Brett Lebda (born January 15, 1982 in Buffalo Grove,
Illinois) is a professional ice hockey defenceman
who currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings of the
NHL.
Lebda played collegiately at the University of Notre
Dame in the CCHA conference. As a freshman in
2000–01, Lebda set a school record with 109 penalty
minutes and led all CCHA first-year defensemen in
scoring with 26 points (7–19–26), earning CCHA
All-Rookie Team honors. He played 152 games during
his four years at Notre Dame, tying for fourth on
the school’s all-time list. The only four games
Lebda missed as a collegian came during a stint with
the U.S. Junior National Team during his sophomore
season, when he scored two goals and helped his
country to a fifth-place finish at the 2002 World
Junior Championships in the Czech Republic. In his
senior season, Lebda was named a Second Team
All-CCHA performer and finalist for the league’s top
offensive defenceman award after posting 24 points
(6–18–24) in 39 games and helping lead the Fighting
Irish to their first-ever NCAA tournament
appearance, a 5–2 loss to Minnesota.
After the conclusion of his senior season, the Grand
Rapids Griffins signed Lebda to an amateur tryout
for the remainder of their 2003–04 season and
playoffs. Lebda then signed a multi-year contract
with the Detroit Red Wings on July 21, 2004. In his
first professional season, Lebda spent the entire
year with Detroit's AHL affiliate, the Griffins. One
of two players to appear in all 80 games for Grand
Rapids during the 2004–05 season, Lebda finished his
rookie campaign with 12 points.
Lebda made his NHL debut with Detroit on October 5,
2005, scoring his first NHL goal against Patrick
Lalime midway through the Red Wings’ 5–1 win over
St. Louis. Lebda signed a four-year contract with
Detroit during the 2006 offseason.
