Aidan Valenzuela '26 Recruiting Profile

My name is Aidan Valenzuela, and I'm from Dallas, Texas. I started my hockey journey 7 years ago in a learn-to-play program after I had watched my Grandpa play in a men's league for years. My family has always had hockey around. My two oldest brothers played when they were little and I would always see old pictures of them. The first time I touched the ice I fell in love with the sport, and even though I was not on a team or skilled at the time, I knew that one day I would make myself an influence in the game. When I started hockey, I was overweight and was not able to move like the other players. My family inspired me to lose weight and go all in on the sport I love. By the time I finished my recreational hockey career and was ready for my first JV season, I had lost 40 pounds and become one of the best athletes on the ice. Playing hockey has changed my mindset from wanting what others have and putting myself down to setting goals and reaching them -- not always with ease, but always with determination. My house league teams made it to the championship 3 years in a row and won gold twice. Every team I have been a part of has made it to the finals and placed 1st or 2nd. In my Junior Varsity season, we were barely able to have a team. We only had 13 skaters and 1 goalie, so we had our work cut out for us. I was voted assistant captain of the team and was excited to take on this leadership role. With amazing coaching staff and long hours of training, my team made the lowest seed in the playoffs. We went 3 and 0 against the top ranked teams in our division and won the City Championship. I earned the Defensive and Community Player of the Year awards at the end of that season for my leadership and service. I love to do volunteer charity work and I helped coach special needs adaptive hockey lessons with my teammates through the Dallas Stars Adaptive Hockey Program. Academics were a weak point for me in the past but over the next two years, my goal is to raise my GPA to a 3.5. In college I want to study sports medicine and physical therapy. Last year in the 2024-2025 season I was again voted assistant captain for the varsity team, we placed fifth in the state. This year for my senior season I am captain of the varsity team and hope to lead my team to a state title.

I have been an athlete my whole life. I played baseball and soccer for 7 years before I started hockey, but I never truly felt passionate for a sport until I laced up my first pair of skates with my team and felt like a part of their family. I am grateful to my family and my team for pushing me to be the best version of myself both on and off the ice. Hockey has taught me to truly grow as a teammate, a person, and most of all as a player; and no matter where or who I play for, the logo I wear on my jersey will always be my first priority.