Alber inks deal with Mavericks

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - The Kansas City Mavericks have added defenseman Patch Alber to the 2017-18 roster.

The Mavericks are the ECHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League and the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League.

Alber played a total of 58 games in Kansas City during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. In that time, he produced 26 points (1g-25a) in addition to a plus-10 rating.

The 28-year-old was traded from the Mavericks to Adirondack on Oct. 21, 2015, just three games into the Mavericks' Brabham Cup-winning season. He went on to set personal highs with his new team, finishing with a then-career-high 30 points, all assists, in 2015-16 before besting that mark with 39 points (3g-36a) last year.

He also got his first Kelly Cup Playoffs experience with Adirondack, a team that reached the postseason in both of his seasons with the Thunder. In 18 postseason games, he has four points (1g-3a) and is a +3.

Prior to joining the Mavericks, the Clifton Park, N.Y. native skated in 84 games for the Elmira Jackals, where he recorded 24 points (6g-18a). The upcoming season will be his fifth in the ECHL.

Alber played his collegiate hockey at Boston College, where he helped the Eagles win two national championships, three conference tournament championships and one Hockey East regular season title.