Mackenzie Alexander Is In A Rookie Class Of Her Own

Etobicoke, Ontario native Mackenzie Alexander has been lighting up Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) hockey since her debut in October.

Just halfway through her first year with the Princeton University Tigers she has already notched 10 goals and 24 assists through 21 games played, which leads all rookies in the NCAA. Her 2.20 points per game average across Division 1 hockey is currently tied for first.

Alexander says she is “really excited” for the second half of the season.

“I think we had a lot of success close to the end of the first half of the season,” said Alexander. “I love our team, and we have a great culture, so I’m excited for that to continue into the next half.”

Alexander is no stranger to success, competing with Canada at the 2023 and 2024 IIHF U-18 Women’s World Championships, securing a game-winning goal in 2023 to earn the gold medal.

Her achievements have earned her three consecutive ECAC rookie of the month honour, alongside being named the National Rookie of the Month by the Hockey Commissioners Association.

She calls these accolades a “huge honour” and credits her strong play back to her teammates and the support they provide.

“Without them, I don’t think it would have been possible,” said Alexander.

The Tigers currently sit seventh in the ECAC Hockey standings with a 7-7-0 record, but what makes this league different from others is that all 12 teams qualify for the playoffs. Teams who finish fifth to 12th place face off, while the top four teams receive a bye into the quarterfinals. The playoffs are set to begin on March 9, 2025.

Alexander’s 33 points rank second highest on the Tigers roster, a start that has received high praise from her head coach Cara Morey.

“Mac has had an outstanding start to her college hockey career. She plays with speed and has tremendous offensive instincts that allow her to create scoring chances every game,” said Morey. “She is a fierce competitor who is consistently working on all areas of her game so she can become the best player possible.”

Making the switch from playing hockey in Ontario to the American style of play was a “giant adjustment” for Alexander, especially given the changes she had to make to her schedule and schooling. She is currently enrolled in Princeton University’s department of molecular biology.

“It was pretty stressful for the first couple of weeks, but I've gotten the hang of it,” said Alexander. “I think, with school and then a lot of extra training than what I'm used to, it was hard to time manage, but after a bit, I think it was good. I learned how to manage my time and when to do school work and when I can relax.”

She describes the difference in play to be a lot more “strong” but sees it as a new challenge.

“I always try to play with a lot more speed, keeping my head up, and definitely being a lot stronger on the boards and winning more battles, because everybody's really strong,” said Alexander.

One aspect of her training that keeps her balanced is monthly speed test drills run by the team, which she says has helped her notice a “big difference” in her cardio.

Looking ahead at the rest of the season, Alexander aims to continue building her confidence and play on the ice.

“I want to keep working on the habits that brought me success in the first half, and just doing anything that I can to help impact the team in a positive way.”