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.
“After every game, he always gives me tons of advice on what I can work on,” Bales said. “We watch a ton of video together.”
Bales, who previously was with HoneyBaked and the Buffalo Junior Sabres, played this past fall for the Yale Junior Bulldogs, helping the team reach regionals, and in the winter for Kent, tallying a goal and 10 assists to help the Lions win the NEPSAC Martin/Earl Large School Tournament for the first time since 2019. Kent also won the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic during the regular season.
“It was awesome,” Bales said. “It was tough at the beginning because you are used to playing against your own age group and then you are playing against 18- and 19-year-olds, but I got better as the year went on. We had a really good senior group and it made my transition into Kent really easy. Their coaches are really good. Even the teachers are awesome there. It’s great.”
Kent head coach Dale Reinhardt said Bales was really mature as a sophomore and took on a huge role right away. He called Bales one of the most efficient defensive players he has coached.
“He’s not super flashy; he’s the guy shutting down other teams’ best offensive players shift after shift,” Reinhardt said. “He is making simple outlet passes that make his forwards better.
“He also has an offensive element to his game. He has a good shot and picks the right opportunities to jump in on a play, but he’s also super reliable defensively. And he’s not a big kid but plays a physical game. He’s a bright player who makes the right decision. He’s reliable in every aspect of the game. He makes coaching easy.”
“I think I’m a really smart player and use the ice well,” Bales added. “I don’t force anything, I kind of let the game come to me. I’m a physical player too.”
Reinhardt said Bales also took on a leadership role by the end of his sophomore season and was named by his teammates as an assistant captain for his junior year. Bales called himself as more of a lead by example sort of player, but said he will talk when it’s needed.
“Guys looked up to him pretty quickly, but it took a little while for him to grow into that role,” Reinhardt said. “He came in as a sophomore on a pretty senior-heavy team. He started to take on that role as the year progressed.
“He’s just a really good kid and it shows that he is well-liked by his teammates. He’s not a loud, center of attention type of guy, but he clearly has their respect. He’s a good student who is focused on that type of stuff, too. He’s really mature for his age and his play is like that, too. He shows up to compete every day at practice and challenges his teammates through his play.”
Reinhardt feels like Kent will have an impressive defensive group this coming year with Bales at the top of the group.
“I think he’s got some guys that he can play with and be able to continue to grow and help them grow their games,” he said. “I had an opportunity to watch a little of him playing at the Five Nations Tournament and see the growth of his game against that level of competition, so I am excited to see what he brings this year.”
Bales said he would like to expand his offensive skills this year, which will help, as six of Kent’s top forwards from last year’s team are not on this year’s roster.
Speaking of the Five Nations Tournament, which was held Aug. 9-13 in Colorado Springs, Bales tallied two goals and one assist, helping the U.S. place second overall.
“It was such an honor to represent the U.S.,” Bales said. “The team was awesome and the coaches were amazing. It was cool playing against different countries. Putting on the USA jersey was really special.”
Bales narrowed his potential college destinations to Providence, University of Massachusetts Amherst and Northeastern before verbally committing to Providence on Aug. 1.
“I fell in love with their coaching staff,” Bales said. “When I went on my visit, I knew right away that this is the place I could see myself going. I love the small campus. They have had a ton of success with defense my size. Everything was an awesome fit.”
