Marc-André Cliche

Canadian ice hockey player

Ice hockey player
Marc-André Cliche
Cliche with the Colorado Avalanche in November 2014
Born (1987-03-23) March 23, 1987 (age 37)
Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for Los Angeles Kings
Colorado Avalanche
NHL Draft 56th overall, 2005
New York Rangers
Playing career 2007–2017

Marc-André Cliche (born March 23, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Los Angeles Kings and the Colorado Avalanche.

Playing career

As a youth, Cliche played in the 2000 and 2001 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with minor ice hockey teams from Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d'Or.[1]

Cliche was drafted in the second round, 56th overall, by the New York Rangers in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He was drafted from the QMJHL where he played with the Lewiston Maineiacs for four years. In his final junior season, Cliche was selected and played for Canada at the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[2]

On February 5, 2007, Cliche was traded by the Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings along with Jason Ward and Jan Marek for Sean Avery and John Seymour.[3] He was then signed to a three-year entry level contract with the Kings on April 9, 2007. Cliche made his professional debut in the 2007–08 season with the Kings affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs. In a season interrupted with injury, Cliche played in 52 games scoring 21 points.[citation needed]

Cliche with the Colorado Avalanche in December 2013

In the 2009–10 season, the last year of his entry-level contract, Cliche was again a mainstay of the Monarchs checking line. On March 2, 2010, he received his first NHL recall and made his debut with the Kings in a solitary game against the Dallas Stars. During the following 2010–11 season, unable to gain a position on the Kings roster, Cliche was selected and served as the Captain of the Manchester Monarchs from October 29, 2010. In the 2011–12 season, Cliche scored a professional high 17 goals and 41 points in 72 games. He was recalled as a black ace by the Kings during their playoff run and was with the team when they won the Stanley Cup, he was subsequently scratched from the line-up during the entire series did not qualify to have his name engraved on the cup.[4]

On June 15, 2012, after five seasons within the Kings organization, becoming a veteran presence among the Monarchs forwards, Cliche extended his tenure in signing a two-year contract extension. He remained with the Monarchs for the following 2012–13 season, scoring 10 goals and 20 points in 52 games. Prior to the 2013–14 season, on September 22, 2013, Cliche placed on waivers by the Kings and claimed by the Colorado Avalanche.[5] With the opportunity given to become the Avalanche's fourth-line centre by head coach Patrick Roy, Cliche played in his first NHL game since 2010 when he contributed with an assist for his first NHL point in a victory over the Nashville Predators on October 4, 2013.[6] After the first month of the season, Cliche established himself as a regular among the penalty kill and fourth line. In his 49th career game, he finally scored his long-awaited first NHL goal in a 7-1 victory on February 1, 2014, against Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres.[7] In leading the Avalanche with time on the penalty kill among forwards, Cliche was rewarded in signing a two-year contract extension to remain with the club on February 27, 2014.[8] He helped the club qualify for the post-season for the first time in 4 years appearing scoreless in 7 playoff games in a series defeat to the Minnesota Wild.[citation needed]

In the 2014–15 season, Cliche retained his fourth-line centre role with the Avalanche, matching his offence from the previous year with 7 points in 74 games as Colorado missed out on the post-season. With the Avalanche looking to rebound in the final year of his contract in 2015–16, Cliche was placed on waivers after Avalanche training camp and returned to the AHL with new AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, to begin the year.[9] He assumed a leadership role within the Rampage and was unable to earn a recall to the NHL. Cliche regained his scoring touch in the AHL compiling 19 points in 38 games before he was dealt at the trade deadline by the Avalanche to the New York Islanders in exchange for Taylor Beck on February 29, 2016. He was directly assigned to remain in the AHL with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.[10]

On July 4, 2016, as a free agent, Cliche was unable to garner NHL interest, opting to sign a one-year AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies.[11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002–03 Amos Forestiers QMAAA 42 26 16 42 18 — — — — —
2003–04 Lewiston Maineiacs QMJHL 52 8 10 18 17 7 1 2 3 0
2004–05 Lewiston Maineiacs QMJHL 19 4 4 8 8 — — — — —
2005–06 Lewiston Maineiacs QMJHL 66 37 45 82 60 6 2 2 4 0
2006–07 Lewiston Maineiacs QMJHL 52 24 30 54 42 16 6 16 22 10
2007–08 Manchester Monarchs AHL 52 11 10 21 25 4 0 1 1 2
2008–09 Manchester Monarchs AHL 31 5 4 9 19 — — — — —
2009–10 Manchester Monarchs AHL 66 11 14 25 45 12 1 1 2 8
2009–10 Los Angeles Kings NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2010–11 Manchester Monarchs AHL 63 14 21 35 35 — — — — —
2011–12 Manchester Monarchs AHL 72 17 24 41 35 4 1 0 1 6
2012–13 Manchester Monarchs AHL 57 10 10 20 46 3 0 0 0 4
2013–14 Colorado Avalanche NHL 76 1 6 7 17 7 0 0 0 2
2014–15 Colorado Avalanche NHL 74 2 5 7 17 — — — — —
2015–16 San Antonio Rampage AHL 38 6 13 19 8 — — — — —
2015–16 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 6 1 0 1 32 3 2 0 2 0
2016–17 Toronto Marlies AHL 16 1 2 3 6 — — — — —
AHL totals 401 76 98 174 251 26 4 2 6 20
NHL totals 151 3 11 14 34 7 0 0 0 2
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2007 Mora

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2004 Canada Quebec U17 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 2 1 3 0
2007 Canada WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 0 0 0 4
Junior totals 12 2 1 3 4

References

  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  2. ^ "Marc-Andre Cliche prospect profile". HockeysFuture.com. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-04-02.
  3. ^ "Kings deal Avery to Rangers". tsn.ca. 2007-02-05. Archived from the original on October 30, 2007. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  4. ^ "Cup win a learning experience for Jones". Ontario Reign. 2012-04-19. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  5. ^ "Avs Make Pair of Sunday Roster Moves". Colorado Avalanche. September 22, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  6. ^ "Avalanche top Predators for second in a row under Roy". Colorado Avalanche. 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
  7. ^ "Patrick Roy full of praise for Marc-Andre Cliche after first NHL goal". Denver Post. 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
  8. ^ "Avalanche signs Cliche to two-year extension". Colorado Avalanche. 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  9. ^ "Avalanche reduces roster to 26". Colorado Avalanche. 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  10. ^ "Islanders acquire Cliche from Avalanche". Bridgeport Sound Tigers. 2016-02-29. Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  11. ^ "Marlies sign Rich Clune, Marc-Andre Cliche to AHL contracts". sportsnet.ca. July 4, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2019.

External links

  • Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database