Alex Carpenter: If I had one piece of advice for young girls playing hockey

In the world of American hockey, Alex Carpenter is a name that commands attention. Her career, which has spanned various teams and international competitions, showcases her exceptional talent and dedication to the sport of ice hockey.

Early Years

Born on April 13, 1994, in North Reading, Massachusetts, Carpenter's hockey journey began under the guidance of her father, former NHL player Bobby Carpenter. She quickly rose through youth leagues and high school play, demonstrating her innate talent.

Collegiate Triumph

Carpenter's college years at Boston College (2012-2016) catapulted her to stardom. In her senior year, she captained the Eagles to their first NCAA National Championship, earning the Patty Kazmaier Award, a testament to her prowess as the best player in women's college hockey.

Professional Path

Her transition to the professional level saw Alex Carpenter join the Boston Pride in the NWHL in 2016. She made an immediate impact, helping her team secure the Isobel Cup in her rookie season. Her remarkable skills and leadership made her a standout player.

Olympic Glory

Carpenter achieved a lifelong dream by representing Team USA at the Winter Olympics. Her stellar performance contributed to a two silver medals for Team USA.

Statistical Brilliance

Carpenter's career statistics are a testament to her incredible talent, marked by her speed, skill, and scoring ability. She consistently performed at a high level throughout her collegiate and professional career. Best example are her numbers for Team USA:

Year	Team	Games	Goals	Assists
2010	IIHF World Women's U18 Championship	5	8	1
2011	IIHF World Women's U18 Championship	5	6	4
2012	IIHF World Women's U18 Championship	5	4	5
2013	IIHF Women's World Championship	5	1	2
2014	Olympics	5	4	1
2015	IIHF Women's World Championship	5	2	1
2016	IIHF Women's World Championship	5	1	2
2017	IIHF Women's World Championship	5	1	0
2019	IIHF Women's World Championship	7	2	5
2021	IIHF Women's World Championship	7	5	0
2022	Olympics	7	4	3
2022	IIHF Women's World Championship	7	2	7
2023	IIHF Women's World Championship	7	2	7

Source: Wikipedia

The Future

Alex ‘s journey, from a young hockey player to a double silver Olympic medalist, 6-time gold medalist at World Championship and a professional hockey star, continues to inspire and shape the future of women's hockey in the United States. Carpenter's legacy is bound to endure for years to come, inspiring generations of aspiring female hockey players. Just recently, Alex became the first draft by the newly formed PWHL league, and she immediately signed with the New York PWHL club.

Meet the Player: Alex Carpenter

We spoke with Alex Carpenter about her journey:

You were one of the first drafts in the newly formed PWHL. How excited are you that there will be a women’s pro hockey league where all the best athletes can compete?

It’s exciting that the PWHL will be starting up this season with all the best players in the world. Being able to play professional hockey is something that I have been fortunate enough to do for the past few years, but finally having an elite league in North America will be a fun experience.

You shined in the NCAA playing for Boston, now you will play in New York and against Boston. Do you expect a Red Sox – Yankees like rivalry in those games?

Growing up in Boston and being a Boston sports fan, I know how intense the Boston/New York rivalry can be. It will be different being on the New York side, but I think there will be a fierce rivalry just like with all the other Boston and New York professional leagues. Really excited to be on the New York side for the next few years.

You are known to use an all-white stick, with an all-white Rezztek® on the blade instead of tape – can you explain your preference towards a lighter colored stick and blade?

Coming from black tape most of my career it was a huge adjustment. Being a net front player, the white stick and white Rezztek® give me a huge advantage when tipping pucks, which is a huge part of my game. It also hides my blade angle when shooting. Can’t forget the style points that come with it either! 

You are an Olympic medalist, you won multiple medals at world championships, won the championship in Russia and in NCAA – is there anything that you feel is missing to your illustrious career?

I’ve been fortunate enough to be successful at so many levels, but I think the one thing that is missing is our version of the Stanley Cup. Adding a PWHL Championship would be something special and something that I’m excited for our team to pursue this upcoming season.

If you had to give one piece of advice to young girls that strive to become pro hockey players – what would it be?

The most important piece of advice that I would give young girls who want to become professional hockey players is to play multiple sports. I know it has become popular for kids to play year-round, but I think it is so important for kids to play other sports and do other activities and take time away from the rink in the summer.