Release from 01.04.2026

Ryan Valentini named MVP of the 2025/26 Alps Hockey League season

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Ryan Valentini of HC Migross Asiago has been voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2025/26 Alps Hockey League season by the league’s hockey journalists. The 28-year-old Canadian impressed in his first season with the Italian side, recording an outstanding 92 points (35 goals | 57 assists) in 48 games. He also added nine points in the quarterfinals, but was unable to prevent his team’s elimination against Meran.

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With 92 points in a single season, Valentini ranks just behind last year’s MVP Ethan Szypula, who holds the Alps Hockey League record with 103 points for Ritten. Third place is held by Matt Wilkins, who collected 89 points for Val Gardena in the 2019/20 season.

Valentini joined Asiago last summer from ICE Hockey League side Innsbruck. The 28-year-old—who previously played in the Alps Hockey League with Sterzing in the 2020/21 season, registering 32 points in 32 games—made an immediate impact and produced consistently from the start. Impressive: he was held scoreless in only five of his 48 games. The Canadian recorded two five-point games (three goals, two assists) and added four more games with four points each. He also scored five hat-tricks over the course of the season. Between October 4, 2025, and February 19, 2026, Valentini recorded at least one point in 34 consecutive games.

As the crowning achievement of his outstanding season, Valentini was voted MVP by the league’s hockey journalists. The second-most votes went to Claes Endre of HC Gherdeina valgardena.it. The Swedish netminder joined the semifinalist in January and has been exceptional ever since, posting four shutouts and an impressive save percentage of 94.2% in 20 appearances to date. Third place went to the league’s Young Star of the Season, Maxim Eliseev of the Red Bull Hockey Juniors. The 20-year-old currently ranks fifth in league scoring 71 points.

Interview with the 2025/26 MVP:

What does being named MVP for the 2025/26 season mean to you?
Ryan Valentini: “Being named MVP means a lot to me. I have dealt with some pretty significant injury trouble the past few years and had to work hard this summer to be healthy for this season. This award is a testament to that hard work and the people who helped me along the way.”

You had an outstanding season with 92 points – how proud are you of these numbers?
Ryan Valentini: “I’m very proud of the numbers I was able to put up this season, especially in terms of how they contributed to our success as a team throughout the year. A lot of credit goes to my teammates, particularly my linemates, who played a big role in that production.”

How much does the quarterfinal loss to Meran still hurt, and what needs to improve as a team next season - especially since you’ve already signed a contract for the upcoming season - to avoid being eliminated that early again?
Ryan Valentini: “Obviously the quarter finals loss was not the way we wanted our season to end. I think that the series was close and could have gone either way especially in the first few games. We are a young team that will need to learn from that series in order to challenge for the Alps league championship next season. Overall, though, I’m proud of the progress we made and of what we achieved together this season, especially the Italian Championship.”

Final result MVP election of the Alps Hockey League 2025/26:
1. Ryan Valentini (HCA) – 30 points
2. Claes Endre (GHE) – 21 points
3. Maxim Eliseev (RBJ) – 17 points