Andrew Alberts

Andrew James Alberts (born June 30, 1981) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 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.

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.

He played the next two seasons at the junior level in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Waterloo Blackhawks.

Recording 4 points over 49 games in his rookie campaign, he was named the team's Most Improved Player.

In 2000–01, he served as an alternate captain while raising his points total to 14 over 54 games.

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.

That summer, Alberts was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the sixth round (179th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

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 scored 12 points his freshman year before improving to 22 points in 2002–03.

In his third college year, he recorded 16 points was a co-recipient of Hockey East's Best Defensive Defenseman award with Prestin Ryan of the Maine Black Bears.

He was also named to the Hockey East Second All-Star and NCAA East First All-American Teams.

Alberts did not miss a game during his college career until suffering two knee injuries during his senior year in 2004–05.

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.

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.

Joining the Bruins in 2005, he played three seasons with the club before being traded to the Flyers.

Following his senior year with the Eagles, Alberts signed an amateur tryout contract with the Boston Bruins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Providence Bruins, on April 1, 2005.

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.

In December 2005, Alberts received a ten-day assignment to Providence, recording one assist in six games during that span.

Internationally, Alberts has competed for the United States at the 2006 and 2007 World Championships.

Returning to the Boston lineup, he scored his first NHL goal late in the campaign during a game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 12, 2006.

Playing in 73 games, Alberts scored a goal and six assists.

During his rookie season, Bruins head coach Mike Sullivan experimented with playing Alberts at the forward position for roughly a month.

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 left the game injured, while Hartnell received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct; he was later suspended an additional two games by the NHL.

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.