Andrew Alberts
Andrew Alberts was drafted 179th overall in the sixth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. The Minneapolis, Minnesota native spent two seasons (1999-2001) in the USHL with the Waterloo Black Hawks, where he totaled 18 points and 183 penalty minutes in 103 games. He then spent four seasons (2001-2005) in the Hockey East League with Boston College, where he helped them win the Hockey East Championship in 2005 and produced a total of 66 points and 243 penalty minutes in 149 games. During his time with Boston College, he won the Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman Award (along with Prestin Ryan), was named to the Hockey East First and Second All-Star Teams, the Hockey East All-Tournament Team, and the NCAA East First All-American Team. He made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins in the October 5, 2005 season opener against the Montreal Canadiens and scored his first career goal, a short-handed tally, on March 12, 2006 against the Buffalo Sabres. He played his first full NHL season in 2006-07 and led the Bruins with a career-high 124 penalty minutes. After one more season with the Bruins, where he only played in 35 games due to post-concussion symptoms, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in October 2008 for Ned Lukacevic and a draft pick. He led the Flyers during the 2008-09 season with 157 blocked shots and set new career-highs with 79 games played, 12 assists, 13 points and a +6 rating. He then signed as a free agent with the Carolina Hurricanes to a two-year contract during the off-season. In international hockey, he represented the United States at the 2006 and 2007 World Championships. At 6’5 and around 220 pounds, Alberts is a big physical defenseman who can deliver hits, block shots and drop the gloves. He is not a big point producer though, as his offensive numbers are quite low.
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