HOOKSETT, NH — With over 160 games played between the EHL and EHLP, it’s safe to say Alex Valentini has put in his time in junior hockey.
As the second half of his age-out year begins, the New Hampshire Avalanche blue liner will have one less thing on his mind: a commitment. He will be headed to Post University for the Fall of 2026, another example of the EHL’s pipeline of development.
Valentini, a native of Rochester, NY, began his journey with the New England Wolves in the EHLP. Predominantly playing for their 16U AAA program, he was sprinkled into some EHLP games in 2021-22 before taking on full time roles in the following two seasons. Expecting a jump in playing more physical and faster players, Valentini knew he had to step up.
“My time in the P was definitely important,” he says. “I was playing against bigger and faster players which motivated me to work a lot harder and play more of a physical game. As time went on, I felt like my confidence had gone up and the games slowed down for me more and more. I was able to be more consistent and set the pace for the games instead of years before where I’d be working super hard just to keep up.”
Before his full-time EHL call-up, Valentini spotted into multiple EHL games during his tenure in the EHLP, an experience that only increased his motivation.
“It gave me a feel of what the pace is like and made me want to work harder to be on that level all the time,” he recalls.
While college hockey wasn’t prominent on his mind early in his juniors career, playing fully at the EHL level made it the “primary goal.” During the 2024-25 season, he played in 43 EHL games, recording a goal and six assists.
“The jump definitely feels bigger at the start, but once you’re practicing at that level for a bit and getting some games in, your confidence starts to build and you can contribute more and more to the team. At the beginning, my big thing was just consistency, making as little mistakes as possible, and just doing my job.”
With college hockey on his mind and his last year of juniors just ahead, Valentini joined a team better suited to place him at the NCAA level. Enter the New Hampshire Avalanche.
In a new setting and with a year of EHL experience behind him, Valentini’s production has soared. He currently has twelve points in 22 games and is on pace to more than triple his total from last season.
“I definitely feel a lot more comfortable this year,” Valentini says. “I just think that my confidence has gone way up and being able to be in a role as a top defenseman on a top team in the league definitely helps that. Playing with a lot of other great players has made it easier to play better.”
Valentini’s body of work earned his commitment to Post, where he will join a plethora of EHL alumni. He described the process as “easy” thanks to both the Eagles’ coaching staff and Avalanche Head Coach Chris Cerrella. In the New Year, he will put the finishing touches on a lengthy EHL career and believes his efforts have set the stage for him to be an early impact player in the NCAA.
