Mark Alt

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Mark Alt

| image = Mark Alt Adirondack (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Alt with the Adirondack Phantoms in 2013

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|10|18}}

| birth_place = Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 201

| position = Defense

| shoots = Right

| league =

| team = Free Agent

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league =

| former_teams = Philadelphia Flyers
Colorado Avalanche
Los Angeles Kings
Straubing Tigers

| draft = 53rd overall

| draft_year = 2010

| draft_team = Carolina Hurricanes

| career_start = 2013

}}

Mark Alt (born October 18, 1991https://www.nhl.com/player/mark-alt-8475729) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He is the son of former Kansas City Chiefs player John Alt and older brother of Los Angeles Chargers player Joe Alt.

Early life

Alt was a two sport star at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in Minnesota. Having begun playing hockey at the age of 5, Alt was later part of the team that qualified for the 2009 Minnesota high school hockey tournament.{{cite web| url = https://www.twincities.com/2010/11/17/cretin-derham-halls-mark-alt-sticks-to-hockey-with-minnesota-gophers/ | title = Cretin-Derham Hall's Mark Alt sticks to hockey with Minnesota Gophers | publisher = TwinCities.com | date = 2010-11-17 | accessdate = 2010-11-17}} He was earlier drafted 2nd overall in the 2007 Futures United States Hockey League draft by the Chicago Steel, however elected to continue playing exclusively with Cretin-Derham Hall and was a Finalist for the 2010 Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award.{{cite web| url = http://wild.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=517259 | publisher = Minnesota Wild | date = 2010-04-01 | accessdate = 2010-04-01 | title = Mr. Hockey Finalists announced}}

On the football field, Alt played quarterback for the 2009 Minnesota state football championship team, throwing 26 touchdowns and running for 6. He was offered football scholarships to the University of Iowa, University of Akron and University of Kansas before ultimately opting against his father's advise to pursue a hockey career in committing to the University of Minnesota under the guidance of head coach Don Lucia.{{cite web| url = http://www.mndaily.com/article/2011/10/recruited-play-football-iowa-alt-chose-gophers-hockey | title = Recruited to play football for Iowa, Alt chose Gophers Hockey | publisher = mndaily.com | date = 2011-10-02 | accessdate = 2011-10-02}}

Playing career

=Amateur=

Alt was selected 53rd overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes.{{cite web| url = http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/draftstats.htm?round=2&year=2010 | title = Hurricanes 2010 draft choices | publisher = Carolina Hurricanes | date = 2010-07-01 | accessdate = 2010-07-01}} He joined the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the 2010–11 season. After missing the first game of the season, he participated in 35 consecutive games.{{cite web | url = http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/alt_mark00.html | title = Mark Alt Gophers player profile | publisher = Golden Gophers | date = 2014-02-03 | accessdate = 2014-02-03 | archive-date = 2015-03-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150326190410/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/alt_mark00.html | url-status = dead }} His 10 points (two goals, eight assists) ranked fourth among Gophers defenders in points. He played in his first NCAA game on October 9, 2010, versus Massachusetts. In the same game, he logged his first career NCAA point, an assist on the game-winning goal. January 15, 2011, would mark the first NCAA goal of his career, as he scored versus divisional rival North Dakota.

Alt participated in the 2010 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, New York.{{cite web| url = http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=531921 | title = 9 returnees head U.S. 2011 Junior Evaluation camp | publisher = National Hockey League | date = 2010-06-17 | accessdate = 2014-03-05}} Focused on sharpening his defensive shutdown ability, Alt took on a leadership role as a sophomore in the 2011–12 season, while increasing his points totals with 5 goals and 22 points in 43 games.

In his junior season in 2012–13, Alt fully transitioned to a shutdown defense role, recording just 7 assists in 39 games for the Gophers. During the campaign, Alt's NHL rights were traded by the Hurricanes to the Philadelphia Flyers on January 13, 2013, along with Brian Boucher, for Luke Pither.{{cite web|title=Canes Acquire Pither from Flyers for Boucher, Alt|url=http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=650126|publisher=Carolina Hurricanes|date=January 13, 2013|accessdate=April 10, 2013}} For a second consecutive year he was selected to the WCHA All-Academic Team with a 4.0 grade point average.

=Professional=

==Philadelphia Flyers==

After his third season of collegiate hockey with the Golden Gophers, having scored 39 points in 117 collegiate games, Alt signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on April 7, 2013.{{cite web|title=Flyers ink Alt |url=http://flyers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=64095|publisher=Philadelphia Flyers|date=April 7, 2013|accessdate=April 10, 2013}} He immediately joined the Flyers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms, on an amateur try-out contract to finish the 2012–13 regular season. Appearing in 6 games with the Phantoms, Alt earned praise from veteran NHL player and blueline partner Andreas Lilja.{{cite web|url = https://www.nj.com/flyers/index.ssf/2014/05/flyers_prospects_mark_alt_definitely_a_prospect_after_passing_on_chance_to_play_qb_at_iowa.html | title = Flyers prospects: Mark Alt 'definitely a prospect' after passing on chance to play QB at Iowa | publisher = nj.com | date = 2014-05-06 | accessdate = 2014-05-06}}

In his first full professional season, Alt was reassigned to continue with the Adirondack Phantoms for the duration of the 2013–14 campaign. He tied for second on the club amongst defenseman with 22 assists and 26 points in 75 games. In the 2014–15 season, Alt was again reassigned to the AHL by the Flyers, joining the relocated Lehigh Valley Phantoms for their inaugural season. Limited to just 44 games due to injury, Alt recorded 2 goals and 10 points. Continuing his upward development the Flyers, Alt was recalled on emergency, and made his NHL debut, playing 9:25 with Philadelphia in a 3-2 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks on March 28, 2015.{{Cite web | url = https://sports.yahoo.com/mark-alt-just-fine-being-232014908.html | title = Mark Alt just fine with being Flyers emergency recall | publisher = Yahoo! Sports | date = 2017-10-31 | accessdate = 2017-10-31 | archive-date = 2022-08-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220813171517/https://sports.yahoo.com/mark-alt-just-fine-being-232014908.html | url-status = dead }}

In the final year of his entry-level contract, Alt remained exclusively in the AHL with the Phantoms in the 2015–16 season, appearing in a further 72 games paired alongside Samuel Morin in a shutdown role, collecting 4 goals and 19 points.{{cite web| url = http://highlandparkhockey.blogspot.com/2016/01/morin-learning-to-keep-it-simple.html | title = Morin learning to keep it simple | publisher = highlandparkhockey.com | date = 2016-01-02 | accessdate = 2017-02-03}} On June 26, 2016, he agreed to a one-year, two-way contract to remain with the Flyers.{{Cite web| url = https://www.broadstreethockey.com/2016/6/26/12033370/philadelphia-flyers-mark-alt-phantoms-contract-extension | title = Flyers re-sign Mark Alt to one-year, two-way deal | publisher = broadstreethockey.com | date = 2016-06-26 | accessdate = 2016-06-26}}

He was assigned to return for his fourth season in the AHL in 2016–17. He was limited to just 40 games with injury, recording 1 goal and 11 points as the Phantoms reached the postseason for the first time in franchise history. Despite his reduced playing time, he placed second on the club in plus-minus (+8). As an impending restricted free agent, Alt was re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract to return for his sixth season within the Flyers organization on June 27, 2017.{{cite web| url = http://www.phantomshockey.com/flyers-re-sign-defenseman-mark-alt-one-year-contract/ | title = Flyers re-sign defenseman Mark Alt to one-year contract | publisher = Lehigh Valley Phantoms | date = 2017-06-27 | accessdate = 2017-06-27}}

In preparation for the 2017–18 season, Alt was among the last cuts at the Flyers training camp and was assigned to Lehigh Valley. As the Phantoms' best defenseman to start the year, Alt returned to the NHL for the first time in three seasons, as he was again used on an emergency basis in a 4-3 overtime defeat to the Arizona Coyotes on October 31, 2017.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/ari-vs-phi/2017/10/30/2017020171/recap | title = Coyotes defeat Flyers in OT for first win | publisher = National Hockey League | date = 2017-10-31 | access-date = 2017-10-31}} He was later officially recalled and featured in 7 more games before he was returned to the Phantoms on December 30, 2017. Alt posted 10 points in 23 games in the AHL before receiving his third recall to Flyers on January 22, 2018.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/otf-flyers-recall-alt-loan-sanheim-to-phantoms--philadelphia-flyers/c-295169102 | title = Flyers recall Alt, loan Sanheim to Phantoms | publisher = Philadelphia Flyers | date = 2018-02-22 | accessdate = 2018-02-22}}

==Colorado Avalanche==

As the Flyers' reserve depth defenseman, Alt was a frequent healthy scratch and failed to feature in a game in over a month before he was placed on waivers in order to return to the AHL. On February 26, 2018, Alt was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Avalanche.{{cite web|title=Avalanche Claims Alt From Flyers|url=https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/mark-alt-claimed-on-waivers/c-296376196|website= Colorado Avalanche | accessdate= 2018-02-26|date=2018-02-26}} With the Avalanche vying for a playoff position, he assumed the same role with his new club and remained in the press box until making his belated debut with Colorado in a 2-1 shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on March 24, 2018.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-colorado-avalanche-game-recap/c-297280368 | title = Golden Knights fail to clinch, lose to Avalanche in Shootout | publisher = National Hockey League | date = 2018-03-24 | accessdate = 2018-03-24}} He played in 7 more games with the Avalanche to end the regular season and remained a healthy scratch in their first-round defeat to the Nashville Predators in the playoffs.

On May 11, 2018, Alt gave up his impending free agent status in signing a two-year, two-way extension with the Avalanche.{{Cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/avalanche-signs-mark-alt/c-298551072?tid=282286754 | title = Avalanche signs Mark Alt | publisher = Colorado Avalanche | date = 2018-05-11 | accessdate = 2018-05-11}} After attending his first training camp with Colorado, Alt was among the last cuts prior to the 2018–19 season. He was reassigned to the Colorado Eagles of the AHL and was selected as team captain on October 4, 2018.{{Cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/mark-alt-named-captain-of-ahl-eagles/c-300686662 | title = Eagles name Mark Alt captain | publisher = Colorado Avalanche | date = 2018-10-04 | accessdate = 2018-10-04}}

==Los Angeles Kings==

Following two seasons as the Eagles' captain, Alt left the Avalanche organization as a free agent at the conclusion of his contract. On October 9, 2020, Alt was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/la-kings-sign-defenseman-mark-alt-and-goaltender-troy-grosenick/c-319421804 | title = LA Kings sign defenseman Mark Alt and goaltender Troy Grosenick | publisher = Los Angeles Kings | date = October 11, 2020 | accessdate = October 11, 2020}} In the pandemic delayed {{NHL Year|2020}} season, Alt made a return to the NHL, featuring in 2 games with the Kings before he was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, for the remainder of the campaign. As an alternate captain, Alt appeared in 29 regular season games with the Reign, collecting 2 goals and 7 points.

==Later years==

As a free agent, Alt was unable to attract an NHL contract, opting to continue in the AHL by signing a one-year contract with the San Jose Barracuda, the primary affiliate of the San Jose Sharks, on August 2, 2021.{{cite web| url = http://www.sjbarracuda.com/news/detail/barracuda-sign-former-eagles-captain-mark-alt | title = Barracuda sign former Eagles captain Mark Alt | publisher = San Jose Barracuda | date = August 2, 2021 | accessdate = August 2, 2021}} In the following 2021–22 season, Alt, as an alternate captain, appeared in 46 regular season games with the Barracuda, posting 3 goals and 8 points. On March 28, 2022, Alt was traded to the Rochester Americans in exchange for Mason Jobst.{{cite web| url = https://theahl.com/amerks-barracuda-make-trade | title = Amerks, Barracuda make trade | publisher = American Hockey League | date = March 28, 2022 | accessdate = March 28, 2022}}

As a free agent leading into the 2022–23 season, Alt was belatedly signed to his first contract abroad, joining the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany for the remainder of the season on February 8, 2023.{{cite web| url = https://www.instagram.com/p/CoaW-6at7Bw/ | title = Welcome to Straubing Mark! | publisher = Instagram | author = Straubing Tigers | date = February 8, 2023 | accessdate = February 8, 2023 | language = German}}

Personal life

Alt's father, John, played left tackle in for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played in three Pro Bowls from 1984 to 1996.{{Cite news |url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/sports/college/2020/06/24/otre-dame-sees-potential-in-offensive-tackle-recruiting-target-joe-al/43897835/ |title=Notre Dame sees potential in offensive tackle recruiting target Joe Alt |last=Karels |first=Carter |date=June 24, 2020 |newspaper=South Bend Tribune |access-date=December 18, 2023}} Alt was born in Kansas City, while his father was playing for the Chiefs.

His younger brother, Joe, followed John's steps as a football player, playing offensive tackle. He played college football for Notre Dame, and currently plays for the Los Angeles Chargers.{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles Chargers Sign Joe Alt |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-sign-joe-alt |access-date=June 10, 2024 |date=June 10, 2024 |publisher=Los Angeles Chargers |language=en-US}} Although Mark played football in high school as a quarterback, Joe said Mark pursued hockey because his body type contrasted his brother, suiting him better to hockey.