Richard Matvichuk
Encyclopedia
Richard Matvichuk is a former NHL
defenceman. He played 14 seasons with the Minnesota North Stars
/Dallas Stars
, and the New Jersey Devils
.
Although he was born in Edmonton, Richard was raised in the nearby city of Fort Saskatchewan. Matvichuk was drafted eighth overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
by the Minnesota North Stars, and made the transition, along with several other players, including Mike Modano
and Derian Hatcher
, to the franchise's move to Dallas
, and played 733 regular season games as a Dallas Star
. Matvichuk played 12 years for the Stars, scoring 38 goals and 129 assists, although a rather low average of penalty minutes, when compared with his physical style of play. Matvichuk was also a part of the 1999 Stanley Cup
winning team which brought Dallas their first championship trophy. He became a free agent
in the 2004 NHL off season. He was later signed by the New Jersey Devils, making a similar Stars to Devils transition as Jamie Langenbrunner
and Joe Nieuwendyk
. He missed all but the last game of the 2006–07 season after having back surgery. He was released by the Columbus Blue Jackets
during the 2008 preseason, when he was there on a tryout basis.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
defenceman. He played 14 seasons with the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
/Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
, and the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Although he was born in Edmonton, Richard was raised in the nearby city of Fort Saskatchewan. Matvichuk was drafted eighth overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
1991 NHL Entry Draft
The 1991 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 22 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. A total of 264 players were drafted. The draft was famous for the controversy surrounding star first overall draft pick, touted by some observers to be The Next One, Eric Lindros, who was drafted by the...
by the Minnesota North Stars, and made the transition, along with several other players, including Mike Modano
Mike Modano
Michael Thomas Modano, Jr. is a retired American professional ice hockey player, who most notably played for the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise. He is the all-time goal-scoring and points leader amongst American-born players in the NHL, as well as the last active player in the NHL...
and Derian Hatcher
Derian Hatcher
Derian Hatcher is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers...
, to the franchise's move to Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, and played 733 regular season games as a Dallas Star
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
. Matvichuk played 12 years for the Stars, scoring 38 goals and 129 assists, although a rather low average of penalty minutes, when compared with his physical style of play. Matvichuk was also a part of the 1999 Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
winning team which brought Dallas their first championship trophy. He became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in the 2004 NHL off season. He was later signed by the New Jersey Devils, making a similar Stars to Devils transition as Jamie Langenbrunner
Jamie Langenbrunner
James Craig Langenbrunner is an American professional ice hockey player. He's an alternate captain of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League . He was the captain of the 2010 United States Olympic Team...
and Joe Nieuwendyk
Joe Nieuwendyk
Joseph Nieuwendyk is the general manager of the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League and a retired Canadian ice hockey player...
. He missed all but the last game of the 2006–07 season after having back surgery. He was released by the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
during the 2008 preseason, when he was there on a tryout basis.