# 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.

## 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). 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 signed an extry 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.
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

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | 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 | AHL totals | 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