Alexander Sulzer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexander Sulzer
Sulzer with the Rochester Americans in 2013
Born	(1984-05-30) May 30, 1984 (age 41) Kaufbeuren, West Germany
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Hamburg Freezers Düsseldorfer EG Nashville Predators Florida Panthers Vancouver Canucks ERC Ingolstadt Buffalo Sabres Kölner Haie
National team	Germany
NHL Draft	92nd overall, 2003 Nashville Predators
Playing career	2000–2019

Alexander Sulzer (born May 30, 1984) is a German former professional ice hockey player. He played as a defenceman, which is a player who helps protect their team's goal. Alexander played in top leagues like the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in Germany and the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America.

Alexander's Hockey Journey

Alexander Sulzer was born in Kaufbeuren, West Germany. He started playing hockey at a young age in his hometown. When he was just 16, he began playing for the men's team of ESV Kaufbeuren in a lower league.

Moving Up in Germany

A couple of years later, Alexander started playing for two teams at once. He played for ESV Kaufbeuren in the second-tier league and also for the Hamburg Freezers in the top German league, the DEL. This was a special arrangement to help young players get experience.

In 2003, something big happened for Alexander. He was chosen by the Nashville Predators in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. This draft is where NHL teams pick young players from around the world. Alexander was the 92nd player picked overall.

After being drafted, Alexander stayed in Germany for a few more years. He joined the DEG Metro Stars (now Düsseldorfer EG) in the DEL. He played four seasons with them, showing off his skills. In the 2005–06 season, he had his best year in the DEL, scoring 18 points. He also helped his team reach the playoff finals that year.

Playing in North America

On June 1, 2007, Alexander signed a contract with the Nashville Predators. He moved to North America to play in their system. He spent most of his time with their minor league team, the Milwaukee Admirals, in the American Hockey League (AHL). The AHL is a league where players develop their skills hoping to make it to the NHL.

Alexander played well in the AHL. In the 2008–09 season, he got to play his first two games in the NHL for the Predators. He became a more regular player for the Predators in the 2009–10 season.

On January 23, 2011, Alexander scored his very first NHL goal! A month later, he was traded to the Florida Panthers. He finished that season playing for both the Predators and the Panthers.

New Teams and Challenges

In July 2011, Alexander signed with the Vancouver Canucks. He made the team but didn't play right away. Later that season, he was traded again, this time to the Buffalo Sabres. He joined the Sabres along with another player, Cody Hodgson.

The Buffalo Sabres liked Alexander's play. In May 2012, they signed him to another contract. The team's general manager said Alexander played very well and showed great calm on the ice. He was good at stopping opponents and also at making plays to help his team score.

During the 2013–14 season, Alexander split his time between the Sabres and their AHL team, the Rochester Americans. Sadly, he got a concussion in March 2014, which meant he couldn't play for the rest of that season.

Return to Germany and Retirement

After his time in North America, Alexander signed a five-year contract with Kölner Haie (Cologne Sharks) in Germany in 2014. He played several seasons there.

When his contract ended, Alexander decided to return to his former team, Düsseldorfer EG, in 2019. However, before the season started, Alexander had a health issue. Doctors found a non-cancerous growth near his neck. He had surgery to remove it in August 2019. Because of this, Alexander decided to end his 19-year professional hockey career. He officially announced his retirement on September 4, 2020.

Playing for Germany

Alexander Sulzer also proudly represented his home country, Germany, in many international tournaments. He played for the German national team in the IIHF World Championships in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2010. He also played in the Winter Olympics twice, in Turin in 2006 and Vancouver in 2010.

Images for kids

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  Sulzer playing for the Buffalo Sabres in 2013

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  Sulzer in 2023