Alex Jefferies’ Path to Pro

Alex Jefferies’ path to the pros isn’t a traditional one, but it shows that it isn’t necessarily about where you start, but rather where you are heading.

Jefferies didn’t play at a big-name school, such as Penn State, Michigan State or Boston University, in his college days. Rather, he elected to stay local to his hometown of Framingham, Massachusetts, and played four years at Merrimack College.

“I was kind of a late bloomer and didn’t have a lot of offers when I was in high school,” Jefferies said. “[Merrimack] was actually my first offer. I loved the coach and it was close to home, so I thought it was a good spot.”

In those four years, Jefferies helped the Warriors accumulate 60 wins, including a 22-win season in 2022-23, which was Merrimack’s first 20+ win season since the 2010-11 campaign.

Jefferies recorded 41 points (14G, 27A) in 38 games in his junior year (2022-23) and remained a point-per-game player in his senior year with 23 points (13G, 10A) in 22 games. He was named to Hockey East’s First All-Star Team in 2023 and was Merrimack’s Hobey Baker Award nominee in 2024.

“We had a good team [in] my last two years,” Jefferies said. “I was playing with a lot of good players, and we were having a lot of success, so it was cool for me and the team to get some national publicity.”

One part of the college experience is to gain knowledge as you prepare to be a professional in the workforce. The other is to learn how to carry yourself as a human and learn life lessons as you encounter various situations. This remains true for the top athletes, and Jefferies exemplified this in his transition from NCAA hockey to the American Hockey League (AHL).

“I learned a lot, my first few years especially,” Jefferies said. “We struggled as a team in my freshman year and sophomore year. So, just taking those tough times and learning from the losses and difficult experiences and [turning] them into positive times. We did a lot of that.”

It didn’t take long for Jefferies to get a crack at the professional level. He made dreams a reality and signed an amateur tryout agreement (ATO) with the Bridgeport Islanders on March 20, 2024, tallied his first professional point in his debut against the Utica Comets and scored his first goal a couple of games later. Now, these moments are unforgettable memories.

“It was cool [and] I remember it was in Utica,” Jefferies said. “I was kind of nervous going into the game, so that settles you down a little bit. I still have the puck, and it was a good memory.”

Jefferies’ learnings have paid dividends. He has eclipsed over 20 points in both seasons where he has played at least 30 games for the Islanders’ AHL-affiliate. Jefferies is tied for fourth on the team with 26 points (7G, 19A) in 36 games this season.

“We have a great group of guys [and] we all get along really well, so that always helps,” Jefferies said. “I think last year was a tough year for a lot of us. So, coming into the year, we wanted to turn things around and have some more success.”

The Bridgeport Islanders have already surpassed last season’s win total and Jefferies credits a lot of the change to Head Coach Rocky Thompson, who is in his first year as the Bridgeport bench boss.

“I’d say the biggest thing was Rocky [Thompson] coming in as the head coach,” Jefferies said. “He’s really changed the culture. It’s brought out the best in a lot of guys, and I feel like it’s brought out the best of myself as well.”

A step in the right direction doesn’t satisfy Jefferies and the rest of Bridgeport. The 24-year-old remains a student of the game and is eager to fix the little details that elevate him to the next level.

“The way I play, I want to be good on the forecheck,” Jefferies said. “When my game is at [it’s] best, I feel like that’s what myself and my line are doing. I’ve always been good off the rush, and when there’s a lot of space, I can make plays. The forecheck, [though], is definitely something that Rocky has been on to work on and do better.”

Jefferies' improvement is evident not only when you watch him play, but on the scoresheet as well. The Bridgeport forward, though he hasn’t suited up since Jan. 11, has recorded seven multi-point outings this season and is on pace to surpass his 29-point total from a year ago. However, Jefferies, like his teammate Liam Foudy, is more focused on team consistency and stringing together wins as the Islanders (AHL) close in on 30 wins for the first time in three years.