Alex Foster

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team = Toronto Maple Leafs
league = NHL


image_size = 150px
position = Center
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 200
nickname = Al
nationality = United States
birth_date = Birth date and age|1984|8|26|mf=y
birth_place = Canton, Michigan
career_start = 2006
draft = undrafted

Alexander Dwight Foster (born August 26 1984 in Canton, Michigan) is an American professional ice hockey forward. 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 plays for their minors 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. [citeweb | url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=12632 | title=Dwight Alexander Foster | publisher=Legends of Hockey | accessdate=2008-05-25] His uncle, Wes Jarvis, also played in the NHL for the Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs. [citeweb | url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=13090 | title=Wes Herbert Jarvis | publisher=Legends of Hockey | accessdate=2008-05-25] Foster graduated from Salem High School in 2002.cite web | url=http://bgsufalcons.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/foster_alex00.html | title=Player Bio: Alex Foster | publisher=Bowling Green State University | accessdate=2008-05-24]

Playing career

Junior hockey (2001-2004)

Alex Foster played junior hockey in the USHL for three seasons. He played the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons with the Sioux Falls Stampede, and 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons with the Danville Wings. [cite web | url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=00067715 | title=Alex Foster's profile at hockeydb.com | publisher=hockeyDB.com | accessdate=2008-05-24] In his time with the Wings, he helped lead them to the final four of the USHL playoffs.

Bowling Green Falcons (2004-2006)

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 (2004–2005) he was named CCHA Rookie of the Week on January 9, 2005. [cite web | url=http://bgsufalcons.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/011005aaa.html | title=Alex Foster Named CCHA Rookie of the Week | publisher=Bowling Green State University | accessdate=2008-05-25] He finished the season as the ninth-highest scoring freshman in the conference.

In his sophomore (2005–2006) season, Foster tallied 51 points in 38 games. [cite web | url=http://bgsufalcons.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/stats/2005-2006/2006_teamstats.html#TEAM.IND | title=Bowling Green 2005-2006 Season Statistics | publisher=Bowling Green State University | accessdate=2008-05-25] He was named CCHA Player of the Month for November 2005, [cite web | url=http://bgsufalcons.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/120105aaa.html | title=Foster Named RBC Player of the Month | publisher=Bowling Green State University | accessdate=2008-05-24] Offensive Player of the Week on November 7, 2005 [cite web | url=http://bgsufalcons.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/110705aab.html | title=Alex Foster Named CCHA Offensive Player of the Week | publisher=Bowling Green State University | accessdate=2008-05-24] and was a Hobey Baker Award candidate.

Toronto Marlies (2006)

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. [cite web | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2361019 | title=Inside College Hockey Extra | publisher=ESPN.com | accessdate=2008-05-25] Foster was assigned to Toronto's AHL minors team, the Toronto Marlies the next day.cite web | url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=5541&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs#stats | title=Alex Foster | publisher=TSN.ca | accessdate=2008-05-24] In his rookie (2005–2006) season with the Marlies, Foster scored one goal in eight games. [cite web | url=http://www.torontomarlies.com/team/IndividualStatistics.asp | title=Alex Foster Individual Statistics | publisher=Toronto Marlies | accessdate=2008-05-24] 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. [cite web | url=http://leafs.hockeyanalysis.com/2008/03/17/alex-foster-finally-gets-the-call/ | title=Alex Foster Finally Gets the Call | publisher=Hockeyanalysis.com | accessdate=2008-05-25]

Toronto Maple Leafs (2008)

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.

Awards

*CCHA Rookie of the Week of January 10th-16th, 2005
*CCHA Offensive Player of the Month of November (2005)
*CCHA Offensive Player of the Week
*Single Season Franchise Record (Toronto Marlies) for Shorthanded Goals (5) (2008)
*Toronto Marlies Fan Favourite Award 2008

Career statistics

References

External links

* [http://www.torontomarlies.com/team/player.asp?player_id=73 Foster Bio from Toronto Marlies Official Site]
* [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=5541&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs#stats Foster Bio at TSN.ca]
* [http://bgsufalcons.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/foster_alex00.html Foster Bio from BGSU Falcons Official Site]
*hockeydb|00067715