Whether it be an easy path full of success or a hard road filled with bumps and bruises, every hockey player has a story. And as the women’s game grows, we’re able to learn more about the stories that sprout from these players and who could be next to make their name known. With Alaina Giampietro being a goalscorer who is about as tough as they come, she is someone whose name is soon to be on the rise.
Currently in her third season at Robert Morris University, Giampietro entered the NCAA with a bang, tallying 19 goals and 31 points in 35 games during her freshman year. Her 19 goals were second among all NCAA freshmen, helping her win CHA rookie of the year. Last season, she ran into injury troubles but still managed to chip in eight points in 11 games.
Bringing it back to the present, Giampietro, who is off to another hot start this year, is hoping to find another level to her game. And given her difficult path to get there, she couldn’t be happier to be at Robert Morris playing for the Colonials.
Giampietro started her collegiate career at Ohio State back in 2022, but she quickly found out that it wasn’t for her. She took a redshirt season to focus on her mental health, something she really struggled with at the time. The resources at Ohio State and within her own circle proved very valuable, and she recognizes that. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without those resources,” she said.
Through all the support she received, Giampietro also realized she needed a change. That’s when she entered the transfer portal and decided on RMU. “I just didn’t feel like I was valued as much as I am here,” she said. Giampietro added that the big schools see you as a number, whereas a smaller school actually puts “a name to my face” and doesn’t just see a hockey player.
After Giampietro’s aforementioned rookie season with the Colonials, another stumbling block came her way when she tore her meniscus 11 games into her sophomore year and had to watch from the sidelines. But once again, her support system and sticking to the process allowed her to persevere and come back better than ever. Someone who has helped Giampietro immensely is her grandfather, who she said has been there every step of the way and is the reason why she plays. And that is literal because he hasn’t ever missed one of her games.
Through the injuries and setbacks, Giampietro has also learned some important lessons. “I’m big on remembering my why,” she said. She added that the ‘little girl inside me” is the reason for her playing the game, and it helps keep her grounded on the ice.
With that said, she also wants fans and the hockey world to know that despite her hockey obsession, that little girl inside is a person, too. “Leaving my mark on and off the ice is super important to me,” she said. “You can be a great hockey player, but being a great person is even better.”
And it’s this attitude and leadership that gave Giampietro the honour of being named the unanimous captain this season – as voted on by her teammates. Giampietro admits she was taken aback by the vote and is honoured. But she also said she can’t do it alone. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without my teammates,” she said.
As she gets things going in her third university season, Giampietro still has one thing in mind: being a professional hockey player. And with the PWHL continuing to grow, her dreams are coming closer to a reality. The road has been long, starting at three years old with the Garfield Heights Bulldogs and now cruising along as the captain of the Colonials, but there’s still a mountain to climb.
And while Giampietro has been battle tested like you wouldn’t believe, she wants everyone out there to remember that she isn’t just a hockey player. “I’m more than just an athlete.”
By Jackson Scherger
Jackson Scherger is a journalism student at MacEwan University in Edmonton. Originally from Macklin, Sask., Jackson looks to continue to gain experience in sports journalism as he pursues a career in this field.