Steve Alley
Encyclopedia
Steven James "The Cat" Alley (born December 29, 1953 in Anoka, Minnesota
) is a retired professional ice hockey
player who played 105 games in the World Hockey Association
for the Birmingham Bulls
and Cincinnati Stingers
between 1976 and 1979. He became the property of the Hartford Whalers
of the National Hockey League
after the Bulls folded in 1979, and made a further 15 NHL
appearances in 1979–1981 before retiring from pro hockey.
Alley was a three year letter winner in hockey at Anoka High School
. As a senior he was the leading scorer in the State of Minnesota and was selected to both the All-Conference and All-State teams. Alley was also the captain and quarterback of the football team and a three year letter winner in baseball. The 1972 baseball team finished runner-up in the state, the best finish in Anoka High School history.
Before turning professional, Alley was a member of the US national team at the 1976 Winter Olympics
as well as the 1974, 1975 and 1978 Ice Hockey World Championship teams. He played for the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1973–75, and 1976–77. Alley completed his college career by scoring the game winning goal (23 seconds into overtime) in Wisconsin's 6-5 win over Michigan in the 1977 NCAA Division I Championship game.
Alley and his wife Joanie live in Lake Forest, IL and have three daughters, Abby, Hilary, and Hannah all of whom played Division I college lacrosse. In September, 2011, Alley was named to the inaugural class of the Anoka High School Hall of Fame.
Anoka, Minnesota
At the 2000 census, there were 18,076 people, 7,262 households and 4,408 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,709.0 per square mile . There were 7,398 housing units at an average density of 1,108.7 per square mile...
) is a retired professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who played 105 games in the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
for the Birmingham Bulls
Birmingham Bulls
The Birmingham Bulls were a professional ice hockey team based in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1976 to 1979 and the Central Hockey League from 1979 to 1981. The Bulls played their home games at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center.Prior to being...
and Cincinnati Stingers
Cincinnati Stingers
The Cincinnati Stingers was an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979. Its home arena was Riverfront Coliseum and it was the only major-league hockey team ever to play in Cincinnati.-History:The Stingers franchise was awarded in...
between 1976 and 1979. He became the property of the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
after the Bulls folded in 1979, and made a further 15 NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
appearances in 1979–1981 before retiring from pro hockey.
Alley was a three year letter winner in hockey at Anoka High School
Anoka High School
Anoka High School is a four year public high school located in Anoka, Minnesota on 3939 7th Avenue N.-School overview:Anoka High School is part of Anoka-Hennepin School District 11 and is one of five regular high schools in the district...
. As a senior he was the leading scorer in the State of Minnesota and was selected to both the All-Conference and All-State teams. Alley was also the captain and quarterback of the football team and a three year letter winner in baseball. The 1972 baseball team finished runner-up in the state, the best finish in Anoka High School history.
Before turning professional, Alley was a member of the US national team at the 1976 Winter Olympics
1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
as well as the 1974, 1975 and 1978 Ice Hockey World Championship teams. He played for the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1973–75, and 1976–77. Alley completed his college career by scoring the game winning goal (23 seconds into overtime) in Wisconsin's 6-5 win over Michigan in the 1977 NCAA Division I Championship game.
Alley and his wife Joanie live in Lake Forest, IL and have three daughters, Abby, Hilary, and Hannah all of whom played Division I college lacrosse. In September, 2011, Alley was named to the inaugural class of the Anoka High School Hall of Fame.
Career statistics
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1972-73 U. of Wisconsin NCAA 40 8 15 23 12 -- -- -- -- --
1980-81 Binghamton Whalers AHL 69 26 32 58 34 6 3 1 4 9
1979-80 Cincinnati Stingers CHL 10 3 6 9 12 -- -- -- -- --
1979-80 Hartford Whalers NHL 7 1 1 2 0 3 0 1 1 0
1979-80 Springfield Indians AHL 59 25 28 53 46 -- -- -- -- --
1978-79 Birmingham Bulls WHA 78 17 24 41 36 -- -- -- -- --
1977-78 Hampton Gulls AHL 30 6 3 9 27 -- -- -- -- --
1977-78 Birmingham Bulls WHA 27 8 12 20 11 5 1 0 1 5
1977-78 Springfield Indians AHL 1 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
1976-77 U. of Wisconsin NCAA 45 32 31 63 50 -- -- -- -- --
1975-76 U.S. Olympic Team Intl 64 29 33 62 67 -- -- -- -- --
1974-75 U. of Wisconsin NCAA 38 23 25 48 84 -- -- -- -- --
1973-74 U. of Wisconsin NCAA 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
1980-81 Hartford Whalers NHL 8 2 2 4 11 -- -- -- -- --
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHA Totals 105 25 36 61 47 5 1 0 1 5
NHL Totals 15 3 3 6 11 3 0 1 1 0