St. Laurent’s own Mathieu Darche named AHL Player of the Week

The former McGill University captain and MVP from St. Laurent erupted for 10 points on three goals and seven assists in his first four AHL games of the season.

Assigned to Norfolk on November 13 after spending the first six weeks of the season in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the parent Tampa Bay Lightning, Darche made his Admirals debut on Wednesday and assisted on all three Norfolk goals in a 6-3 loss at Hartford. He came back on Friday with a goal and three assists as the Admirals rallied to earn a point for a shootout loss in Springfield.

Darche scored another goal in Providence on Saturday, then finished the road trip with a goal and an assist in Sunday’s 2-1 victory at Lowell. Darche recorded a point on 10 of the Admirals’ 12 goals in the four games. In recognition of his achievement, Darche was presented with an etched crystal award prior to an Admirals home game.

Currently in his first season with the Tampa Bay organization, Darche finished seventh in the AHL in scoring last year, setting career highs with 35 goals, 45 assists and 80 points in 76 games for the Worcester Sharks.

Darche has appeared in 440 career AHL games, registering 165 goals and 187 assists for 352 points. Darche, a 2007 AHL all-star and 2004 Calder Cup champion, also has six points (2-4-6) in 41 career NHL contests, including one goal and three assists in 13 games with the Lightning in 2007-08.

(Source: Earl Zukerman, Communications Officer Dept. of Athletics McGill University)

(Photo: Courtesy)