Alex Biega (ice hockey)
Canadian defenceman who played for five NHL organizations.
Alex Biega (born April 4, 1988) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He spent most of his NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks and also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Nashville Predators organization before retiring in 2022.
Biega played minor hockey in the West Island area of Montreal, appearing in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments in 2001 and 2002. The Rimouski Océanic selected him 11th overall in the 2004 QMJHL Entry Draft, but he opted to attend Salisbury School in Connecticut instead. He then played four seasons at Harvard University, where he was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie team as a freshman, received the John Tudor Memorial Cup as the Crimson’s most valuable player in his junior year, and served as team captain as a senior.
The Buffalo Sabres drafted Biega in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. After graduating, he signed a two-year contract with the Sabres on May 27, 2010. He was assigned to the AHL’s Portland Pirates, making his professional debut on October 9, 2010, and scoring his first professional goal on November 20, 2010, in a 2–1 win over the Worcester Sharks. He played 61 regular-season games and 12 playoff games that season. The following year, with the Sabres’ new AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, he recorded 5 goals and 25 points in 72 games, plus three playoff games.
On July 5, 2013, Biega signed a one-year free-agent contract with the Vancouver Canucks. He spent the 2013–14 season with the AHL’s Utica Comets, appearing in a career-high 73 games and notching 22 points. He re-signed with the Canucks on July 1, 2014, for one year at $600,000. Called up after posting 10 points in 25 games with Utica, he made his NHL debut on February 16, 2015, scoring the game-winning goal in a 3–2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. He finished that season with one goal in seven NHL games and added 3 goals and 19 points in 69 AHL regular-season games, plus four points in 16 playoff games as the Comets reached the Calder Cup final.
Biega began the next season as captain of the Comets. Recalled in mid-December, he earned his first NHL assist on a Jannik Hansen goal in a 5–4 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers on December 20, 2015. On February 2, 2016, he signed a two-year, $1.5 million contract extension.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1988-04-04
- Birth Place
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Height Ft
- 5
- Height In
- 11
- Weight Lb
- 194
- Position
- Defence
- Shoots
- Right
- Played For
- Vancouver Canucks / Detroit Red Wings / Toronto Maple Leafs
- Draft
- 147th overall
- Draft Year
- 2006
- Draft Team
- Buffalo Sabres
- Career Start
- 2010
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Biega played youth hockey in the 2001 and 2002 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a West Island, Montreal minor team. He was drafted 11th overall by Rimouski Océanic in the 2004 QMJHL Entry Draft but chose instead to attend Salisbury School in Connecticut. He then played four seasons at Harvard University, where he was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie team as a freshman, awarded the John Tudor Memorial Cup as the Crimson's most valuable player in his junior year, and served as team captain in his senior year. His brothers Danny and Michael also played for Harvard, making them the first trio of brothers to do so since 2000.
Professionally, Biega was signed by the Buffalo Sabres in 2010 and spent two seasons in their AHL system. He joined the Vancouver Canucks organization in 2013, making his NHL debut on February 16, 2015, and scoring his first NHL goal—a game-winner—in that same game. He played parts of five seasons with the Canucks, serving as captain of their AHL affiliate Utica Comets. He was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 2019, then signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2021, playing only two games for the team before being traded to the Nashville Predators in March 2022. He announced his retirement on December 19, 2022.
Reader's Guide
Biega's career is notable for his path from a high school and NCAA route to a long professional tenure, including over 140 NHL games. He was a late-round draft pick who carved out a role as a dependable defenceman in the AHL and occasional NHL call-up. His time with the Toronto Maple Leafs was brief—only two games—but he contributed to the organization's AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, before being traded. Off the ice, Biega became involved with the NHLPA's Core Development Program, which assists former players in transitioning after retirement. His legacy includes being part of a rare trio of brothers to play for Harvard University, and his steady presence in the Canucks organization, where he was named captain of the Comets and signed multiple contract extensions.
Did You Know?
- Biega scored his first NHL goal in his debut game on February 16, 2015, and it was the game-winner.
- He and his brothers Danny and Michael are the first trio of brothers to play for Harvard University since 2000.
- Biega was named captain of the Utica Comets, the Vancouver Canucks' AHL affiliate.
- He was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Nashville Predators for future considerations in March 2022.
More in Toronto Maple Leafs Players 1-24
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