Alper Solak

Alper Solak (born October 16, 1989 in Altındağ, Ankara, Turkey) is a Turkish ice hockey player. The tall forward at shoots right-handed. Currently, he is competing in the Turkish Ice Hockey First League for Atak Buz SK. He is a member of the Turkey men's national ice hockey team. Solak studied physical education and sports at Ankara University. His younger brother Gökalp Solak is also a national ice hockey player.

Playing career

Alper Solak practized roller skating in his childhood. At the age of ten, he switched over to ice skating and began playing ice hockey. Other sport branches he performs are swimming and handball.

Club

Alper Solak began his career as a hockey player with B.B. Ankara SK in his hometown, for whom he made his debut in the Turkish Ice Hockey Super League in the 2003–04 season. In 2006, he moved to local rivals Başkent Yıldızları. He left after two years to go to the Police Academy & College SK, also based in Ankara. He became in 2009 the Turkish national champion with his club. Then, he moved to the Ankara University SK in the capital, with which he again won the Turkish title in 2010. Solak returned to Başkent Yıldızları in 2011, and won with the club in 2012 and 2013 his national title number three and four. Despite these successes, he left the club in the summer of 2013, and moved to the Istanbul-based second-division club Atak Buz SK, for which he is standing on the ice since then.

With his clubs Ankara University SK and Başkent Yıldızları, he played in seven games at the IIHF Continental Cup matches in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

International

Solak was admitted to the Turkey men's national under-18 ice hockey team, and took part at the IIHF World U18 Championship's Division III tournaments in 2004, 2005 qualification, 2005, 2006, and 2007 matches. He capped 22 times for the national U18 team and scored 7 goals in total.

In 2005, he entered the national junior team, and played at the Division III tournaments in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Solak capped 20 times for the national U20 team and scored 8 goals.

Alper Solak is a continuous member of the national senior team since 2006. He played in all the World championship tournaments for his country's Division III (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012), and Division II (2007, 2010, 2013, and 2014) tournament games. In 2008, he was part of the national team, which took part at the 2010 Winter Olympics qualification round. He participated at the 2011 Winter Universiade held in Erzurum, Turkey He capped more than 40 times so far.

Solak is also member of the Turkey national inline hockey team and participates in world championships.

Coaching career

During his time at Ankara University SK, he was appointed coach of the youth team.

Honors

Club

  • Champion - 2008-09 TBHSL with Police Academy & College SK
  • Champion - 2009-10 TBHSL with Ankara University SK
  • Champion - 2010-11 TBHSL with Başkent Yıldızları
  • Champion - 2011-12 TBHSL with Başkent Yıldızları

International

  • 2006 WJC (D3) Turkey U20

  • 2006 WC (D3) Turkey

  • 2009 WC (D3) Turkey

  • 2011 WC (D3) Turkey

  • 2012 WC (D3) Turkey