BUFFALO — The Buffalo Sabres signed left wing Mathieu Darche to a one-year, two-way contract, Tuesday. The unrestricted free agent, a product of the McGill University Redmen, played 73 games last season for the Tampa Bay Lightning where he scored seven goals and added 15 assists.

The 31-year-old native of St. Laurent, Que., has played 101 games in the National Hockey League and has an 8-16-24 career record with 26 penalty minutes.

"I figured that's where I'll have a good chance," Darche said of the Sabres in an interview with Syracuse Post-Standard reporter Lindsay Kramer. "(Head coach) Lindy Ruff is a lot like John Tortorella. You get what you deserve. I decided the fit was good in Buffalo, and I liked the talk I had with (general manager) Darcy Regier."

Darche, who's brother Jean-Philippe plays for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, graduated with a commerce degree in 2000 after four seasons with the Redmen and became the ninth player out of McGill (and the 154th from a Canadian university hockey team) to make the NHL. He signed his first NHL contract as a free agent with Columbus on May 8, 2000 and also played with Nashville and San Jose.

FORMER McGILL PLAYERS IN THE NHL
1917-19 Bert Lindsay (goaltender; Montreal Wanderers and Toronto Arenas)
1926-28 Lester Patrick (defenceman; New York; also coached from 1926-39)
1933-39 *Russ Blinco (forward; Montreal Maroons and Chicago Blackhawks)
1934-35 Nels Crutchfield (defenceman; Montreal Canadiens)
1934-37 Jack McGill (left wing; Montreal Canadiens)
1946-58 Johnny Peirson (forward; Boston)
1948-54 *Jack Gelineau (goaltender; Boston & Chicago)
1950-53 Reggie Sinclair (right wing; New York & Detroit)
2000-04 Mathieu Darche (left wing; Columbus)

*voted NHL Rookie of the Year

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Dept. of Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
475 Pine Avenue W.,
Montreal, QC H2W 1S4
CANADA
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
514-398-1956 (Fax)
www.athletics.mcgill.ca