Habs sign McGill grad Darche to new contract
(PHOTO COURTESY CLUB DE HOCKEY CANADIEN)
MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens have signed veteran Mathieu Darche, a former star forward with the McGill University Redmen, to a new one-year contract.
The 34-year-old native of St. Laurent, Que., who had career highs in goals (12) and points (26) in 59 games last season, will earn a reported $700,000 US. He made $500,000 last season and was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Darche, who was only assessed five minor penalties during the season, registered 90 shots on net and maintained a +7 plus-minus differential, while averaging 11:16 seconds of ice time per game. He added one goal and an assist in seven playoff games.
“Mathieu is a classy veteran player who displays great leadership and determination, and we strongly believe he can help us achieve our goals in the upcoming season,” said Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier, in a statement released by the club.
The six-foot-one, 207-pound left-winger has scored 25 goals and 35 assists in 189 career NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Canadiens, where he has played the past two seasons.
Darche played four years at McGill before graduating with a commerce degree in 2000. He is the ninth player from McGill to skate in the National Hockey League and one of 159 Canadian university players who have made the lofty leap to that level.
He is the third McGill grad to play for the Canadiens, joining left winger Jack McGill (1934-37) and defenceman Nels Crutchfield (1934-35).
With the Redmen, Darche scored 170 career points, including 78 goals, in 133 games overall and won the CIS scoring title in his senior year. He earned all-Canadian honours, merited Academic All-Canadian status, served as captain, won the Bobby Bell trophy three times as Team MVP and captured the Forbes trophy as McGill male athlete of the year.
He also played one season of varsity football alongside with his brother Jean-Philippe Darche, who went on to play nine years in the National Football League.
Darche, who was McGill's leading scorer twice, has been the top goal-scorer with five different American Hockey League teams. In nine AHL seasons, he posted a 212-231-443 record with 290 PIMs in 552 regular-season contests with Syracuse, Milwaukee, Hershey, Worcester, Norfolk, Portland and Hamilton. In 2003-04, he helped Milwaukee win the Calder Cup league championship.
FORMER McGILL PLAYERS IN THE NHL
Sam Rothschild (left wing; played 1924-28 with Montreal Maroons, NY Americans & Pittsburgh Pirates)
Lester Patrick (defenceman; played 1926-28 with New York Rangers; also coached from 1926-39)
*Russ Blinco (forward; played 1933-39 with Montreal Maroons and Chicago Blackhawks)
Nels Crutchfield (defenceman; played 1934-35 with Montreal Canadiens)
Jack McGill (left wing; played 1934-37 with Montreal Canadiens)
Johnny Peirson (forward; played 1946-58 with Boston Bruins)
*Jack Gelineau (goaltender; played 1948-54 with Boston & Chicago)
Reggie Sinclair (right wing; played 1950-53 with New York & Detroit)
Mathieu Darche (left wing; played 2009-to present with Montreal and 2000-08 with Columbus, Nashville, San Jose, Tampa Bay)
*NHL Rookie of the Year
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
McGill Athletics & Recreation
514-398-7012
earl.zukerman [at] mcgill.ca