Alex Brooks Explained

Alex Brooks should not be confused with Alexandra Brooks.

Played For:Jokerit
New Jersey Devils
Position:Defense
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:195
Birth Date:August 21, 1976
Birth Place:Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2001
Career End:2011

Alex Whitmore Brooks (born August 21, 1976) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played, as an undrafted player, 19 games in the National Hockey League for the New Jersey Devils in the 2006–07 season.

Playing career

Undrafted and out of college from the University of Wisconsin, Brooks took his game to Jokerit of the Finnish First League. The New Jersey Devils, attracted to Brooks' tough defensive play, signed the defenseman to an entry-level contract. Brooks spent four years with the Devils' minor league affiliate, the Albany River Rats. When veteran center Pascal Rheaume was traded, Brooks was named captain, and held that post even after the team relocated to Lowell.

In the 2006–07 season, when several Devils were injured, including Colin White, Johnny Oduya, and Brad Lukowich, Brooks was called up, playing 19 games and scoring 1 assist to go along with 4 PIM. Then, in a game against the St. Louis Blues, Brooks broke his foot, and was subsequently sent back to Lowell, and was replaced by Andy Greene. He returned to Lowell and regained his post as captain. Andy Greene flourished, and thus, Brooks was left in Lowell.

On August 9, 2007, Brooks signed on with the St. Louis Blues. However, with chances limited, Brooks provided a veteran presence in Peoria, the Blues minor league squad.[1] He played one season with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL before returning to Finland and Jokerit for the 2009–10 season.[2]

Brooks played his final professional season with Karlskrona HK of the Swedish Division 1 in 2010–11 before retiring and joining the Chicago Blackhawks staff as a pro scout.[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1993–94Wisconsin CapitolsUSHL13 3 11 14 6
1994–95Madison West High SchoolHS-WI24 13 28 31 12
1995–96Green Bay GamblersUSHL43 3 22 25 213
1997–98University of WisconsinWCHA40 1 4 5 72
1998–99University of WisconsinWCHA37 0 3 3 73
1999–00University of WisconsinWCHA41 4 10 14 78
2000–01University of WisconsinWCHA41 3 16 19 76
2001–02JokeritSM-l53 1 3 4 10912 0 0 0 11
2002–03Albany River RatsAHL66 0 7 7 56
2003–04Albany River RatsAHL77 2 6 8 100
2004–05Albany River RatsAHL63 0 6 6 83
2005–06Albany River RatsAHL58 1 4 5 81
2006–07Lowell DevilsAHL21 0 2 2 6
2006–07New Jersey DevilsNHL19 0 1 1 4
2007–08Peoria RivermenAHL70 0 8 8 90
2008–09Chicago WolvesAHL50 0 10 10 58
2009–10JokeritSM-l25 2 3 5 531 0 0 0 0
2010–11Karlskrona HKSWE-311 0 2 2 1010 0 4 4 8
AHL totals405 3 43 46 474
NHL totals19 0 1 1 4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alex Brooks player profile . Hockey Hall of Fame . 2010-01-26.
  2. Web site: Kurinalainen HIFK syvensi Jokereiden tuskaa . Finnish . 2009-11-13 . 2010-01-26 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606221811/http://www.yle.fi/urheilu/lajit/jaakiekko/sm-liiga/2009/11/kurinalainen_hifk_syvensi_jokereiden_tuskaa_1347849.html . 2011-06-06 .
  3. Web site: Badgers' Alex Brooks behind the scenes with the Blackhawks . madison.com . 2013-06-11 . 2013-06-11.