MONTREAL - McGill University defenceman David Urquhart, a 23-year-old native of Thorold, Ont., has signed with the American Hockey League's Hartford Wolf Pack, the top farm team of the New York Rangers.

Urquhart, who stands 6-feet and weighs 195 pounds, captained the Redmen to the Ontario University Athletics conference championship last season, McGill's first league title since 1946.

He will become the sixth player produced by McGill in recent years to skate in the AHL, joining a list that includes Daniel Jacob (2004), Greg Davis (2001), Mathieu Darche (2000), Pierre Gendron (1997) and Jim Webster (1980).

A two-time all-star in the OUA, Urquhart became only the third McGill rearguard to earn All-Canadian honours in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, making the CIS second-team in 2006-07. He also was a two-time conference representative for the CIS Randy Gregg trophy, for combining hockey ability with academics and citizenship.

Urquhart, who shoots left, scored 23 goals and 107 points and 330 penalty minutes in 147 career games with McGill overall. He tallied eight power play goals, two shorthanded markers and had five game-winners. Urquhart is tied with Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock as the sixth-highest scoring defenceman in McGill history. They trail Gilles Hudon (152 points), Martin Routhier (135), David Bahl (110), Bryan Larkin (109) and Luc Latulippe (109).

Also an Academic All-Canadian who recently graduated with a management degree, Urquhart joined the Redmen in 2004 out of Junior B in Welland, Ont., and showed significant improvement every year.

"David has certainly earned this opportunity," said Martin Raymond, who recently completed his 13th year as head coach of the Redmen. "He combines great competitiveness with excellent speed and strong offensive abilities. He can play a physical game, yet has the finesse to create offensively. He also brings outstanding leadership skills, along with discipline and an outgoing personality."

Appointed captain of the Redmen in his senior year (2007-08), Urquhart earned the Bobby Bell trophy as team MVP in 2007 and the Richard Pound Award in 2008, which is presented to a graduating McGill student-athlete for proficiency and leadership in athletics. He is a two-time recipient of the Martlet Foundation's 1938 Champions Leadership Award (2006, 2007) and also received the University's Gretta Chambers Student Leadership Award (2008).

Despite carrying a full course load in the commerce program and making the time commitment to excel as a full-time student-athlete, Urquhart also found time to serve on several McGill committees, such as the McGill Sports Hall of Fame, the Student Athletics Council, the McGill Athletics Awards Gala and the McGill Varsity Sports Council, where he served as co-chair.

The Wolf Pack posted a 50-20-0-10 record last season under the guidance of rookie head coach Ken Gernander, 38, a former University of Minnesota star who played pro from 1991 to 2005.

DAVID URQUHART'S SCORING RECORD AT McGILL UNIVERSITY

OVERALL:

Season Team Overall GP G A Pts PIM
2004-05 McGill CIS 26 1 3 4 24
2005-06 McGill CIS 40 11 28 39 108
2006-07 McGill CIS 42 4 37 41 123
2007-08 McGill CIS 39 7 16 23 75
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TOTALS: McGill CIS 147 23 84 107 330
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REGULAR SEASON:

Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM
2004-05 McGill OUA 13 1 3 4 8
2005-06 McGill OUA 24 7 17 24 52
2006-07 McGill OUA 28 2 25 27 93
2007-08 McGill OUA 21 3 12 15 37
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TOTALS: McGill OUA 86 13 57 70 190
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SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Dept. of Athletics & Recreation
McGill University