Texas Stars Sign Derek Meech to AHL Contract
Jul 30, 2014CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced today that the club has signed defenseman Derek Meech to a standard AHL contract for the 2014-15 season.
Meech, 30, returns for his second season with Texas, after joining the 2014 Calder Cup Champions midway through the 2013-14 campaign. In 36 regular season games with the Stars, the Winnipeg, Manitoba, native scored two goals and added 15 assists. He recorded 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 21 games during the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs.
The veteran defenseman began the 2013-14 season in Belarus, playing for HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), where he had five assists and 14 penalty minutes in 23 games played. Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the seventh round (229th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Meech enters his eleventh professional season and has appeared in 144 career NHL games with Detroit and the Winnipeg Jets, where he has 17 career points (4 goals, 13 assists). He has skated in 392 career AHL games with the Stars, Grand Rapids Griffins and St. John’s IceCaps, registering 144 points (32 goals, 112 assists) and 306 penalty minutes.
The 5’11”, 200 lbs. defenseman won the 2008 Stanley Cup with Detroit, as well as a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2004 IIHF Under-20 World Championships. He was named to the 2013 AHL All-Star Classic, representing St. John’s with the Eastern Conference All-Stars. Meech played parts of five seasons of major junior hockey for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, winning the 2001 WHL Championship and the 2001 Memorial Cup. In 263 career WHL games, he had 97 points (27 goals, 70 assists) and 168 penalty minutes, while also appearing in 77 career WHL playoff games and posting 19 points (6 goals, 13 assists) and 45 penalty minutes.
The Texas Stars are preparing to defend their 2014 Calder Cup championship as the 2014-15 season rapidly approaches. Texas Stars season ticket packages for the 2014-15 season are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com.