Balancing Life On and Off the Ice

Written by: Lyric LaRock

Before committing to play ice hockey for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Alex Proctor did not know of the existence of the school or the town.

Proctor grew up in the hot climate of Dallas, Texas, very different from the cold climate of central Wisconsin. However, it did not take long for him to adjust to the climate because of his life-long career of playing ice hockey.

It also did not take long for Proctor to gain pride in this school and build a clothing business based on UWSP.  

When Proctor is off the ice or has a break from classes, he is working on his clothing brand. Point72 Apparel is a UWSP inspired clothing brand that he started as a hobby during his freshman year of college. He started this brand to help offset his busy hockey schedule. He claims it was something fun and creative that he could work on here and there. 

“It is something me and my dad kind of collaborate on and we still look to find ways to grow the brand every chance we get,” Proctor said. 

Named after his team and his jersey number, Point72 has become a personal adventure for the student athlete, allowing him to express his athletic grit and artistic flair.

Proctor has pieces featuring multiple UWSP sports such as hockey, wrestling, and baseball. Some of his most popular pieces feature sayings such as “Roll Dawgs,” “It’s A Great Day To Be A Pointer,” and “In my Pointer era!” 

For Proctor, an early morning practice, a full day of classes, and a clothing brand all have a spot in his daily routine. A typical day for him is a balancing act of a busy schedule. 

“My day starts at the rink for practice at 5:30 a.m. Once done with practice at about 9:15 a.m., I have class at 10-11:30 a.m. This is followed by team workouts at noon,” Proctor said. 

He explains that his afternoon consists of homework, working at his real job at Goal Line Golf & Hockey in Schofield, and working on Point72. His schedule requires juggling, but he has found a way to make it work. He believes that school comes first, then hockey, and whatever time he has left goes into the business. 

A junior on the UW-Stevens Point hockey team, Proctor has been playing hockey since he was five years old. Before committing to UWSP, he played for multiple junior hockey league teams across the United States including the Springfield Junior Blues, the Philadelphia Hockey Club, and then landing back in Texas with the Odessa Jackalopes. 

“I’ve played other sports, but none of them were as fun as hockey,” Proctor said. 

In his sophomore season of hockey with UWSP, he was honored with WIAC Athlete of the Week (Dec. 4-10, 2023), College Sports Communicators Academic All-District 2023-24, and All-WIAC First Team 2023-24. 

Proctor’s efforts do not go unrecognized by his coaches and teammates. UWSP men’s hockey coaches describe their goaltender as an outstanding athlete who is consistently growing both on and off the ice. 

They say Proctor is extremely dedicated to his team and is constantly giving support to all his teammates.  His coaches are very proud of him for becoming an entrepreneur while still being dedicated to hockey. 

His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by his teammates either. Proctor explains that a lot of his team proudly supports Point72. 

“All of my roommates are always repping the brand,” Proctor said. “They all think its impressive how many things I balance at once.”  

However, his busy schedule doesn’t come without challenges. Proctor stresses that it can be hard to stay on top of Point72 when he is out of town for hockey or swamped with homework. He claims customers have even reached out to him during games about wanting clothing. He tries to stay organized by putting his best foot forward and try to make his customers happy, even when it’s not easy, he said.  

Regardless of his busy schedule, Alex Proctor’s passion for both hockey and Point72 continues to drive him. He is a prime example of what a student athlete can achieve, whether it’s on the ice or in the business world. 

“I plan to keep playing hockey until I can’t anymore. My dream has always been to play pro and that dream is still alive,” Proctor said. “Only time will tell with the company. I would like to keep growing it and building it every chance I get and take it from there!” 

Lyric LaRock

Contributor | The Pointer

[email protected]