Paul Albers Explained

Played For:Houston Aeros
Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers
Krefeld Pinguine
Tohoku Free Blades
SG Cortina
Position:Defence
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:188
Birth Date:15 October 1985
Birth Place:Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada
Shoots:Left
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2006
Career End:2015

Paul Albers (born October 15, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Houston Aeros.

Playing career

Albers played major junior in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for five seasons with the Calgary Hitmen, Regina Pats and Vancouver Giants. As an overaged player with the Giants in 2005–06, Albers recorded a major junior career high 17 goals, 45 assists and 62 points. He was named to the WHL West First All-Star Team, along with teammate Dustin Slade, and earned a nomination for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as the league's top defenceman (awarded to Kris Russell of the Medicine Hat Tigers).[1] His +39 plus/minus was a league high and earned him the WHL Plus-Minus Award. Albers added 19 points in 18 post-season games, helping lead the Giants to a President's Cup as WHL champions. Playing in the subsequent 2006 Memorial Cup in Moncton, he was named to the Tournament All-Star Team with teammate Gilbert Brulé.

Undrafted by a National Hockey League (NHL) club, Albers turned pro in the ECHL with the Texas Wildcatters in 2006–07. He recorded 43 points as a rookie and moved up to the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Houston Aeros the next season. On July 31, 2009, he left the United States and signed for German club Nürnberg Ice Tigers.[2]

Albers spent six seasons of his professional career abroad, the last three with SG Cortina in the Italian Serie A before retiring at the conclusion of the 2014–15 season.

Career statistics

Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02Calgary HitmenWHL541563270006
2002–03Calgary Hitmen WHL72420245150000
2003–04Calgary HitmenWHL80116
2003–04Regina PatsWHL54518233040002
2004–05Regina PatsWHL230446
2004–05Vancouver GiantsWHL48419234262350
2005–06Vancouver GiantsWHL701745623318316198
2006–07Texas WildcattersECHL681231433291568
2006–07Houston AerosAHL50002
2007–08Houston AerosAHL69516212640000
2008–09Houston AerosAHL73471152120112
2009–10Thomas Sabo Ice TigersDEL49310132450004
2010–11Krefeld PinguineDEL46012125080226
Tohoku Free BladesAL3610213154
SG CortinaITL437182510125382
2013–14SG CortinaITL42722294100444
2014–15 SG CortinaITL407303724
AHL totals 1479233280160112

Awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WHL Announces 2005–06 Award Finalists and Conference All-Star Teams . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200203/http://www.whl.ca/whl-announces-2005-06-award-finalists-and-conference-all-star-teams-p124609. dead. March 3, 2016 . March 19, 2009. Western Hockey League.
  2. Web site: Paul Albers commits to Nürnberg . . July 31, 2009. February 3, 2010 . German . https://web.archive.org/web/20120215154434/http://www.icetigers.de/ICETIGERS/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=156:paul-albers-wechselt-nach-nuernberg&catid=1:aktuelle-nachrichten&Itemid=76 . February 15, 2012 . dead .