Andrew Alberts

Andrew James Alberts (born June 30, 1981) is an American former professional ice hockey player who was a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and the Vancouver Canucks. A stay-at-home defenseman, he was known for playing a physical style of game.

After a two-year junior career in the United States Hockey League (USHL), Alberts was selected by the Boston Bruins 179th overall in the 2001 NHL entry draft. Following the draft, he joined the college ranks with Boston College of the Hockey East conference. In four seasons with the Eagles, Alberts was named Hockey East's Best Defensive Defenseman and was a two-time NCAA All-American. Joining the Bruins in 2005, he played three seasons with the club before being traded to the Flyers. He played with the Flyers for one year, then with the Hurricanes in 2009. At the trade deadline the following year, he was traded to the Canucks. Internationally, Alberts has competed for the United States at the 2006 and 2007 World Championships.

Playing career

Amateur Alberts played high school hockey for Benilde-St. Margaret's from 1997 to 1999. In his graduating year, he earned All-Conference honors while leading the Red Knights to a State Class A title.

Following the draft, Alberts began playing college hockey for Boston College Eagles of the Hockey East conference in 2001. His first college goal came in the first round of the 2002 Beanpot, a short handed marker against the Boston University Terriers. He was also named to the Hockey East Second All-Star and NCAA East First All-American Teams. Limited to 30 games, he again recorded 16 points and was named to the Hockey East First All-Star Team. In the playoffs, he ended what was the longest semifinal game in Hockey East history with a double-overtime goal against the Maine Black Bears. |group=notes Alberts earned Hockey East All-Tournament honors, as the Eagles defeated the New Hampshire Wildcats 3–1 in the final to win the Lamoriello Trophy as conference champions. He also earned his second consecutive NCAA East All-American recognition. He appeared in the final eight games of the 2004–05 AHL regular season before helping the club to the Conference Finals of the playoffs. He scored his first professional goal in Game 5 of the Conference Finals against goaltender Antero Niittymäki in a 6–4 win against the Philadelphia Phantoms.

After signing a one-year NHL contract with Boston in August 2005, he appeared in his first NHL training camp in September 2005. Making the Bruins' roster for the 2005–06 season, he made his NHL debut on October 5, 2005, in a game versus the Montreal Canadiens. A month later, he notched his first NHL point, an assist, in a game against the Buffalo Sabres on November 19.

After re-signing for another year in July 2006, Alberts recorded 10 assists over 76 games the following season. He earned his first multi-year contract in the off-season, re-signing with the Bruins. During the 2007–08 season, he was limited to 35 games due to a head injury suffered on November 26, 2007, during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Going down to his knees to block a puck moving into the defensive zone, opposing forward Scott Hartnell bodychecked him, using his elbow to hit Alberts' head against the boards. Alberts recovered in time to make his NHL playoff debut in April 2008, as the Bruins were eliminated in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens.

After being a healthy scratch for the Bruins' first two games in the 2008–09 season, Alberts was traded to Philadelphia for Ned Lukacevic and a conditional 2009 draft pick on October 13, 2008. The emergence of younger defenseman Matt Hunwick was partly responsible for his expandability. Alberts became an integral part of the Flyers' defensive corps, leading the team in hits (157) and ranking third in blocked shots (133). His 12 assists and 13 points were career-highs.

Alberts came back to the Canucks with improved play during the 2010 pre-season and beat out Shane O'Brien for the team's final spot on defense (O'Brien was subsequently traded prior to the start of the season). Nearly one month into the season, Alberts suffered a minor knee injury during a game against the Colorado Avalanche, but did not miss any games. The following month, Alberts suffered a right shoulder injury during a game against the Minnesota Wild on January 16, 2011. Shortly after recovering and returning to the lineup, he suffered another injury, breaking his wrist while blocking a shot during a game against the St. Louis Blues on February 14, 2011. He missed the remainder of the regular season,

During the 2013 off-season, the Canucks signed Alberts to a one-year contract extension. Alberts suffered a concussion during a December 29, 2013, game against the Calgary Flames due to a high hit delivered by enforcer Brian McGrattan that effectively ended Alberts' professional hockey career.

International play Alberts first played internationally for the American national team at the 2006 IIHF World Championship in Riga, Latvia. He scored his first international goal in the preliminary round, a 3–0 shutout against Denmark. Later in the tournament, the United States were shut out by Sweden in the quarterfinal and finished in seventh place. Alberts returned for the 2007 IIHF World Championship in Moscow, Russia. He notched one assist as the United States finished in fifth place. They were eliminated in the quarterfinal against Finland, a 5–4 shootout loss.

Personal life Alberts was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Mary and Dale Alberts. The third of four children, he has two older sisters and one younger brother.

Hockey East All-Tournament Team 2005