Richard Matvichuk

Richard Matvichuk (born February 5, 1973) is a Canadian former National Hockey League Defenseman and current Head Coach of the Missouri Mavericks of the Central Hockey League. He played 14 seasons with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars, and the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League.

Playing career
Although he was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Richard was raised in the nearby city of Fort Saskatchewan. Matvichuk was drafted eighth overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota North Stars, and made the transition, along with several other players, including Mike Modano and Derian Hatcher, to the franchise's move to Dallas, and played 733 regular season games as a Dallas Star. Matvichuk played 12 years for the Stars, scoring 38 goals and 129 assists, although a rather low average of penalty minutes, when compared with his physical style of play.

Matvichuk was also a part of the 1999 Stanley Cup winning team which brought Dallas their first championship trophy. He became a free agent in the 2004 NHL off season. He was later signed by the New Jersey Devils, making a similar Stars to Devils transition as Jamie Langenbrunner and Joe Nieuwendyk. He missed all but the last game of the 2006–07 season after having back surgery. He was released by the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2008 preseason, when he was there on a tryout basis.

Coaching
On May 4, 2012, Matvichuk was announced as the Assistant General Manager and Defensive Coach of CHL's Allen Americans. On June 12, 2014, he was named the head coach of the CHL's Missouri Mavericks.