Blake Valli '21 Recruiting Profile

Although I was born and raised in Florida, I have been playing ice hockey for as long as I can remember. Our town of Parkland, FL is located near the NHL Florida Panthers practice facility called the Panthers Ice Den. There I learned to skate, and was eventually taught how to play goalie by the Florida Panthers goalie coach, Rob Tallas.   

My father grew up playing hockey and was my team’s coach during my early playing years. My older sister participated in competitive gymnastics and later on competitive cheer teams. She now attends Northeastern University. Both my father and mother are in sales, so you can say that I was brought up in a household that always appreciated succeeding.

 Playing hockey and winning a state championship during my Bantam year was special, and being named Goalie of the Year for my High School hockey league three times along with winning the Hobe Baker Award was great, but I truly enjoy being around my teammates and being part of a team. Weather its playing for a championship, practice, or having a simply shoot out contest at the end of practice is some of things I enjoy about playing hockey.

Being the goalie provides me the ability to have the most effect on the outcome of a game, which is something I relish.  I think my best asset is being calm under pressure, and just staying in the moment. Never letting the gravity of the next goal or the importance of the game affect me negatively.

 My future hockey goals are to play on a competitive college hockey team while getting my bachelor’s degree in Finance. Having the opportunity to visit my sister at Northeastern University in Boston, I have grown to appreciate what campus life has to offer. It is something I am very much looking forward to experience myself as a full-time college student. I'm looking for a program that will be a good fit for me academically and athletically. I believe I have the talent to compete for a college team, and possess the work-ethic and ability to make an immediate impact.