BEFORE UMD: Varying stints with three different junior teams and one Western Collegiate Hockey Association program make up his post-high school hockey resumé ... tended goal for the North American Hockey League's Fairbanks Ice Dogs in 2010-11 and paced the team in a host of categories including wins (he was 21-5-2), goals against average (2.33), saves percentage (.907), shutouts (four) and appearances (29) … began the 2010-11 season with the NAHL’s Alexandria Blizzard before joining the University of Minnesota in January of that year ... bided his time as the Gophers' No. 3 goaltender for the season's final three months and received no crease time … played in a pair of games for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League in the spring of his senior year (2009-10) at Hopkins High School ... started four years with the Royals and was a three-time All-Classic Lake Conference puck stopper ... also earned a pair of All-State second team citations (2007-08 and 2009-10) ... went 11-12-1 with a .912 saves percentage and four shutouts in his farewell prep season.

PERSONAL: Born Alexander Robert Fons on Oct. 10, 1991 ... is the son of Jerome and Kim Fons ... has one older brother  (Jacob) ...  is an undeclared major at UMD