McGill duo invited to NHL rookie camps
MONTREAL - Marc-Andre Dorion and Nicholas Therrien, both members of the McGill University Redmen, have been invited to try-out for the National Hockey League's Phoenix Coyotes and St. Louis Blues, respectively.
Dorion, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound defenceman from St. Hubert, Que., will be going to the Phoenix rookie camp, Sept. 10-15, while Therrien, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound rearguard from Chateauguay, Que., received an invitation from St. Louis to participate in the 14th annual NHL Prospects Tournament held in Traverse City, Mich., Sept. 10-14.
It will mark the third tryout at the NHL-level for Dorion, a two-time all-Canadian who attended the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie camp in 2010 and a Dallas Stars rookie camp before enrolling at McGill in 2008. Dorion, a 24-year-old physical education senior who will need just 13 points in his final year to become McGill's all-time top-scoring blueliner, owns a 30-111-141 record in 129 games overall since joining the Redmen in 2008.
Therrien, a key Redmen recruit from the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, played in the QMJHL with both Chicoutimi and Lewiston. The 21-year-old blueliner won the league's Prix d'excellence Guy Lafleur scholarship in June. During his four seasons of major-junior hockey, he tallied 18 goals and 82 points in 185 games, including a 12-32-44 record in 68 contests last season, while serving as team captain of the Sagueneens.
Other recent McGill players to participate in an NHL camp after toiling for the Redmen include Andrew Wright (F, Montreal Canadiens, June 2011), David Urquhart (D, New York Rangers, 2009; Montreal 2010), Mathieu Poitras (G, Anaheim, 2008; Washington, 2005), Greg Davis (F, St. Louis, 2001) and Todd Hanrahan (D, Pittsburgh, 1994).
Nine McGill players have gone on to play in the NHL, including current Montreal Canadiens left-winger Mathieu Darche, who also skated for Columbus in 2000-01 and has had stints in Nashville, San Jose and Tampa Bay.
Other Redmen grads to make the NHL are: Sam Rothschild (LW; Montreal Maroons, NY Americans & Pittsburgh Pirates, 1924-28), Lester Patrick (D; New York Rangers, 1926-28), Russ Blinco (F; Montreal Maroons & Chicago Blackhawks; 1933-39), Nels Crutchfield (F; Montreal Canadiens, 1934-35), Jack McGill (LW; Montreal Canadiens, 1934-37), Johnny Peirson (F; Boston Bruins, 1946-58), Jack Gelineau (G; Boston & Chicago, 1948-54), Reggie Sinclair (RW; New York & Detroit, 1950-53).
Six McGill players have gone on to coach in the NHL, including the aforementioned Lester Patrick (N.Y. Rangers, 1926-39), plus George Burnett (Edmonton, head coach, 1994-95; Anaheim, asst. coach, 1998-99), Mike Babcock (Anaheim, head coach, 2000-02; Detroit, head coach, 2002-present), Jamie Kompon (St. Louis, asst. coach, 1998-05; Los Angeles, asst. coach, 2005-present), Guy Boucher (Tampa Bay, head coach, 2010-present), Martin Raymond (Tampa Bay, asst. coach, 2010-present).
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