Matt Duchene Signs With Colorado Avalanche

Matt Duchene, who was the third pick overall in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft, was signed by the Colorado Avalanche to a three-year entry level contract on July 16th. The 18-year-old Duchene was the highest draft pick for the franchise since the club moved to Colorado from Quebec, Canada, in 1995.

After the signing, Duchene stated, “To be part of an NHL organization is something you always strive for as a kid. This is the first step, but I know I have a lot of work to do to reach my goal of playing in the NHL.”

In Duchene’s second season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Brampton Battalion, he finished third on the club in scoring as he registered 31 goals and 48 assists for 79 points in 57 games. He ranked second on the team in assists and was third in goals. He also scored 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points in 21 playoff contests.

The five-foot-11, 200-pound Duchene, who hails from Haliburton, Ontario, also has international experience as he won a gold medal as Canada’s team captain at the under-18 Ivan Hlinka hockey tournament. He also won a gold medal at the 2008 under-18 world championship.

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