It’s been a busy year for Alex Bales.
In March, the East Amherst, N.Y., resident helped Kent School win the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Martin/Earl Large School Tournament. In May, he was selected by the Tri-City Storm in the fourth round — 56th overall selection — of the United States Hockey League Phase I draft. In August, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound left-hander shooter verbally committed to Providence College and competed for the U.S. at the 2022 Athletix Under-17 Five Nations Tournament.
“I have a long way to go, but I worked hard so it’s good to see all of my hard work paying off,” said Bales, a defenseman who turned 16 on July 6.
None of Bales’ success should come as a surprise. Hockey is in his blood as his father, Mike, is a former NHL goalie who also played in Europe and has been goalie coach for three NHL teams, including the Buffalo Sabres since 2019. Bales remembers teaching himself how to skate when he was 6 years old on an outdoor rink that his father built for him when they lived in Ottawa.