Chad Alban was a standout goaltender for Michigan State University from 1994 to 1998, where he set multiple school records. In his senior season, he posted a 1.57 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage, both of which were school records at the time and led the nation. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player for the third consecutive year and was a Hobey Baker Award runner-up to Chris Drury in 1998. During his time at Michigan State, Alban also became the fourth college goaltender to be credited with a goal, and the first to actually shoot the puck into the empty net. He finished his career as Michigan State’s all-time wins leader for a goaltender.

After his collegiate career, Chad Alban was signed by the Dallas Stars as a free agent. While he spent most of his professional time in the minor leagues with the Utah Grizzlies, he was called up to the NHL twice to serve as a backup goaltender but never saw any game action. Alban later played for the Kalamazoo Wings and the Flint Generals in the minor leagues and also spent two seasons playing in the Russian Super League before retiring in 2009.