By Anna LaCombe
Sharksahl.com Staff

Worcester, Mass. - Throughout the first thirteen games into the Worcester Sharks inaugural season, left winger Mathieu Darche has set the tone for his fellow teammates and for what the Sharks need to sustain throughout the season. The St. Laurent native will go down in Sharks franchise history as recording the first ever Worcester Sharks goal and has not slowed down since!

Growing up in the province of Quebec, Darche had other dreams when entering the prestigious McGill University in Montreal. After turning down a hockey scholarship to UMASS Lowell, Mathieu decided to somewhat follow in his brother Jean-Philippe’s footsteps. A rugged 225 pound linebacker, Mathieu entered McGill on a Football Foundation Bursary Scholarship while J.P. is now in his seventh season with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

When December of his freshman year rolled around, Darche took a spot at left wing for the Redmen and shined for the following four years at University. Finally deciding to forfeit his football scholarship his sophomore year, Mathieu stuck to hockey and was determined to make his position known. Over the course of four seasons he won 36 awards and scored 78 goals and 170 points in 133 games. The big-time scorer left McGill a leaner 206 pounds and has never looked back since.

Mathieu Darche is the ninth graduate from McGill to enter the NHL. He joined Columbus in 2000 and played nine games with the Blue Jackets before making his AHL debut with Syracuse. He finished the 2000-01 season first in scoring among rookies with the Crunch. Being bounced around from team to team Darche has found a place on the roster of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets. However, most of his ice time has been recorded in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, Milwaukee Admirals, Hershey Bears and now the Worcester Sharks.

In the 2004-05 NHL lockout season Darche went overseas to play with Duisburg of the German Elite Hockey League. When returning from Europe, San Jose saw an excellent two-way veteran who they scooped up and added to help lead a young developing lineup in Worcester.

Mathieu has already lit up the stars in Worcester finding himself atop the AHL leader board in goals with 14. He would be the first to admit that his scoring success has not been accomplished alone. He has been working alongside his linemates and they have all produced an aura of chemistry that has helped the Sharks success so far into the season!

Worcester Massachusetts is just happy to have AHL hockey back. With veterans in the Sharks lineup such as Darche they can only hope to be welcoming a Calder Cup to Worcester in the near future!