Paul Albers

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.

Paul Albers
Born	(1985-10-15) October 15, 1985 (age 39) Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	188 lb (85 kg; 13 st 6 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Houston Aeros Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers Krefeld Pinguine Tohoku Free Blades SG Cortina
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2006–2015

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 postseason 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 signed an entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild and 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 after the 2014–15 season.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2001–02	Calgary Hitmen	WHL		54	1	5	6	32		7	0	0	0	6
2002–03	Calgary Hitmen	WHL		72	4	20	24	51		5	0	0	0	0
2003–04	Calgary Hitmen	WHL		8	0	1	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Regina Pats	WHL		54	5	18	23	30		4	0	0	0	2
2004–05	Regina Pats	WHL		23	0	4	4	6		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Vancouver Giants	WHL		48	4	19	23	42		6	2	3	5	0
2005–06	Vancouver Giants	WHL		70	17	45	62	33		18	3	16	19	8
2006–07	Texas Wildcatters	ECHL		68	12	31	43	32		9	1	5	6	8
2006–07	Houston Aeros	AHL		5	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Houston Aeros	AHL		69	5	16	21	26		4	0	0	0	0
2008–09	Houston Aeros	AHL		73	4	7	11	52		12	0	1	1	2
2009–10	Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers	DEL		49	3	10	13	24		5	0	0	0	4
2010–11	Krefeld Pinguine	DEL		46	0	12	12	50		8	0	2	2	6
2011–12	Tohoku Free Blades	AL		36	10	21	31	54		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	SG Cortina	ITL		43	7	18	25	10		12	5	3	8	2
2013–14	SG Cortina	ITL		42	7	22	29	4		10	0	4	4	4
2014–15	SG Cortina	ITL		40	7	30	37	24		—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				147	9	23	32	80		16	0	1	1	2

Awards

• Named to the WHL West First All-Star Team in 2006
• Won the WHL Plus-Minus Award in 2006
• Won a President's Cup as WHL champions with the Vancouver Giants in 2006
• Named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team in 2006