| Derek Meech | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 21, 1984 Winnipeg, MB, CAN |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 197 lb (89 kg; 14 st 1 lb) |
| Position | Defence and left wing |
| Shoots | Left |
| NHL team Former teams |
Winnipeg Jets Detroit Red Wings |
| NHL Draft | 229nd overall, 2002 Detroit Red Wings |
| Playing career | 2006–present |
Derek Meech (born April 21, 1984) is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman and winger for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League.
Contents |
Meech played his junior hockey for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. There, he teamed with future NHL star Dion Phaneuf as the team's top defensive pairing. On June 23, 2002, he was drafted 229th overall in the 7th round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
Meech made his NHL debut on December 7, 2006 at Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan against the St. Louis Blues. He played in 4 NHL games during the 2006–07 NHL season. While playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, Meech was named an All Star after posting 6 goals, and 23 assists (29 points) in 67 games.
Meech was named to the Red Wings final roster during training camp prior to the 2007–08 NHL season. He would have been exposed to waivers had he been sent to the minor leagues, which factored into the team's decision.
In 2008, Meech was named "Detroit Red Wings Rookie of the Year" by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters' Association for his play in the 2007–08 season. Based on the system the Red Wings employ, Meech has sometimes been used as a left winger. His versatility to play both forward and defenseman has led to extra playing time.
Despite not playing the minimum 40 games (Meech only played 32) and not a minute in the playoffs, Meech had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, due to a successful petition to the NHL by the Detroit Red Wings organization.
Meech scored his first career NHL goal with the Detroit Red Wings on December 4, 2008 against Curtis Sanford of the Vancouver Canucks.
On September 8, 2010, Meech was placed on waivers by the Red Wings.[1] Unclaimed, Meech was assigned to the Griffins for the duration of the 2010–11 season.
Meech signed a two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 1, 2011.[2]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1999–00 | Red Deer Rebels | WHL | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Red Deer Rebels | WHL | 60 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 40 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ||
| 2001–02 | Red Deer Rebels | WHL | 71 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 33 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2002–03 | Red Deer Rebels | WHL | 65 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 53 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | ||
| 2003–04 | Red Deer Rebels | WHL | 62 | 10 | 28 | 38 | 40 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 10 | ||
| 2004–05 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 78 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 79 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 85 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2006–07 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 67 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 40 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2006–07 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 32 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 41 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 49 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 74 | 10 | 27 | 37 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 126 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||