#20 – DEFENSEMAN, RICHARD MATVICHUK
Next to the term “lockdown, stay-at-home defenseman” in a hockey fan’s enclyopedia, a picture of Richard Matvichuk should be there. The Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta (and Matvichuk will tell you, it’s not Edmonton, it’s Fort Saskatchewan) native displayed immense dependability and willingness to sacrifice his body no matter what was called from him.
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As a first-round selection to the Minnesota North Stars in 1991, Matvichuk followed the franchise into Dallas in 1993 after a two-goal, three-assist rookie season of 1992-93. In doing such, Matvichuk played with Dallas captain Derian Hatcher on a defense pair in over 450 games, including the majority of the 1998-99 season where the 6’3″ Matvichuk carved his name into the Stanley Cup.
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After 11 seasons with the Dallas Stars, Matvichuk’s statistical numbers read 36 goals and 126 helpers. Richard was never the most offensively-fluent blueliner on the team, but he didn’t need to be; he was a guy that consistency gave it his all in the role he asked to play.
Matvichuk, after two years as assistant coach of the Allen Americans – an ECHL team that plays 27 miles up US75 from Dallas – serves as head coach of the Western Hockey League’s Prince George Cougars.