Get to Know Max Montes
2/10/2024 11:40:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Max Montes grew up in Hartland, Wis., where hockey was not very popular and it wasn't until his father, who is from Venezuela, went to a hockey game that Montes started playing. His father decided he wanted his kids to start playing hockey, and at age three, Montes began skating along with his brother.
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Growing up, Montes' favorite hockey team was the Chicago Blackhawks, and his favorite player on the Blackhawks was Jonathan Toews. He shared that he also looked up to Sidney Crosby, who plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but that the Blackhawks are his favorite team. He also added it was fun to be a Blackhawks fan growing up when they won the Stanley Cup three times in five years.
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Montes looked up to Toews as more than a favorite player to watch, and tried to model his game after him when he was younger. More recently, Montes enjoys watching Mitch Marner, who plays for the Maple Leafs, and said Marner "plays a really skilled game that I want to play like."
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In fourth grade, Montes began playing for the AAA Milwaukee Junior Admirals, where he spent seven years. He started playing juniors during his sophomore year of high school in Dubuque, Iowa, for the Fighting Saints. Montes played in Dubuque for three years before coming to Ohio State.
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Montes' path to playing at Ohio State was not the most typical. Originally, he was committed to play hockey at a different Division I school, but they decided he wasn't ready for college hockey at that time. Taking a gamble on himself, Montes decommitted and looked into other schools to keep his options open. On why he chose Ohio State, Montes was discussing his visit and explained "I loved the coaches, the facilities and what they give you as a player. We get everything we need."
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Aside from hockey, Montes is majoring in marketing and shared that balancing hockey with schoolwork hasn't been too difficult for him yet during his first year. He also shared that outside of school and hockey, he enjoys to surf and golf.
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During the off-season, Montes said "Surfing is the thing I do most in the summer. I go out on the lake with my friends from home." He also shared that during the summer he enjoys playing golf, going to concerts, and spending time with his family.
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Montes explained that he has many superstitions before his games. He shared that if he has a good game, he will continue to wear the same dress socks and dove into his gameday routine which is filled with superstition. Montes' game day routine starts with him putting his under gear on, then he goes to get a coffee, changes, and tapes his stick, all while listening to music. Once his stick is taped, he takes off his headphones and is prepared for the game ahead.
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Montes now wears number 16 for Ohio State, instead of 19 which he wore until his time in AAA because it was taken. He chose to wear 16 because it was his brother's old number and was similar to his 19.
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Montes' hidden skills such as surfing and golf, show he's not just the forward fans see at a game. He's full of superstitions on and off the ice, which gives insight into his personality and commitment to the game. Montes may not have originally been set to come to Ohio State, but he says there is no place he would rather be.
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Growing up, Montes' favorite hockey team was the Chicago Blackhawks, and his favorite player on the Blackhawks was Jonathan Toews. He shared that he also looked up to Sidney Crosby, who plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but that the Blackhawks are his favorite team. He also added it was fun to be a Blackhawks fan growing up when they won the Stanley Cup three times in five years.
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Montes looked up to Toews as more than a favorite player to watch, and tried to model his game after him when he was younger. More recently, Montes enjoys watching Mitch Marner, who plays for the Maple Leafs, and said Marner "plays a really skilled game that I want to play like."
Â
In fourth grade, Montes began playing for the AAA Milwaukee Junior Admirals, where he spent seven years. He started playing juniors during his sophomore year of high school in Dubuque, Iowa, for the Fighting Saints. Montes played in Dubuque for three years before coming to Ohio State.
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Montes' path to playing at Ohio State was not the most typical. Originally, he was committed to play hockey at a different Division I school, but they decided he wasn't ready for college hockey at that time. Taking a gamble on himself, Montes decommitted and looked into other schools to keep his options open. On why he chose Ohio State, Montes was discussing his visit and explained "I loved the coaches, the facilities and what they give you as a player. We get everything we need."
Â
Aside from hockey, Montes is majoring in marketing and shared that balancing hockey with schoolwork hasn't been too difficult for him yet during his first year. He also shared that outside of school and hockey, he enjoys to surf and golf.
Â
During the off-season, Montes said "Surfing is the thing I do most in the summer. I go out on the lake with my friends from home." He also shared that during the summer he enjoys playing golf, going to concerts, and spending time with his family.
Â
Montes explained that he has many superstitions before his games. He shared that if he has a good game, he will continue to wear the same dress socks and dove into his gameday routine which is filled with superstition. Montes' game day routine starts with him putting his under gear on, then he goes to get a coffee, changes, and tapes his stick, all while listening to music. Once his stick is taped, he takes off his headphones and is prepared for the game ahead.
Â
Montes now wears number 16 for Ohio State, instead of 19 which he wore until his time in AAA because it was taken. He chose to wear 16 because it was his brother's old number and was similar to his 19.
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Montes' hidden skills such as surfing and golf, show he's not just the forward fans see at a game. He's full of superstitions on and off the ice, which gives insight into his personality and commitment to the game. Montes may not have originally been set to come to Ohio State, but he says there is no place he would rather be.
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Players Mentioned
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