Pioneer Athlete Spotlight on Michael Albert of Clayton
Grade: Senior
School: US Performance Academy
Team: Olds Grizzly’s
Sport: Ice Hockey
CLAYTON, CA (Dec. 23, 2024) — When Michael Albert was attending Mt. Diablo Elementary and Diablo View Middle School and was swimming for the Dana Hills Swim Team and playing on Clayton Valley Little League teams, neither he nor his family could have envisioned how the next four years would play out.
Now a high school senior, Albert is finishing his senior year through United States Performance Academy, which says it is “the online school for elite athletes.” And he’s not doing this course work from his Clayton family home. Instead, he is 1344 miles away playing semi-pro hockey in the Alberta Junior Hockey League as a rookie for the Olds Grizzly’s.
Albert began skating at four years old with older brother Jim at Dublin Iceland. His talent shown as he progressed in age and hockey levels. By the time high school rolled around his family enrolled him at St. Mary’s High School in Stockton so he could play for coach Domenic Pittis, former development coach for the NHL Calgary Flames and Hockey Canada. For three years he commuted to Stockton and racked up achievements and laurels on the ice. He played for the San Jose Jr. Sharks AAA program from 2018-2021 and for both the Sharks and St. Mary’s his freshman year due to Covid.
As a junior he was the No. 1 ranked California high school ice hockey player and was All-Star MVP of the San Jose Sharks NorCal High School Hockey League. Before his senior year Albert signed to play Canadian Junior-A Hockey in the Alberta Junior Hockey League for the Olds Grizzly’s.
The forward is hoping this experience and exposure will lead to an NCAA Division I college program and eventually professional hockey.
A recent scouting report said, “Although a bit undersized, Albert is an effective grinder who holds his own against older, physically imposing competition. When defending, Albert gives the opposition little room to operate. Stays tight on his man and doesn’t go chasing the puck. Offensively, Albert finds ways to contribute and keep the pace of the game flowing…he’s shown he can bury it.”
The Pioneer congratulates Michael and thanks to Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades at Family Vision Care Optometry. laceyandruzicka.com.
Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or a great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.
Jay Bedecarré
Jay Bedecarré is a long-time resident and writer in Concord and Clayton. He began his newspaper writing career while still a senior at Mt. Diablo High School and he has been part of The Pioneer since its inception in 2003. Jay also operates Bay Area Festivals, presenting events around the San Francisco Bay Area including Bay Area KidFest annually in Downtown Concord.