2023 | Maryland | COED

Walter Johnson | Wildcats | COED

Alexander Chang is the ultimate gentleman sportsman, always playing the game with courage, honor, and humility.

Alex is a strong and quiet leadership-by-example force with the Wildcats. As a player who did not play hockey at a competitive level until high school, he has had to work hard to excel with a steep learning curve. He is probably the smartest person on the team, and through his hard work and dedication to his craft, he has risen to be one of the most impactful players on the team. Yet when an outside observer watches the team, they probably will not notice just how he is leading and guiding in his strong and gentle way. His action speak for themselves and his words encourage those who are around him.

Alex’s leadership is like a rising tide that raises all ships. During his senior year he was given the task of centering the team’s second line with a freshman and sophomore wing pair to compete against the top lines from the public and prep schools across the State. This line started out the season slowly, but under his leadership they not only compete well against other top lines, but were able to double the plus/minus rating of the Wildcats own talent stacked top line in the last five games of the regular season.

During the final Conference playoff game, Alex himself wound up scoring four goals to secure a victory after playing from behind against a strong conference rival that had beaten the Wildcats earlier in the season. With Alex at the helm as captain of the mighty Wildcats during his senior year, the team has earned the top spot in the state’s toughest conference and enter the state playoffs as a number one seed.

Through his teamwork, dedication, integrity, exceptional play, humility, and above all … character, Alex Chang has consistently demonstrated that is the ultimate gentleman sportsman and worthy to be named as the 2023 Walter Johnson Wildcats Hobey Baker Award Winner.