Alexander Norwinski is Number 11 on front row, third from left.

Alexander Norwinski, son of Derek and Brenda Norwinski of Blue Ridge, Virginia, recently made the Varsity Hockey Team at Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland. Alex is the grandson of Eugene and Janet Norwinski of Elkton, Virginia. He learned to ice skate at the age of 5 and began what would lead to his pursuit of regulation hockey at age 8. Alex attended many of the local professional hockey games with the Roanoke Express in the early 2000′s, following the play of many of the team members. Although he did not begin playing regulation hockey until he was eight years old, as a toddler he played “kitchen hockey,” in which he was noted for making many “top shelf” goals onto the kitchen counter–much to the displeasure of the “goalkeeper” (his mother).

Alex started in regulation hockey with the Valley Youth Hockey in Roanoke, Virginia and the Lynchburg Youth Hockey Association. He developed his early skills under the direction of some of the finest volunteer youth hockey coaches. At the age of 12 he began playing with Blue Ridge Hockey in Charlottesville, enabling him to compete in the Northern Virginia/DC/Maryland League. During this time he tried out for and made the Washington All Stars AAA team in Woodbridge, Virginia. Two years with the All Stars took Alex on a road tour through the northeastern United States and Canada, competing in several different cities including Boston, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Toronto and Niagra City. Along the way, numerous hockey coaches, including those from opposing teams, have noted Alex’s “exceptional playing skills.” With an eye on future play, Alex was encouraged to attend a high school with a strong hockey program to give him an opportunity for further development and exposure to college hockey scouting programs. In May of 2012, he was accepted to Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland. He resides with an aunt, Evelina Norwinski, in Washington, DC, and is looking forward to the upcoming season with the Landon Bears.

Norwinski's class photo.

–submitted by Robert Bentley