Mathieu Darche is featured in the first episode of McGill Athletics and Recreation's new podcast, Alma Matters. "I never thought I'd play pro," said the future NHLer. "I came to (McGill) to get an outstanding education." 
  
He did just that, graduating from McGill in 2000 with a commerce degree, majoring in marketing and international business. An extreme rarity, Darche played for both the football and hockey teams, a linebacker and left-winger, playing alongside his brother Jean-Philippe Darche on the football team. 
  
It was with the hockey program that Darche established himself as a star. A three-time OUAA East all-star, Darche served as team captain in his senior year, meriting CIAU first-team all-Canadian status in his final campaign after leading the nation in scoring with a 27-35-62 record in 26 contests. 
  
He tallied 170 career points, including 78 goals, in 133 McGill games overall, including 60 goals and 130 points in 90 regular-season games. 
  
Darche received numerous awards during his collegiate career, including the Guy Lafleur Trophy in 1998-99 as the Quebec university player who best combines hockey with academics and community service. In 1999-00, he was voted OUA hockey player of the year and received the Dr. Randy Gregg Trophy as the CIAU player who best combines hockey with academic prowess and citizenship. He also won the Molson Cup award for most three-star selections with the men's hockey team in 1997-98 and was received the team's Dr. Bobby Bell Trophy three times as most valuable player. 
  
Darche became the 10th player from McGill to skate in the NHL, where he registered 30 goals, 72 points and 58 penalty minutes in 250 regular-season games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. 

 In 2020, Darche won a Stanley Cup ring as director of hockey operations with the Tampa Bay Lightning. 
  
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