2025 UNH Commit Alex Carr: An Agile, Shutdown Defender From the QMJHL

Alex Carr (D) 2025 UNH Commit

Alex Carr Defense, 6'0", 194 lbs. Shoots Right Hometown: Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada DOB: March 30, 2004; 20 years, 9 months Neutral Zone Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars 2024-25 Team: Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League) 2020 QMJHL Draft: Selected in 4th Round (#66 Overall) by Halifax Mooseheads Committed to UNH on November 25, 2024 at Age 20 years, 8 months.

Fall 2024 Highlight Reel

In our interview (see below) defenseman Alex Carr identified his defensive ability as the strongest part of his game. As this highlight reel shows Carr also has offensive upside:

Interview

I had an opportunity to interview Alex Carr, via email, about his hockey career and commitment to UNH:

Mike Lowry: Congratulations on your commitment to play for the University of New Hampshire. For nearly 45 years players from the Canadian Hockey League were denied eligibility to play NCAA Division I hockey. Soon after the NCAA lifted the ban on November 7th you and fellow UNH Commits Alex DeAngelis and Sam Oliver were a few of the first CHL players to commit to a NCAA hockey program for the 2025-26 season. For fans who may not be familiar with Canadian Major Junior Hockey would you describe the advantages of playing in the CHL since you were 16 years old?

Alex Carr: Thank you! I think that there are a lot of advantages, being young playing against older guys forced me to adapt to the size and skill of the game along with the pro like schedule of 68 games. The CHL is the best junior league in the world so I think that will help me adapt faster into NCAA and have a impact to the team faster especially going into the league as a 21 year old.

Mike Lowry: How did you first become interested in UNH?

Alex Carr: I got a text from the assistant coach Jeff Giuliano saying that he was interested and wanted to set up a zoom with my parents and I. When I got on call I quickly realized their passion for hockey and the team. They did an unreal job at showing me all the great things about the school and the hockey program. Along with everyone I talked to had good things to say about the school.

Lowry: What are the main reasons you chose to commit to UNH?

Carr: A couple things that drew me to UNH were it being one of the closest teams to home and in Hockey East all the teams are in close proximity to each other. The atmosphere in the rink seems electric and the staff seem like great people.

Lowry: How many seasons do you anticipate playing for UNH?

Carr: I hope to be there as long as I can, obviously I want to play hockey at the highest level but I really want to get a education and a degree.

Lowry: What other college programs did you consider during the recruiting process?

Carr: Obviously I didn't think there was an option to play NCAA until a couple months ago so there were some schools in Usports (Canadian Universities) I was really interested in playing for.

Lowry: In 2023-24, your third full season with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, you scored 7 goals, 24 assists in 61 regular season games with a +55 rating. You were one of three finalists for the QMJHL Best Defensive Defender Award (Kevin-Lowe Trophy). At this stage in your development, what are the main strengths of your game? What areas are you trying to improve?

Carr: I think that the strongest part of my game is my defensive ability and being hard to play against along with being able to constantly make a good first pass and get the puck out of my own zone. For areas of improvement obviously the cliche stronger, faster, bigger but I'd say my offensive play and some areas in my defensive game that I can be more consistent with.

Lowry: This season you are the Captain of the Huskies. What is your leadership style?

Carr: I think my style would be more leading by example but I am still a vocal guy in the room. I think its important that I'm able to have a good relationship with everyone in the team and the staff, from the rookies that aren't playing as much to our head coach.

Lowry: What are your academic strengths and interests? Have you thought about what you might major in when you enroll at UNH?

Carr: My strengths academically I'd say is that I'm pretty good in math and with numbers. I haven't looked in depth into what I'm going to take but it will most likely be something within the business field.

Neutral Zone Scouting Report

CCM Midget AAA Challenge, February, 2020

"Carr is a decent sized defender who keeps his feet moving at all areas of the ice. In his own zone, he is quick on retrieval and evasive with his skating making him hard for forecheckers to hit. Defending, he uses his quickness to close gap and gets stick on puck quickly and efficiently. Up ice, he stands up on the blue line under pressure to keep pucks in for his teammates and can get his shots through when they feed him. Confident skater with IQ as displayed by the tight gap he plays against the attack. Great under pressure, uses his defensive partner effectively. He has great gap control, edgework and agility. Smothers opposing forwards. Relied upon heavily and plays off his more offensive minded partner very well. Shows good anticipation by stepping up at his own blueline to lay a hit or strip the attacking player of the puck. A smart player with some offensive upside."

Junior Hockey Statistics

Player	Season	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM	+/-
Alex Carr (D)	2024-25	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies	QMJHL	29	3	18	21	18	+10
	2023-24	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies	QMJHL	61	7	24	31	58	+55
			Playoffs	10	1	4	5	6	+3
	2022-23	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies	QMJHL	52	4	15	19	40	+9
			Playoffs	6	0	0	0	6	-1
	2021-22	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies	QMJHL	38	1	11	12	24	-7
			Playoffs	3	0	0	0	0	0
		South Shore Lumberjacks	MJAHL	23	1	4	5	16	-

UNH Commits Update 12-6-2024: UNH Off to Fast Start Recruiting CHL Players

Alex Carr (D) 2025 UNH Commit

Nick DeAngelis (D) 2025 UNH Commit

Sam Oliver (F) 2025 UNH Commit

NEWS AND NOTES
New NCAA Eligibility Rule
Since 1980 the NCAA has denied eligibility to players from Canadian Major Junior hockey (i.e., the CHL which includes the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, & Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League). According to NHL.com:

"CHL players had been considered professionals and barred because of the NCAA’s amateurism rules, in part because some CHL players have signed NHL entry-level contracts."

Even CHL players who had not signed an NHL contract lost amateur status because they competed against "professional players" who had signed. CHL players also receive a stipend of up to $600 per month for living expenses. That's often mentioned as a reason they are "professional".

Due in part to growing pressure from U.S. antitrust law litigation the NCAA voted on November 7th to grant eligibilty to most Canadian Major Junior players beginning in the 2025-26 season. CHL players can be eligible for Division I hockey "provided they did not receive above actual and necessary expenses to compete in the CHL". CHL players who've signed NHL pro contracts continue to be ineligible (see College Hockey Inc. for details).

The Canadian Hockey League is known as an elite development track for aspiring young hockey players. The nearly 800 players (aged 16-20) in the CHL play a rigorous schedule including training camp, 68 regular season games plus playoffs. The CHL is a major source of NHL players. For example, there were 390 CHL graduates on the 2024-25 NHL opening day rosters (NHL has 736 players on active rosters).

New Recruiting Opportunities
Needless to say, the CHL provides a deep pool of talented players for NCAA Division I coaches to scout and recruit. Of the 64 D-I programs, UNH is off to one of the fastest, most successful starts. Last week CHL defensemen Alex Carr and Nicholas DeAngelis plus center Sam Oliver committed to UNH for the 2025-26 season. A look at today's version of Chris Heisenberg's database of committed recruits shows 1 CHL commit for UConn, Merrimack, Providence, Vermont, Wisconsin and Arizona State, 2 for Princeton and Bemidji State, and 5 for Bowling Green. All but one are in their 4th full season of CHL competition.

Profiles of CHL Commits to UNH

Alex Carr Defense, 6'0", 194 lbs. Shoots Right Hometown: Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada DOB: March 30, 2004; 20 years, 8 months Neutral Zone Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars 2024-25 Team: Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League) 2020 QMJHL Draft: Selected in 4th Round (#66 Overall) by Halifax Mooseheads Committed to UNH on November 25, 2024 at Age 20 years, 8 months.

Nicholas DeAngelis Defense, 6'2", 187 lbs. Shoots Left Hometown: King City, Ontario, Canada DOB: May 22, 2004; 20 years, 6 months Neutral Zone Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars 2024-25 Team: Surrey Wolves (Ontario Hockey League) 2020 OHL Draft: Selected in 2nd Round (#36 Overall) by Windsor Spitfires Committed to UNH on November 25, 2024 at Age 20 years, 6 months.

Sam Oliver Center, 5'11", 183 lbs. Shoots Left Hometown: Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada DOB: July 4, 2004; 20 years, 4 months Neutral Zone Rating: 4.25 out of 5 Stars 2024-25 Team: Drummondville Voltigeurs (Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League) 2020 QMJHL Draft: Selected in 2nd Round (#27 Overall) by Charlottetown Islanders Committed to UNH on November 25, 2024 at Age 20 years, 4 months.

UNH Commits Transfer to Different Leagues
Not only have 3 CHL players committed to UNH, 2 existing UNH commits have transferred to a CHL team in recent days. Forward Jesse Alicia transferred from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL) to the Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) last Thursday. Goalie Ryan Grout transferred from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) to the Tri-City Americans (WHL) yesterday. In addition George McCaffrey transferred from the Long Island Gulls 18U (BEAST 18U) to the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL) last week.

2024-25 Statistics

Player	NZ Stars**	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM	+/-
2025 Commits
Sebastian Bradshaw 5/26/05 (F)	3.75	Langley Rivermen	BCHL	9	2	1	3	2	-
		Coquitlam Express	BCHL	14	1	2	3	6	-
Alex Carr 3/30/04 (D)	3.75	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies	QMJHL	24	3	15	18	14	+12
Reid Conn* 2/2/04 (D)	3.75	Chicago Steel	USHL	20	3	2	5	48	+3
Nicholas DeAngelis 5/22/04 (D)	3.75	Sudbury Wolves	OHL	25	5	11	16	24	-3
Conner de Haro* 10/17/05 (D)	3.75	Youngstown Phantoms	USHL	17	4	6	10	4	+4
Connor DeTurris 10/8/04 (F)	3.75	Nanaimo Clipper	BCHL	23	5	9	14	8	-
Sam Oliver 7/4/04 (F)	4.25	Drummondville Voltigeurs	QMJHL	28	23	11	34	32	+7
Ryan Philbrick* 6/20/04 (D)	3.75	Salmon Arms Silverbacks	BCHL	6	2	3	5	0	-
Eliot Séguin-Lescarbeau* 9/14/05 (G)	3.75	Des Moines Buccaneers	USHL	12	4	7	1	3.85	.868
2025 or '26 Commits
Price Grimes* 1/28/06 (D)	3.5	Chilliwack Chiefs	BCHL	22	1	1	2	28	-
Kole Hyles 1/16/06 (F)	3.75	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	USHL	19	2	5	7	4	-1
Luca Primerano* 3/17/05 (F)	3.5	Cowichan Valley Capitals	BCHL	24	9	12	21	11	-
Jack Sadowski* 7/29/06 (F)	3.75	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	USHL	15	0	1	1	10	-6
2026 Commits
Jesse Allecia 10/12/05 (F)	3.5	Drummondville Voltigeurs	QMJHL	2	0	0	0	0	0
		Alberni Valley Bulldogs	BCHL	20	4	6	10	4	-
		Yale Junior Bulldogs 18U	USA 18U Nationals	6	1	1	2	2	-
Geno Carcone 11/14/06 (F)	3.75	Green Bay Gamblers	USHL	22	2	14	16	29	-11
Ryan Grout 8/15/07 (G)	4	Tri-City Americans	WHL	0	0	0	0	-	-
		Salmon Arms Silverbacks	BCHL	13	8	4	0	2.37	.912
Nikita Konevych 6/3/06 (D)	NR	Corpus Christi IceRays	NAHL	10	0	1	1	33	+1
		Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	USHL	2	0	0	0	2	+1
Niko Tournas 2/17/06 (F)	4	Danbury Hat Tricks	NAHL	20	13	9	22	22	+5
2026 or '27 Commits
George McCaffrey 1/2/07 (F)	3.5	Bismarck Bobcats	NAHL	2	0	1	1	0	-2
		Long Island Gulls 18U	Beast 18U	8	1	3	4	2	-
		MidFairfield Rangers 16U	USA 16U Nationals	4	1	1	2	2	-
		New England District	USA Selects 17	6	1	5	6	2	-
Jayden Connors 2/26/07 (D)	3.75	St. Michael's Buzzers	OJHL	4	3	4	7	2	-
		Prince George Spruce Kings	BCHL	20	0	4	4	8	-
Pavel Martinu 12/20/07 (F)	3.0	Seacoast Performance Academy 18U	18U AAA	22	9	14	23	20	-
2027 Commits
Blake Cash 5/9/08 (F)	3.25	Seacoast Performance Academy 16U	16U AAA	31	20	34	54	0	-
		Seacoast Spartans	USA 15 Only Nationals	4	0	1	1	1.5	-
* = Signed NCAA Athletic Aid Agreement
** = Neutral Zone 5-Star Rating

NOTE
The statistics for the commits, presented in the above table, are categorized by the projected year they will enroll in UNH. For example, I project the "2025 Commits" will begin playing for UNH in the Fall of 2025. My projections projections are based on the following factors:
~ Number of UNH players leaving the team at the end of the previous season and the position they played.
~ Number of incoming transfer players and the position they play.
~ If a NCAA Athletic Aid Agreement has been signed.
~ The year the commit and UNH coaches originally targeted for enrollment in UNH.
~ How old the commit would be upon admission.
~ Number of years in junior hockey and remaining years of junior eligibility.
~ The commit's performance in recent seasons as well as injuries.
~ Anticipated date of high school graduation.