Matt Duchene
| Matt Duchene | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Born |
January 16, 1991 Haliburton, ON, CAN | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team | Colorado Avalanche | ||
| NHL draft |
3rd overall, 2009 Colorado Avalanche | ||
| Playing career | 2009–present | ||
Matthew Duchene (born January 16, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Avalanche. He was drafted third overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Playing career
Duchene started playing junior of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2007–08 and recorded 30 goals and 50 points in his rookie campaign. The following season, he improved to 79 points in 57 games, then added 26 points in the post-season, helping the Battalion to the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals, where they were defeated by eventual Memorial Cup champions, the Windsor Spitfires.
Going into the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Duchene was ranked second overall among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, behind just John Tavares.[1] Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman was also considered a strong candidate with Tavares for the first overall selection. However, Duchene's well-rounded, two-way game garnered him attention for the top pick, as well.[2] After Tavares and Hedman were picked first and second, Duchene was selected third overall by the Colorado Avalanche. Growing up as an Avalanche fan,[3] Duchene quickly became a fan favourite after video footage showed him pumping his fist after Hedman was selected second overall to the Tampa Bay Lightning, sealing his fate as an Avalanche draftee.[4] Having played alongside Vancouver Canucks prospect Cody Hodgson, who had been selected tenth overall the previous year, in Brampton, Duchene sought draft advice from him over the course of the season.[2] Duchene has drawn comparisons to such retired NHLers as Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic, as well as current star Mike Richards.[5]
Duchene notched his first career NHL point in his Avalanche debut on October 1, 2009, against the San Jose Sharks with an assist on a powerplay goal by defenceman John-Michael Liles.[6] His first goal came later that month on October 17 against Chris Osgood in a 4–3 shootout win against the Detroit Red Wings. It was announced the next day that Duchene would spend the entire season with the Avalanche.[7]
With high expectations for the rookie first round draft pick, after 27 games, Duchene started the season with identical statistics as did the previous year's first overall pick, Steven Stamkos in his rookie season after 27 games. On November 20, 2009, the Avs' 28th game of the season, he faced Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning where he compiled his first two goal game of his career in a 3-0 shutout Avalanche victory in Tampa, Florida. The very next game, against the Florida Panthers on December 2, 2009, Duchene tallied his second two goal game, and first three point game of his career with two goals against Florida's Scott Clemmensen, and an assist on a goal by Chris Stewart. The NHL selected Duchene as the rookie of the month for December 2009, scoring five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 14 games.
International play
Duchene made his international debut at the 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He scored 10 points in 6 games to help Team Ontario to a gold medal. The same year, he was named to Team Canada's under-18 team for the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships in April and 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August and won two more golds at those tournaments. Playing in his second major junior season, Duchene took part in Team Canada's junior camp for the 2009 World Junior Championships, but was cut.[2]
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2007–08 | Brampton Battalion | OHL | 64 | 30 | 20 | 50 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | ||
| 2008–09 | Brampton Battalion | OHL | 57 | 31 | 48 | 79 | 42 | 21 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 21 | ||
| OHL totals | 121 | 61 | 68 | 129 | 64 | 26 | 15 | 13 | 28 | 31 | ||||
References
- ^ "Tavares, Hedman top final draft lists". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ a b c Pope, Chris (June 24, 2009). "Matt Duchene: Flirting with first". The Good Point.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Dater, Adrian (June 23, 2009). "Duchene expected for Avs' No. 3 pick". Denver Post.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Meet The Rookies: Matt Duchene". Mile High Hockey. September 8, 2009.
- ^ Logan, Greg (May 16, 2009). "Which option will Islanders' choose for NHL draft". Newsday.
- ^ "Battalion connection". Brampton Guardian. 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Avs rookie Matt Duchene scores career first goal to help beat Detroit". Denver Post. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help)
External links
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