Luca Valenza - About Me

My name is Luca. I’m 19 years old and I usually live in Lausanne, Switzerland. Actually, I live in Ambri in Ticino, Switzerland.

You may know of Lausanne as the home of the International Olympic Committee.

I'm passionate about hockey and it has been my dream since I was very young to study at a top-tier (or Division 1) university in America, play hockey and if all goes well, to play professional.

I have been fortunate to parents who have supported me on my path.

From Switzerland, I 'm using this website to tell you a bit about myself, my background and hockey experience and how I think I can succeed in an hockey program.

I was born on September 19, 1997.

I am now 182 cm or 6 feet tall and currently weigh 84kg or 186 pounds.

I would say that I am disciplined, dedicated, a team player and have a sense of humour.

I'm bilingual in French and Italian, and I have studied German for 8 years and English for 6 years in school. And like I played the season 2015-2016 in Sugar Land, TX which is near Houston, I'm now fluent in English too.

My schooling is in French.

I'm graduate from your equivalent of high school in July 2015 from an elite multi-sport school here in Lausanne with Economic and law specialization.

I'm actually doing my first year of University by distance in Law.

In short, I am either doing school or hockey seven days per week during the school year;

which in Switzerland is from late August to the beginning of July. From August to April we are on the ice.

From May to July we are in off-ice training.

During the seven weeks of summer holidays, I normally go to a two week hockey camp in North America or in Sweden.

I have been to camps in Montreal, Quebec City and Vernon, New York.

On my hockey team, I play centre and both wings even though I shoot left.

This year as I am playing with the 18,19 and 20 year olds I didn't manage to grab the leader's position.

For the last three years I also have had a Talent Card from the Swiss Olympic Federation.

This card is a recognition that is given to young people with significant athletic talent.

So to summarize, I fell that I have the academic potential needed to perform at a University level, the discipline to manage both school and hockey and I have the hockey skills needed to contribute to a Division 1 team. I am very excited about the possibility to pursue my dream.

What was a typical week for me when I was playing in Sugar Land, TX ?

Last year, I played for Sugar Land Imperials. in NA3HL. We practiced 4 days a week, two hours and half per day and we had every day one hour of off-ice workout. I added two hour of personal workout after the ice practice in "CES PERFORMANCE" who provides sports performance training to professional athletes in Houston. And After all that, I studied every day « english as a second language » in Houston.

What was a typical week for me when I was in High School?

From 8:00 in the morning until 12:30 in the afternoon I went to school where we were expected to cover the same material as students in a regular school cover in a full school day.

In the afternoon and evening I was either studying, training or playing matches.

I belong to a Junior hockey club in Fribourg, which is about 50 miles from Lausanne.

Everyday, I got on a train and go for training with the team. Saturday mornings we trained as well but have the afternoon off school work. Each Friday and Sunday we also had a game someplace In Switzerland or in Fribourg.

Three afternoon per week, I work with a personal physical conditioning coach in Lausanne and then go to Fribourg for training with the team.

What is a typical week for me when ?

I practice every morning an hour and half physically when I'm not practicing with Ticino Rockets (NLB) or the first team of Ambri-Piotta (NLA). And in the evening, I practice with the Juniors with is an hour of Off-Ice workout and an hour on the ice. We have as well two technical practices per week (Tuesday and Thursday morning). On the Thursday afternoon I work on the ice with a PowerSkating coach to improve my skating technic.

Each Friday and Sunday we also have a game someplace In Switzerland or in Ambri.

I add to all that at least 3 hours per day of study for my University in Law.

About me