Student pucks first professional contract

Public Services student Alex Oldale has signed his first contract with Elite Ice Hockey League outfit Manchester Storm, making him the youngest professional goaltender in the English game.

Alex previously won a gold medal at the Los Angeles Junior Olympics in 2017 and was selected for Team Great Britain’s Under 18s squad for the 2022 World Championships in Estonia.

“Barnsley College has helped me massively throughout my journey over the last couple of years. The tutors have been immensely supportive throughout that time, making my timetable flexible to provide me with the time off I need to train. I would like to thank everyone including my family, friends, tutors and coaches.”

A former Kirk Balk Academy pupil, Alex has dedicated himself to Ice Hockey, which he took up at the age of 13 after initially playing Roller Hockey.

Alex is part of the Barnsley Sports Academy within College and works on his strength and conditioning with the coaching staff. This has enabled him to access an Elite Sports Performance Bursary to fund aspects of his competition such as equipment and travel.

Alex, a Level 3 Uniformed Protective Services student, said: “The feeling of knowing that your lifelong hobby has become your full-time job, and having the title of a ‘professional athlete’, is so surreal. Since being offered the contract I don’t think there has been a time period of more than five minutes where it hasn’t crossed my mind.

“My ambition is to keep working my hardest and hopefully impress the right people. I want to continue to work my way up the rankings to somewhere internationally and hopefully be able to continue to travel the world playing the sport I love.

“Barnsley College has helped me massively throughout my journey over the last couple of years. The tutors have been immensely supportive throughout that time, making my timetable flexible to provide me with the time off I need to train. I would like to thank everyone including my family, friends, tutors and coaches.”