By Margie Chetney, Sport Management
As a little girl, Alexis LaCombe dreamed of playing professional ice hockey, but never thought her dream would come true. Until now.
On August 18, 2015, LaCombe, a 2015 Sport Management graduate, flew to Austria, where she joined the roster of the Vienna Sabres of the Elite Women’s Hockey League (EWHL).
“Although my job is different from what I was planning on after college graduation, playing professional hockey is something I dreamed of as a child, but never thought it was possible for women,” she said. “Now that I am a young woman, not only have I worked in a male-dominated industry, I am now playing professionally and I couldn’t feel more thankful.”
LaCombe played center for the Syracuse University women’s ice hockey team for four years, leading the nation in faceoffs during the 2014-15 season. LaCombe said there are big differences between the college game and the professional game, but she’s quickly adjusting.
“It’s just a different type of play here, with more passing and stick work in the neutral zone,” she said. “There is more emphasis on speed and stick handling and less about checking and the physical play in the corners. It only took me a few games to adjust to the style of play, once you understand what the coach wants from you.”
Christian Klepp, who has worked as the general manager of the Vienna Sabres for the past two years after serving five years as its coach, said he first heard about LaCombe in Spring 2015 after seeing her highlight videos. The EWHL allows only three international players on each team, so Klepp said teams are specific about who they sign.
“Allie was recommended by one of our former imports who knows what it is like to play here in Europe,” Klepp said. “Allie is a hard worker on the ice, and incredible at faceoffs. She has already become an important part on our team.”
LaCombe, who was born in Burbank, California, and grew up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, played on her varsity high school hockey team as well as on elite summer teams. She graduated from Syracuse University in August 2015 after completing her senior Capstone with the Fort Myers (FL) Miracle, the Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. She did not expect to then step into professional hockey in another country.
“I was planning on moving into the sport industry after my Capstone,” said LaCombe, who has played hockey since age 6. “However, I think I made the best decision for my growth as an adult, athlete, person and young working professional. The chance to get paid to play and travel Europe was something that I could not pass up. I consulted with people in the industry to make sure this wouldn’t be putting me behind, and most, if not all, felt it was important for me to get this cultural experience now.”
LaCombe is among 15 players on the Sabres, who play in the EWHL with teams from Inglolstadt, Germany; Bozen, Italy; Bratislava, Slovakia; Planegg, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; Zurich, Switzerland; Salzburg, Austria; and Almaty, Kazakhstan. The players are paid a salary plus stipends for housing and utilities. LaCombe plans to be in Austria until the end of the season in March 2016.
“I will be playing in seven different countries during my time with the Sabres and plan on traveling around Europe on our off days,” she said. “There is so much value to traveling and being across the world on my own. I don’t feel alone because I have a great team and group of friends here.”
She said the biggest challenge has been the language barrier as she does not speak German. “I have picked up a bit of German, but only enough words to help me get around and ask for what I need,” she said.
One perk of life in a foreign country is sampling new food, LaCombe said. “The food here is amazing. Life is different in Europe; it’s hard to describe. People take time to appreciate the days and hours and there is less rush. European life is at a slower pace.”
LaCombe said her time at Syracuse University taught her how to fight for positions in the work industry, act as a professional and gain the tools and skills needed to succeed in sports.
“Sport Management provided me with a community in terms of communication, advice and direction throughout some of the most crucial years of professional development,” she said. “The staff and professors throughout my time with Sport Management were always more than teachers to me, they were mentors and people who challenged me to be better than I ever thought I could be. They pushed me to be more creative, pursue my passions and help me grow.”
Sport Management director Michael Veley said he’s proud to have an alumnus playing professional ice hockey and is confident that LaCombe will succeed on and off the ice.
“I always try to instill the mantra in our students to ‘follow your passion.’ I’m ecstatic for Allie’s opportunity to follow her passion, which is hockey,” Veley said. “Allie is a hard worker, not afraid to leave her comfort zone and has the devotion for sport that professional athletes need to succeed. She’s become a trailblazer and I wish her much happiness and success.”
Syracuse University women’s ice hockey coach Paul Flanagan said he always recognized LaCombe’s on- and off-ice passion and enthusiasm for the sport of hockey.
“Allie brought positive energy to the rink on a regular basis over her four years,” he said. “She loved being around the rink and the team, and getting on the ice to play the sport she so dearly loves. She will do well over there. She is fresh out of college and has stayed in good shape. I would think the transition should be smooth for her.”
Although it was not the path she expected to take after graduation, LaCombe said she’s confident she made the right decision and is cherishing her time as a professional hockey player adjusting to life in a different country.
“If I could describe the European lifestyle, I would use a quote from John Wooden, ‘Be quick, but don’t hurry.’ That’s the biggest adjustment to life overseas and it helps that I have a lot of peers to show me what that means in Austria.”
That seems like great advice for a recent college graduate: slow down and enjoy life.