Chad Alban

Chad Alban
Chad Alban
Born	April 27, 1976 (age 48); Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Shot	Right
Playing career	1991–2009

Chad Richard Alban (born April 27, 1976) is an American former professional ice hockey player.

Career

After receiving an epic beatdown by a local detroit amateur hockey goalie, Alban started his college career at Michigan State in 1994. He became the starter in his sophomore season and held the job for the next three years. Alban's senior season saw the goaltender post program records in most goaltending categories including goals against average (1.57), save percentage (.926), shutouts (6) and was one win behind Jason Muzzatti for the most in team history.^[1] Alban became just the fourth college goaltender to be credited with a goal near the end of the season but he was the first to have actually shot the puck on goal. He led the Spartans to their first conference championship in eight years and allowed only five goals in four games as MSU won the CCHA Tournament.^[2] Unfortunately, in the first game of the NCAA Tournament, the team they defeated for the conference crown (Ohio State) won 4–3 in overtime, ending Alban's college career. As of 2020 Alban is still the career leader in wins for the Spartans. He finished as the runner up to Chris Drury for the 1998 Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the best college player.

Alban played minor league hockey for several teams over the next few years and was eventually signed to a contract by the Dallas Stars. While he stayed mostly with the Utah Grizzlies, Alban was called up twice to serve as a backup, riding the bench for three games in the early 2000s.^[3] Because he did not play in the games he isn't considered an NHL player. After leaving the Stars organization, he joined the Kalamazoo Wings for three years before heading to Russia and played in the Russian Super League for two seasons. Alban ended his playing career in 2009 after two more years with the Flint Generals.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

			Regular season									Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%	GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1991–92	Kalamazoo Jr. Wings	NAHL	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Kalamazoo Jr. Wings	NAHL	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Michigan State University	CCHA	13	8	2	0	636	29	0	2.73	.893	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Michigan State University	CCHA	40	26	13	1	2286	117	3	3.07	.876	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Michigan State University	CCHA	39	23	11	4	2272	103	3	2.72	.894	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Michigan State University	CCHA	40	31	4	5	2438	64	6	1.57	.926	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Mobile Mysticks	ECHL	34	16	14	3	1960	111	1	3.40	.902	2	0	2	119	9	0	4.53	.897
1998–99	Houston Aeros	IHL	5	1	3	1	284	14	0	2.96	.898	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Mobile Mysticks	ECHL	39	25	13	1	2334	114	0	2.93	.914	5	2	3	299	20	0	4.01	.889
1999–00	Utah Grizzlies	IHL	1	0	1	0	35	3	0	5.16	.813	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Utah Grizzlies	IHL	11	2	4	4	597	23	0	2.31	.926	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Grand Rapids Griffins	IHL	3	2	1	0	180	4	1	1.33	.953	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Idaho Steelheads	WCHL	20	14	5	1	1121	56	1	3.00	.900	10	6	4	596	33	0	3.32	.904
2001–02	Utah Grizzlies	AHL	42	17	15	1	2103	103	2	2.94	.908	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Kalamazoo Wings	UHL	54	21	25	5	3084	175	1	3.40	.896	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL	2	1	0	0	77	3	0	2.34	.893	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Kalamazoo Wings	UHL	54	34	13	6	3200	122	8	2.29	.913	5	2	3	308	12	1	2.33	.919
2004–05	Kalamazoo Wings	UHL	54	33	16	5	3227	132	2	2.45	.907	3	0	3	157	11	0	4.19	.866
2005–06	Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk	RSL	16	5	4	3	850	29	2	2.05	.909	5	2	3	298	11	0	2.21	.909
2006–07	Traktor Chelyabinsk	RSL	11	2	6	2	646	31	0	2.88	.898	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Flint Generals	IHL	14	9	3	2	799	33	1	2.48	.927	5	1	4	318	19	0	3.59	.894
2008–09	Flint Generals	IHL	51	15	29	6	2927	213	1	4.36	.882	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
RSL totals			27	7	10	5	1496	60	2	2.40	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Awards and honors

Award	Year
CCHA All-Tournament Team	1996–97	^[4]
All-CCHA First Team	1997–98	^[5]
AHCA East First Team All-American	1997–98	^[6]

References

^ "Michigan State Spartans 2018-19 ice hockey media guide" (PDF). Michigan State Spartans. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
^ "2012-13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
^ "Chad Alban". NHLBackups.com. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
^ "2012-13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
^ "All-CCHA Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved 2013-07-27.
^ "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.

External links

Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Brendan Morrison	CCHA Player of the Year 1997–98	Succeeded by Mike York

[1] "Michigan State Spartans 2018-19 ice hockey media guide" (PDF). Michigan State Spartans. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2020.

[2] "2012-13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved 2014-04-23.

[3] "Chad Alban". NHLBackups.com. Retrieved April 19, 2020.

[media-4] "2012-13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved 2014-04-23.

[CHHA-5] "All-CCHA Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved 2013-07-27.

[ncaa-6] "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

v t e Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey
Formerly the Michigan Agricultural College Aggies and Michigan State Staters
Playing venues	Demonstration Hall (1949–1974) Munn Ice Arena (1974–present)
Head coaches	John Kobs (1924–1930) Harold Paulsen (1949–1951) Amo Bessone (1951–1979) Ron Mason (1979–2002) Rick Comley (2002–2011) Tom Anastos (2011–2017) Danton Cole (2017–2022) Adam Nightingale (2022–present)
Seasons	1921–22 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Conference affiliations	WCHA (1951–1958, 1959–1981) CCHA (1981–2013) Big Ten (1958–1981, 2013–present)
Rivalries	Michigan
Culture & lore	Great Lakes Invitational Cold War The Big Chill at the Big House
All-time leaders	Statistical leaders Tom Ross (324 Points) Tom Ross (138 Goals) Chad Alban (88 Wins)
National championships	1966 1986 2007
Frozen Four appearances	1959 1966 1967 1984 1986 1987 1989 1992 1999 2001 2007
NCAA Tournament appearances	1959 1966 1967 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2004 2006 2007 2008 2012 2024
Conference Tournament titles	CCHA: 1982 1983 1984 1985 1987 1989 1990 1998 2000 2001 2006 Big Ten: 2024
Hobey Baker winners	Kip Miller (1990) Ryan Miller (2001)
Michigan State University East Lansing, MI