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Marquardt's NHL Dream Still Alive

Matt Marquardt may be looking for another opportunity next fall as his contract with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers expired this off-season. PHOTO COURTESY WWW.GOCHECKERS.COM.

Matt Marquardt may be looking for another opportunity next fall as his contract with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers expired this off-season. PHOTO COURTESY WWW.GOCHECKERS.COM.

Matt Marquardt isn’t used to watching playoff hockey from his home in North Bay.

But after winning only one game in their last seven, Marquardt and his team, the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League, were eliminated from post-season contention, marking just the second time in his pro career he hasn’t played in the post-season.

And now, with a well-rounded CV and a storied pro hockey career at just 26 years-old, Marquardt may find himself looking for a new place to play come September.

Thanks in large part to the developmental nature of the AHL, Marquardt’s acclaimed leadership and energizing role on the squad might not fit into the Checkers’ puzzle moving forward.

“It’s tough, but at the same time hockey is a business now. The sooner you understand that, the sooner it becomes a little easier to deal with when the times get tough,” Marquardt explained.  “It’s tough having to deal with the uncertainty, but like I do during the hockey season, I just try staying level-headed and keep a good attitude about it. I feel like I’ve done a lot over the course of my career and I feel like I’ve got a good résumé.”

Of the 18 skaters an AHL team dresses for a game, 13 must be what the league defines as ‘development players’; 12 of them having played less than 260 pro games and one of them having played less than 320 pro games. Marquardt qualifies for the latter, but won’t for much longer, leaving only five spots he could fill, and there’s plenty of competition.

In his last regular season tilt, Marquardt reached the 400 professional games-played milestone, 268 of which have been played in the AHL. Since turning pro, the towering 6’ 3”, 239-pound forward boasts an AHL stat line of 26 goals, 39 assists and 156 penalty minutes.

“They said I did a really good job and that I was very coachable,” Marquardt explained of his season debrief with the Checkers. “It’s just one of those things where right now they couldn’t talk about a future with me as part of the plans because they don’t know what’s happening.

“It’s tough every year dealing with one-year contracts.”

Even though his offensive upside has been shown in the ECHL, he was asked to step into a new role with the Checkers. He often found himself sitting out or seeing less ice time in favour of the players with NHL contracts, who are sometimes entitled to a certain amount of game action.

Even with the decreased ice time and two-way emphasis of his role, Marquardt put up six goals, seven assists and a pro-career high 64 penalty minutes in 61 games.

“He came up and earned himself the opportunity just by being an energy guy,” said Jeff Daniels, the Checkers’ head coach.

“He works hard, has a big body, is strong on the puck and he showed some skill. This year, that was basically his role: an energy guy who’s strong with the puck and in on the fore-check; a lot of the little things that you need to do to stay at that level.”

Instead of looking at the job as a step back or demotion, Marquardt said he chose to extract the positives and accepted the new role as another attribute he can add to his already comprehensive experience in nearly every imaginable role in the minor-pro leagues.

“I take a lot of pride in the role I was given and it’s kind of been my identity throughout my career; I’m a versatile player, so whatever role I’m given I like to fulfill to the best of my ability,” said Marquardt. “That’s what’s fun about playing pro hockey; you can always learn something and you can always get better every day.”

And while remaining in the AHL might prove to be a challenge in itself, Marquardt is quick to reassure those wondering that his ultimate goal remains to play his first NHL game. Now as a free agent, almost 8 years after the Columbus Blue Jackets called his name in the seventh round of NHL draft, Marquardt insists the dream is still alive and well as he continues to chase that elusive first game on the big stage.

“I’m always gunning to make the NHL…nothing’s ever come easy for me but nothing’s been conventional either; I’ve never taken the golden-brick road, I’ve always kind of made my own way,” said Marquardt. “I think that’s why I keep such a positive outlook on it and I haven’t given up on it.”

“I’ve never taken the conventional route; why start now?”

Late boomer; up-and-comer; sleeper; underdog. Call Marquardt what you will, it will only entice him to push even further, he says. And now, perhaps more than ever before, he might need that extra little incentive.

His unique character and selfless attitude had an impact off the ice recently, too. On April 4, Marquardt was recognized as the Checkers’ Man of the Year for his outstanding contributions to the Charlotte community. 

“He deserves a lot of the credit, it says a lot about his character,” Daniels said of his fourth line winger. “We have a lot of stuff throughout the year where players go throughout the city of Charlotte, and it’s up to the players if they want to do it. He was always one of the first guys to sign up and get out in the community.”

From volunteering for dozens of non-profit organizations and schools, to pairing up with a Special Olympic athlete for a series of events throughout the year, to a Habitat for Humanity home build, chances are you could see Marquardt’s face at any community event involving the Checkers. 

“It’s the least we could do for people,” Marquardt explained. “We get some down time, so it’s nice to get out there and do something that not only makes the people feel good, but it makes you feel good knowing that you went out there to spend a little time to brighten someone’s day.”

But with the season behind him and a busy, unclear off-season ahead in North Bay, Marquardt now has his sole focus on proving himself worthy of being back in the AHL.

“Everything happens for a reason, I feel. I give myself every opportunity. The harder you work, the luckier you get I think and I take a lot of pride in my work ethic,” he said convincingly. “That’s something that’s been instilled in me and something I take to the rink every day, not just in hockey, but in life as well.

“I always take the same approach, as though I’m going to fall into the best scenario I can.

“My job is to be ready.”
 


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Liam Berti

About the Author: Liam Berti

Liam Berti is a University of Ottawa journalism graduate who has since worked for BayToday as the City Council and North Bay Battalion reporter.
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