Marquardt inks deal with Boston while dealing with tragedy (updated)

It's one thing to be drafted by an NHL team but to get signed by one is the real accomplishment.

Just ask Matt Marquardt.

On Thursday the Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced that the club has signed forward Matt Marquardt to an entry-level contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

Marquardt, who will turn 21 on July 19, 2008, registered 43 goals and 26 assists in 68 games during the 2007-2008 season which he split between Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the Moncton Wildcats, both of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). After recording 20-13-33 totals in 35 games for Moncton, he was traded to Baie-Comeau on December 22, 2007 where he scored 23 goals and added 13 helpers in 33 games.

In his two-plus seasons with Moncton from 2005-2007, the 6’3’’ 222-pound winger appeared in 170 regular season contests, tallying 77 goals and 51 assists for 128 points. He had 41 goals and a career best 29 assists for the Wildcats during their 2006-2007 campaign.

Marquardt was originally selected by the Blue Jackets in the seventh round, 194th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. The Bruins acquired Marquardt from Columbus on May 27, 2008 in exchange for defenseman Jonathan Sigalet.

Big Payday includes tragedy

It wasn't all great news for Marquardt on Thursday. On the same day that he was awarded his first pro contract Marquardt found out former teammate and Vancouver Canucks defenceman Luc Bourdon was killed in a motorcycle accident.

"Matt is a mess... love you Luc... rest in peace," Matt says on his facebook page.

Marquardt and Bourdon played together with the Moncton Wildcats during the teams run to the Quebec League Championship and Memorial Cup finalists back in 2006.

They were good friends and Luc is in the background of this photo taken when the Wildcats visited New York in January of 2006.

Marquardt is waiting to hear details on the funeral before heading to Bourdon's home in New Brunswick.