Alyssa Regalado On Growth, Leadership, and Mindset In Her Journey to the PWHL Draft
How four years at Cornell helped teach Alyssa Regalado about leadership, pressure, and what it looks like to be ready for the next chapter.
The last time Alyssa Regalado joined the show was way back in Episode 35. That’s when she shared her journey: from growing up in Mississauga, Ontario, to her time with the Etobicoke Dolphins team that helped define her junior career. She also talked about the decision to launch her collegiate career by taking the next step at Cornell University.
In this episode, we talked about the growth she’s made over her four years in the program and how her entire hockey journey has led to this very moment: the cusp of the 2026 PWHL Draft.
My full conversation with Alyssa Regalado is available now on YouTube.
“I think as a whole, especially being at Cornell University, it was kind of learning that I can do hard things,” Alyssa said. “Going into an Ivy League school, the biggest question was how are you going to balance academics and hockey and keep up your grades while also keeping up performance? Over time, I learned a habit and a routine on how to build that.”
And that routine and those habits certainly paid off, as Alyssa became a steady presence on the blueline for Cornell, and a reliable contributor on the offensive side of the puck as well. Over her four years with the Big Red, Alyssa played in 134 games. She notched 64 points on 305 shots, along with three consecutive Ivy League championships, all while playing a disciplined style of hockey that undoubtedly adds to the intrigue teams will have when they look at her ahead of the PWHL Draft.
With the exciting next chapter of her career on the horizon, Alyssa also appreciates the many people who have helped her reach this moment because, as the saying goes, “it takes a village.”
Cornell Defender Alyssa Regalado Eyes The PWHL Draft In The Next Chapter Of Her Career
“As a whole, my teammates have been great through my four years,” she said. “I think we’ve developed a very strong relationship on and off the ice. And obviously, my parents and friends back home have been very supportive.”
Those teammates also included the many leaders who have donned the “A” or the “C” during her tenure with the program. While a letter is often viewed as a symbolic embodiment of leadership, those who helped lead this program had a profound impact on Alyssa, both on and off the ice. Most notably, in their approach to leveraging support, true leaders lean on the people around them to make the best decision for the group.
“They showed that you can use everyone around you and that you don’t have to do everything by yourself,” said Alyssa. “You can ask for opinions, even if it’s from a freshman or what they think about this or feel about that. I think all my captains really showed that it’s about those you surround yourself with and not just yourself as an individual.” And it’s lessons like that, on how to be a true teammate and leader regardless of whether you carry a letter or not, that will be critical for that jump from the collegiate level to the professional.
Throughout any career, some positive moments and memories put a smile on your face when you reminisce. But there are also tough moments that are often less than enjoyable to go through at the time, but help with growth and development. For Alyssa, one particular moment comes to mind.
“This past season as a whole. We were riding that high from my junior year and there was a lot of high expectations but it was tough because we lost 11 seniors,” Alyssa recalled. “We had a lot of new faces, a smaller group, and I think it was hard to overcome those losses this year.” But as previously mentioned, difficult moments bring significant development, and that’s what happened for Alyssa and her perspective.
“Teaching the underclassmen how to manage that emotionally helped me to think about it in a different way,” she said. “I think communicating with them helped me to learn how to handle [the losses] and move on from it, but also use it to build on to the next game.”
With the PWHL Draft looming, the opportunity to call the league her new home is understandably exciting for Alyssa.
“My freshman year, I was like, ‘Okay, well, after my four years, I guess maybe Sweden if that’s an option. If not, I don’t know,” she recalled. “And so I think now, it’s hard to put into words how cool and how special it is to have this opportunity.”
Alyssa Regalado’s addition to any PWHL team’s blueline would offer instant stability, and that’s a direct result of the invaluable growth and development she’s gone through throughout her career, and in particular, the four years with Cornell University. It’s seen her grow as a leader, become even more confident on both sides of the puck, and develop a mindset that’s helped her navigate the uncertainties. As she prepares to embark on her professional career, each of those aspects will play a critical role in ensuring the success she’ll undoubtedly achieve.
My full conversation with Alyssa Regalado is available now on YouTube.