Andrew Alberts Andrew James Alberts ( born June 30 , 1981 ) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who plays for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . He has additionally played in the NHL with the Boston Bruins , Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes . A stay - at - home defenseman , he is known for playing a physical style of game . After a two - year junior career in the United States Hockey League ( USHL ) , he was selected by the Bruins 179th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft . Following the draft , he joined the college ranks with the Boston College Eagles of the Hockey East conference . In four seasons with the Eagles , Alberts was named Hockey East ' s Best Defensive Defenseman and was a two - time NCAA All - American . Joining the Bruins in 2005 , he played three seasons with the club before being traded to the Flyers . He played with the Flyers for one year , then with the Hurricanes in 2009 . At the trade deadline the following year , he was dealt to the Canucks . Internationally , Alberts has competed for the American national team at the 2006 and 2007 World Championships . Playing career . Amateur . Alberts played high school hockey for Benilde - St . Margaret ' s School from 1997 to 1999 . In his graduating year , he earned All - Conference honors while leading the Red Knights to a State Class A title . He played the next two seasons at the junior level in the United States Hockey League ( USHL ) with the Waterloo Blackhawks . Recording 4 points over 49 games in his rookie campaign , he was named the team ' s Most Improved Player . In 2000 – 01 , he served as an alternate captain while raising his points total to 14 over 54 games . That summer , Alberts was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the sixth round ( 179th overall ) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft . Following the draft , Alberts began playing college hockey for Boston College Eagles of the Hockey East conference in 2001 . His first college goal came in the first round of the 2002 Beanpot , a short handed marker against the Boston University Terriers . He scored 12 points his freshman year before improving to 22 points in 2002 – 03 . In his third college year , he recorded 16 points was a co - recipient of Hockey East ' s Best Defensive Defenseman award with Prestin Ryan of the Maine Black Bears . He was also named to the Hockey East Second All - Star and NCAA East First All - American Teams . Alberts did not miss a game during his college career until suffering two knee injuries during his senior year in 2004 – 05 . Limited to 30 games , he again recorded 16 points and was named to the Hockey East First All - Star Team . In the playoffs , he ended what was the longest semifinal game in Hockey East history with a double - overtime goal against the Maine Black Bears . Alberts earned Hockey East All - Tournament honors , as the Eagles defeated the New Hampshire Wildcats 3 – 1 in the final to win the Lamoriello Trophy as conference champions . He also earned his second consecutive NCAA East All - American recognition . Professional . Following his senior year with the Eagles , Alberts signed an amateur tryout contract with the Boston Bruins ' American Hockey League ( AHL ) affiliate , the Providence Bruins , on April 1 , 2005 . He appeared in the final eight games of the 2004 – 05 AHL regular season before helping the club to the Conference Finals of the playoffs . He scored his first professional goal in Game 5 of the Conference Finals against goaltender Antero Niittymaki in a 6 – 4 win against the Philadelphia Phantoms . After signing a one - year NHL contract with Boston in August 2005 , he appeared in his first NHL training camp in September 2005 . Making the Bruins ' roster for the 2005 – 06 season , he made his NHL debut on October 5 , 2005 in a game versus the Montreal Canadiens . A month later , he notched his first NHL point , an assist , in a game against the Buffalo Sabres on November 19 . In December 2005 , Alberts received a brief 10 - day assignment to Providence , notching an assist over 6 games during that span . Returning to the Boston lineup , he scored his first NHL goal late in the campaign during a game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 12 , 2006 . Playing in 73 games as a rookie , Alberts scored a goal and 6 assists . After re - signing for another year in July 2006 , he recorded 10 assists over 76 games the following season . He earned his first multi - year contract in the off - season , re - signing with the Bruins . During the 2007 – 08 season , he was limited to 35 games due to a head injury suffered on November 26 , 2007 , during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers . Going down to his knees to block a puck moving into the defensive zone , opposing forward Scott Hartnell bodychecked him , using his elbow to hit Alberts ' head against the boards . Alberts left the game injured , while Hartnell received a five - minute major penalty and a game misconduct ; he was later suspended an additional two games by the league . Alberts recovered in time to make his NHL playoff debut in April 2008 , as the Bruins were eliminated in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens . After being a healthy scratch for the Bruins ' first two games in the 2008 – 09 season , Alberts was traded to Philadelphia for Ned Lukacevic and a conditional 2009 draft pick on October 13 , 2008 . The emergence of younger defenceman Matt Hunwick was partly responsible for his expandability . Alberts became an integral part of the Flyers ' defensive corps , leading the team in hits ( 157 ) and ranking third in blocked shots ( 133 ) . His 12 assists and 13 points were career - highs . Becoming an unrestricted free agent in the off - season , Alberts signed a two - year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 16 , 2009 . The contract paid him $ 800 , 000 the first year and $ 1 . 3 million the second . After appearing in 62 games for Carolina , he was dealt at the 2009 – 10 trade deadline on March 3 , 2010 , to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a third round pick in the 2010 draft ( Austin Levi ) . Between Carolina and Vancouver , Alberts finished the regular season with 3 goals and 12 points over 76 games . His defensive play struggled in his initial stint with Vancouver , often being made a healthy scratch . He continued to earn criticism from Vancouver fans and media in the playoffs , particularly for his lack of speed and for taking costly penalties . Alberts came back to the Canucks with improved play during the 2010 pre - season and beat out Shane O ' Brien for the team ' s final spot on defense ( O ' Brien was subsequently traded prior to the start of the season ) . Nearly a month into the season , Alberts suffered a minor knee injury during a game against the Colorado Avalanche , but did not miss any games . Later in the season , he was sucker - punched in the face by enforcer Jody Shelley during a game against the Flyers in December 2010 . The two were being restrained by referees during a scrum when Shelley struck him . As a result , he received a two - game suspension from the league and forfeited $ 26 , 829 . 27 in salary . Though Alberts left the game , he was not injured on the play . The following month , Alberts suffered a right shoulder injury during a game against the Minnesota Wild on January 16 , 2011 . Shortly after recovering and returning to the lineup , he suffered another injury , breaking his wrist while blocking a shot during a game against the St . Louis Blues on February 14 , 2011 . He missed the remainder of the regular season , finishing with a goal and seven assists , while leading Canucks defencemen with 113 hits , over 42 games . Recovering in time for the playoffs , Alberts appeared in nine post - season games ( he did not register any points ) during the Canucks ' run to the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals , where they were defeated in seven games by the Boston Bruins . During the off - season , Alberts was re - signed by the Canucks to a two - year , $ 2 . 45 million deal on June 29 , 2011 ( two days prior to his pending unrestricted free agency ) . International play . Alberts first played internationally for the American national team at the 2006 IIHF World Championship in Riga , Latvia . He scored his first international goal in the preliminary round , a 3 – 0 shutout against Denmark . Later in the tournament , the United States were shutout by Sweden in the quarterfinal and finished in seventh place . Alberts returned for the 2007 IIHF World Championship in Moscow , Russia . He notched one assist as the United States finished in fifth place . They were eliminated in the quarterfinal against Finland , a 5 – 4 shootout loss . Personal life . Alberts was born in Minneapolis , Minnesota , to Mary and Dale Alberts . The third of four children , he has two older sisters and one younger brother . Alberts attended Eden Prairie High School for his first two years of secondary before graduating from Benilde - St . Margaret ' s School in June 1999 . While enrolled in Boston College , Alberts earned a communications degree . Prior to his senior year , he was awarded the Morrissey Brothers Memorial Hockey Scholarship .