Alex Vlasic
{{short description|American ice hockey player (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Alex Vlasic
| image = Alex Vlasic Chicago Blackhawks.jpg
| image_size = 230px
| caption = Vlasic with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2024
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|6|5}}
| birth_place = Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lb = 198
| position = Defense
| shoots = Left
| league = NHL
| team = Chicago Blackhawks
| prospect_team =
| prospect_league = AHL
| ntl_team = USA
| draft = 43rd overall
| draft_year = 2019
| draft_team = Chicago Blackhawks
| career_start = 2022
| career_end =
}}
Alex Vlasic (born June 5, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Blackhawks in the second round, 43rd overall, in the 2019 NHL entry draft.
Early life
Vlasic was born on June 5, 2001, in Wilmette, Illinois{{cite web |title=Alex Vlasic |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/315969/alex-vlasic |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=April 27, 2022}} to parents Tara and John, and grew up alongside his older siblings Emma and Eric.{{cite web |last1=Olsen |first1=Becky |title=Hockey Was Not Love at First Sight for Alex Vlasic |url=https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/news_article/show/881431 |publisher=USA Hockey National Team Development Program |access-date=April 27, 2022 |date=January 30, 2018}} He is of Croatian descent; his grandfather immigrated to Montreal.{{cite web |title=Canadian-Croatian ice hockey star Michael Vukojević signs with the Lahti Pelicans |url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/canadian-croatian-ice-hockey-star-michael-vukojevic-signs-with-the-lahti-pelicans/ |website=Croatia Week |access-date=October 31, 2024 |date=August 10, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Rozner |first1=Barry |title=Rozner: A father, a son and a love of hockey |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20190705/rozner-a-father-a-son-and-a-love-of-hockey |access-date=April 27, 2022 |publisher=Daily Herald |date=July 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709185812/https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20190705/rozner-a-father-a-son-and-a-love-of-hockey |archive-date=July 9, 2019}} Despite growing up in Illinois, Vlasic was a fan of the San Jose Sharks due to his cousin Marc-Édouard Vlasic's affiliation with them.{{cite news |last1=Greenfield |first1=Jimmy |title='Playing for the Hawks would be crazy': Alex Vlasic's hockey journey began in Wilmette and could take him all the way to the United Center |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/blackhawks/ct-blackhawks-alex-vlasic-draft-20190629-l6emzf4dw5hgdobjfsgzrfy6di-story.html |access-date=April 27, 2022 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630070549/https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/blackhawks/ct-blackhawks-alex-vlasic-draft-20190629-l6emzf4dw5hgdobjfsgzrfy6di-story.html|archive-date=June 30, 2019}} Vlasic began skating at the age of three and played organized ice hockey with the Wilmette Braves at the Mite, Squirt and Pee Wee levels.{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Phil |title=Prospect Alex Vlasic, a 6-foot-6 Wilmette native, is ready for a bigger challenge with the Chicago Blackhawks |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/blackhawks/ct-chicago-blackhawks-alex-vlasic-20220317-k376egex45bydj6n6il3kwjsau-story.html |access-date=April 27, 2022 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317113749/https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/blackhawks/ct-chicago-blackhawks-alex-vlasic-20220317-k376egex45bydj6n6il3kwjsau-story.html |archive-date=March 17, 2022}} His older siblings were also involved in the sport, as Emma played at Yale University and with the Connecticut Whale while his brother participated in the Chicago Blackhawks special hockey program.{{cite web |last1=Leitner |first1=Jim |title=Vlasic Family Values |url=https://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2020-09/vlasic-family-values |publisher=USA Hockey |access-date=April 27, 2022 |date=September 2020}} He played as a forward until he was nine years old when he switched to defense.
Playing career
Growing up in Illinois, Vlasic played for the Chicago Young Americans and Chicago Mission. While playing with the Chicago Mission Midget U16 team, Vlasic committed to play college ice hockey for the Boston University Terriers.{{cite web |title=Mission Midget U16's Alex Vlasic commits to Boston University. |url=https://chicagomission.com/college-commitments/alex-vlasic-commits-to-boston/ |publisher=Chicago Mission |access-date=April 27, 2022 |date=February 19, 2017}} At the time of the commitment, Vlasic was also considered a top five draft pick for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).{{cite web |last1=Schulman |first1=Dan |title=Men's Hockey: Terriers Recruit Top-Level Defenseman |url=https://sportswtbu.com/2017/02/21/mens-hockey-terriers-recruit-top-level-defenseman/ |publisher=WTBU Sports |access-date=April 27, 2022|date=February 21, 2017}} Instead of joining the OHL, Vlasic was recruited to play for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) for the 2017–18 USHL season.{{cite web |title=2017-18 U.S. National U17 Team Roster Announced |url=https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/783735 |publisher=Team USA Hockey |access-date=April 27, 2022 |date=April 24, 2017}} He later credited the NTDP's intense and fast-paced practices with improving his game, along with the assistance of the under-17 coaching staff including John Wroblewski and Greg Moore. He also praised the addition of Dan Hinote as an associate head coach for furthering his development and muscle growth.{{cite web |last1=Olsen |first1=Becky |title=Alex Vlasic Learning and Growing His Game With NTDP |url=https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/news_article/show/998903 |publisher=USA Hockey |access-date=April 27, 2022 |date=February 26, 2019}}
=College=
Vlasic played three seasons with the Boston University Terriers, while enrolled in the Boston University College of Arts and Sciences.{{cite web |title=Alex Vlasic |url=https://goterriers.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/alex-vlasic/20325 |publisher=Boston University |access-date=April 27, 2022}} Prior to his first year with the Terriers, Vlasic was drafted in the second round, 43rd overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL entry draft. Following the draft, Vlasic reaffirmed his commitment to play collegiate career with the Terriers.{{cite web |last1=Gorelick |first1=Rusty |title=Six Incoming Terriers Picked in 2019 NHL Draft, Including the Ninth Overall |url=https://www.bu.edu/articles/2019/six-incoming-terriers-picked-in-2019-nhl-draft-including-the-ninth-overall-pick/ |publisher=Boston University |access-date=April 27, 2022 |date=July 15, 2019}} He subsequently joined the Terriers for the 2019–20 season where he played in 34 games and recorded four assists. His first collegiate assist came on October 18, 2019, in 4–4 tie with the Northern Michigan Wildcats.{{cite web |title=No. 20 Terriers Skate to 4-4 Draw with Northern Michigan in Weekend Opener |url=https://goterriers.com/news/2019/10/18/mens-ice-hockey-no-20-terriers-skate-to-4-4-draw-with-northern-michigan-in-weekend-opener.aspx |publisher=Boston University |access-date=April 27, 2022 |date=October 18, 2019}} When the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vlasic and his sister created a makeshift weight room in the basement of their home and skated at a local ice rink. He also worked on his skills development with Tristan Musser, who was then with the Chicago Steel, and with Brian Keane who owns Prodigy Hockey.{{cite web |last1=Powers |first1=Scott |title=Blackhawks defenseman prospect Alex Vlasic took a 'huge, huge step' this season. Here's what it looks like |url=https://theathletic.com/2474145/2021/03/25/blackhawks-defenseman-prospect-alex-vlasic-took-a-huge-huge-step-this-season-heres-what-it-looks-like/ |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=April 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211215171407/https://theathletic.com/2474145/2021/03/25/blackhawks-defenseman-prospect-alex-vlasic-took-a-huge-huge-step-this-season-heres-what-it-looks-like/ |archive-date=December 15, 2021 |date=March 25, 2021}}
Once the 2020–21 season began, Vlasic stated he felt his confidence soar as he was able to "figure how to use my size as an advantage and protect the puck much better." On January 23, 2021, Vlasic recorded his first career multi-point game in a 5–1 win over the University of Maine. On February 5, he recorded his first collegiate goal to lead the Terriers to a 4–3 overtime loss to Boston College.{{cite web |title=No. 15 Terriers Fall in Overtime at No. 1 Boston College, 4-3 |url=https://goterriers.com/news/2021/2/5/mens-ice-hockey-no-15-terriers-fall-in-overtime-at-no-1-boston-college-4-3.aspx |publisher=Boston University |access-date=April 27, 2022 |date=February 5, 2021}} By March, he had tallied three goals and five assists for eight points through 15 games.
The following season, Vlasic became one of the best defensive defensemen in the conference and was praised by his head coach for being an "elite skater for his size."{{cite news |last1=Pope |first1=Ben |title=Blackhawks prospect Alex Vlasic has developed the physicality to match his size |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2022/2/28/22951339/alex-vlasic-blackhawks-prospects-defenseman-boston-university-hockey-albie-oconnell |access-date=April 27, 2022 |publisher=Chicago Sun Times |date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228202951/https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2022/2/28/22951339/alex-vlasic-blackhawks-prospects-defenseman-boston-university-hockey-albie-oconnell |archive-date=February 28, 2022}} He led the team with 50 blocked shots and also tallied one goal and a career-high seven assists for eight points. As a result of his improved play, Vlasic earned Hockey East All-Star honors.{{cite web |title=Fensore, Skoog, Vlasic Named Hockey East All-Stars |url=https://goterriers.com/news/2022/3/11/mens-ice-hockey-fensore-skoog-vlasic-named-hockey-east-all-stars.aspx |publisher=Boston University |access-date=April 27, 2022 |date=March 11, 2022}}
=Professional=
Vlasic signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on March 15, 2022, after concluding his college career,{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33511836/chicago-blackhawks-reach-3-year-entry-level-deal-alex-vlasic|website=espn.com|title=Chicago Blackhawks reach 3-year, entry-level deal with Alex Vlasic|date=March 15, 2022|access-date=March 21, 2022}} and then played in his first NHL game on March 19.{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2022/3/17/22983761/blackhawks-alex-vlasic-first-day-prospect-defenseman-tyler-johnson-concussion|title=New Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic an early bird on first day|website=chicago.suntimes.com|date=March 17, 2022 |access-date=March 21, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/jets-harkins-scores-twice-in-6-4-win-over-blackhawks/|title=Jets' Harkins scores twice in 6-4 win over Blackhawks|website=CBSSports.com|access-date=March 21, 2022}} He signed a six-year contract extension with Chicago on April 25, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Blackhawks, Vlasic agree to six-year contract |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40023027/blackhawks-lock-young-defenseman-alex-vlasic-six-year-deal |access-date=April 26, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |date=April 25, 2024}}
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||
| 2017–18
| U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 34 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 12
| 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 18 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2018–19 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 27 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 28
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20
| HE | 34 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2020–21 | Boston University | HE | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22
| Boston University | HE | 32 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 31
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2021–22 | NHL | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23
| AHL | 56 | 2 | 17 | 19 | 25
| 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2022–23 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24
| Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 76 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 45
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2024–25 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 82 | 4 | 26 | 30 | 12
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|NHL totals ! 179 !! 7 !! 42 !! 49 !! 59 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! — |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||
| 2017
| United States | U17 | {{gold1}} | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2019 | U18 | {{bronze3}} | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2024
| WC | 5th | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Junior totals ! 13 !! 1 !! 3 !! 4 !! 8 | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Senior totals ! 8 !! 0 !! 2 !! 2 !! 0 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vlasic, Alex}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American men's ice hockey defensemen
Category:Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey players
Category:Chicago Blackhawks draft picks
Category:Chicago Blackhawks players
Category:Rockford IceHogs (AHL) players
Category:Sportspeople from Wilmette, Illinois
Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players