By Warren Kozireski
Junior defenseman Patch Alber’s name doesn’t show up on the scoresheet very often, but he was a major cog on the blueline as Boston College defeated Ferris State 4-1 to win their fifth overall and third title in five years.
“Each one is different and every one is special; they’re seasons that will live on forever so it’s hard to pick one,” said Alber in the postgame locker room. “I think the adversity we faced this year makes this one a little bit sweeter along with a 19 game winning streak.”
Alber played for two seasons and graduated from Northwood Prep in Lake Placid after leaving the Albany region guiding them to the best record in school history (40-8-0) in 2005-06 earning New York State High School Athletic Association second-team all-star honors.
Two more seasons with the Boston Junior Bruins of the Eastern Junior League followed where he led all defensemen in scoring his final season there with 28 points and a +20 rating.
Then Boston College came calling.
“It was just an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down; it was unbelievable. They seem to like the short guys and I fit right in with that.”
As a freshman, Alber got into the line-up as a regular late playing in 17 games total, but all eight postseason contests with three points including his memorable first collegiate goal against Miami in the Frozen Four semi-final at Detroit.
Last season, he played in 34 games with a pair of goals and seven assists while ranking third among BC defenseman with a +19 rating.
This season he netted one goal with a career high 13 assists to rank third among the d-corps.
“It was an awesome year all around. We look at pressure as something that we can only put on ourselves and whatever is outside the room doesn’t really matter. I was able to play more of a role with this year’s team, but it’s always awesome to win.”
