Alex Foster Alexander Dwight Foster ( born August 26 , 1984 in Canton , Michigan ) is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga . He is the son of former NHL player Dwight Foster and nephew of former NHL player Wes Jarvis . Prior to advancing to the professional ranks , Foster played both junior hockey and college hockey . He played his collegiate hockey at Bowling Green State University . After leaving college in 2006 , he was signed to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization . He played for their farm team , the Toronto Marlies , occasionally being called into action for the NHL team , the Toronto Maple Leafs . Personal life . Alex Foster was born August 26 , 1984 in Canton , Michigan to parents Dwight and Maryann Foster . He has two brothers and one sister . His father , Dwight is a former NHL player who played for the Boston Bruins , Colorado Rockies , New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings during his 10 seasons in the major league . His uncle , Wes Jarvis , also played in the NHL for the Washington Capitals , Minnesota North Stars , Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs . Foster graduated from Salem High School in 2002 . Playing career . Amateur . Alex Foster played junior hockey in the USHL for three seasons . He played the 2001 - 02 and 2002 – 03 seasons with the Sioux Falls Stampede , and 2002 – 03 and 2003 - 04 seasons with the Danville Wings . In his time with the Wings , he helped lead them to the final four of the USHL playoffs . Foster joined the Bowling Green Falcons ice hockey team in 2004 . During his time at Bowling Green , Foster amassed 82 points in 72 games and ranks 10th all - time at BGSU in assists - per - game , averaging . 875 . In his freshman season ( 2004 – 05 ) he was named CCHA Rookie of the Week on January 9 , 2005 . He finished the season as the ninth - highest scoring freshman in the conference . In his sophomore ( 2005 – 06 ) season , Foster tallied 51 points in 38 games . He was named CCHA Player of the Month for November 2005 , Offensive Player of the Week on November 7 , 2005 and was a Hobey Baker Award candidate . Professional . He was signed as a free agent by the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 8 , 2006 . His contract included the maximum possible signing bonus , which was approximately US $ 170 , 000 . Foster was assigned to Toronto ' s AHL minors team , the Toronto Marlies the next day . In his rookie ( 2005 – 06 ) season with the Marlies , Foster scored one goal in eight games . On October 16 , 2006 , Foster was re - assigned to the Columbia Inferno of the ECHL , later to be recalled to the Toronto Marlies ( AHL ) on November 11 , 2006 . Foster re - signed with the Toronto Marlies on July 18 , 2007 with a one - year contract . On February 24 , 2008 , Foster established a Toronto Marlies single season record for short - handed goals when he scored his fifth short - handed goal of the season against the Hamilton Bulldogs . On March 17 , 2008 , Foster was called up to the Toronto Maple Leafs and made his NHL debut the following night against the New York Islanders , wearing jersey # 32 . He would appear in three games before being re - assigned to the Toronto Marlies on March 26 , 2008 . In his three games he totaled one shot , no points , and no penalty minutes . On October 22 , 2010 , he was named the third captain in Toronto Marlies history . On June 7 , 2011 , after spending his 6th professional season within the Maple Leafs organization , Foster left as a free agent and signed a one - year contract with European team , HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga .