Chad Alban

Chad Richard Alban (born April 27, 1976) is an American former professional ice hockey player.

Career Alban started his college career at Michigan State in 1994. He became the starter in his sophomore season and held the job for the next three years. In Alban's senior season he posted program records in most goaltending categories including goals against average (1.57), save percentage (.926), shutouts (6) and was one win behind Jason Muzzatti for the most in team history. Alban became just the fourth college goaltender to be credited with a goal near the end of the season, and was the first to have actually shot the puck on goal. He led the Spartans to their first conference championship in eight years and allowed only five goals in four games as MSU won the CCHA Tournament. In the first game of the NCAA Tournament, (Ohio State), the team they had defeated for the conference crown, won 4–3 in overtime, ending Alban's college career. As of 2020 Alban is still the career leader in wins for the Spartans. He finished as the runner up to Chris Drury for the 1998 Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the best college player.

Alban played minor league hockey for several teams over the next few years and was eventually signed to a contract by the Dallas Stars. While he stayed mostly with their affiliate the Utah Grizzlies, Alban was called up twice in the early 2000s to serve as a backup, but did not play in any of the three games for which he dressed. After leaving the Stars organization, he joined the Kalamazoo Wings for three years before playing in the Russian Super League for two seasons. Alban ended his playing career in 2009 after two more years with the Flint Generals.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1991–92 Kalamazoo Jr. Wings NAHL — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1992–93 Kalamazoo Jr. Wings NAHL — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1994–95 Michigan State University CCHA 13 8 2 0 636 29 0 2.73 .893 — — — — — — — — 1995–96 Michigan State University CCHA 40 26 13 1 2286 117 3 3.07 .876 — — — — — — — — 1996–97 Michigan State University CCHA 39 23 11 4 2272 103 3 2.72 .894 — — — — — — — — 1997–98 Michigan State University CCHA 40 31 4 5 2438 64 6 1.57 .926 — — — — — — — — 1998–99 Mobile Mysticks ECHL 34 16 14 3 1960 111 1 3.40 .902 2 0 2 119 9 0 4.53 .897 1998–99 Houston Aeros IHL 5 1 3 1 284 14 0 2.96 .898 — — — — — — — — 1999–00 Mobile Mysticks ECHL 39 25 13 1 2334 114 0 2.93 .914 5 2 3 299 20 0 4.01 .889 1999–00 Utah Grizzlies IHL 1 0 1 0 35 3 0 5.16 .813 — — — — — — — — 2000–01 Utah Grizzlies IHL 11 2 4 4 597 23 0 2.31 .926 — — — — — — — — 2000–01 Grand Rapids Griffins IHL 3 2 1 0 180 4 1 1.33 .953 — — — — — — — — 2000–01 Idaho Steelheads WCHL 20 14 5 1 1121 56 1 3.00 .900 10 6 4 596 33 0 3.32 .904 2001–02 Utah Grizzlies AHL 42 17 15 1 2103 103 2 2.94 .908 — — — — — — — — 2002–03 Kalamazoo Wings UHL 54 21 25 5 3084 175 1 3.40 .896 — — — — — — — — 2002–03 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 2 1 0 0 77 3 0 2.34 .893 — — — — — — — — 2003–04 Kalamazoo Wings UHL 54 34 13 6 3200 122 8 2.29 .913 5 2 3 308 12 1 2.33 .919 2004–05 Kalamazoo Wings UHL 54 33 16 5 3227 132 2 2.45 .907 3 0 3 157 11 0 4.19 .866 2005–06 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk RSL 16 5 4 3 850 29 2 2.05 .909 5 2 3 298 11 0 2.21 .909 2006–07 Traktor Chelyabinsk RSL 11 2 6 2 646 31 0 2.88 .898 — — — — — — — — 2007–08 Flint Generals IHL 14 9 3 2 799 33 1 2.48 .927 5 1 4 318 19 0 3.59 .894 2008–09 Flint Generals IHL 51 15 29 6 2927 213 1 4.36 .882 — — — — — — — — RSL totals 27 7 10 5 1496 60 2 2.40 — — — — — — — — —

Awards and honors Award Year CCHA All-Tournament Team 1996–97 All-CCHA First Team 1997–98 AHCA East First Team All-American 1997–98