Atlantic Youth Hockey League

Colonials forward Cole Vallese chooses Providence College

Release Date : 12/27/2016

ROCKVILLE, MD – The Atlantic Youth Hockey and the New Jersey Colonials are pleased to announced that Bantam Major forward Cole Vallese (Frederick, MD) has committed to Providence College for the 2021-22 season.

A two-year player in the AYHL, the Maryland-born forward spent one season with Team Maryland before joining the Colonials for the start of the 2016-17 season, where he has registered eight goals and 14 assists in 13 AYHL games for the 13-0 Colonials.

“I chose Providence because it is a top contender and has won a national championship,” Vallese said. “Under Coach Leaman and his staff, I will develop and compete at the highest level and get a great education. In choosing Providence, I know my college experience will be the whole package.”

“Cole is a slick-skating, shifty, playmaking forward,” said head coach Noel Rubin. “He has tremendous acceleration and breakaway speed to separate from defenders and back checkers. His hands are nifty and he can change direction on a dime.”

“It’s been an exciting year coaching Cole and I’m looking forward to the second half of the season with him,” Rubin assed. “He’s a great kid who works real hard and has a lot of character. Congratulations to Cole on his commitment to Providence College.”

The Friars skate in the highly competitive Hockey East conference, winning one HEA regular season championship (2016) and two HEA postseason championships (1985, 1996). Providence has reached the NCAA tournament on 12 occasions, with five Frozen Four appearances and one national championship (2015).

Vallese also skated in the well-scouted 2016 World Selects Invitational, where the talented forward tallied two goals and three assists in six games.

The Atlantic Youth Hockey League is the USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier I AAA youth hockey league of the Atlantic District. From Connecticut to Maryland, the AYHL’s membership is comprised of over 100 teams, representing four districts, and is spread across six playing divisions. The AYHL’s mission is to develop young players with competition, fun, and good sportsmanship, and move them on to the next phase of their hockey career. With a distinguished alumni list of players that spent a portion of their playing career in the AYHL, today’s players choose to play in the AYHL knowing that it is a proven stepping stone for those serious in their hockey pursuits.

For more information on the AYHL, log on to http://www.atlantichockey.org/ayhl.php or on Twitter @AYHL or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheAYHL