of his leadership abilities, work ethic, and positivity.
Patrick is the son of Katrina and Joseph O’Connor. He has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the junior ROTC program since his freshman year. Now commanding officer, he also captains the junior ROTC marksmanship team, and his high GPA helped his unit’s academic team win third place against 13 of the top 66 junior ROTC units in the Piedmont. “Initially I dreamed of going to the Naval Academy or a career in the Navy, but I am also exploring Clemson and Virginia Tech.â€_x009d_