Alum Jack Lipovich currently plays for the Miami University Club Team. Jack is a former captain and member of our 2016 18U National Championship team.
We caught up to chat about his time in the Pens Elite program and how he has adjusted to attending Miami University.
The adjustment was pretty seamless for me. With all of our ice time and great coaching with PPE, I had developed a strong foundation to my game that allowed me to step right in at Miami and contribute from day 1. My experience playing at a high level in a variety of big games with the PPE prepared me to compete against much older opponents.
Playing for the Penguins Elite organization has helped me develop not only as a hockey player, but more importantly as a student, a leader and a man. My coaches demanded hard work, a team-first mentality and continued personal development that not only led to success on the ice but paved the way for my development off the ice. With PPE I gained valuable experience as a leader that has translated to my success at Miami and in the business world.
Chase your dreams and don't make excuses along the way. Put the ownership on yourself to get better as a player and a teammate and you'll realize the results. Enjoy your time with the Pens Elite and appreciate the friendships that will last a life time. And at the end of the day, make sure you do what's best for your future as a hockey player and beyond.
Becoming the first team from Pittsburgh to win a National Championship and walking in the 2016 Stanley Cup parade with my teammates was an unforgettable experience.
On my current team, Jacob Smith has been a great teammate and mentor for me, not only on the ice but off the ice as well. He is an older player that I always look up to and he's a guy that will always have your back. Smitty's one of our best players on the ice, and he sets a great example in the classroom.
On a home game day, I spend my mornings in class and working on homework to make sure I'm on top of my schoolwork. Then I usually take the afternoon to decompress with my teammates playing video games and watching Netflix. Then I usually cook a pregame meal with my housemates and head to the rink a few hours before game time.
Chicken pesto pasta
Our home rink Goggin is one of the top hockey facilities in the country. It's especially fun playing at home on Friday nights when our fans get rowdy.
Ohio University's Bird Arena. They have a smaller ice sheet there and they know how to use it. Their fans can get pretty intense as well.
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