Michael J. Harder (born February 8, 1973) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional player who was an All-American for Colgate.
Career Harder arrived in Hamilton in the fall of 1993 after finishing out his junior career with the Weyburn Red Wings. He began producing offense immediately for Colgate, tying for the team lead in points as a freshman and being named to the ECAC All-Rookie team. Harder finished in the top ten in the nation the following year, helping Colgate win 20 games and finish 3rd in the conference standings. Harder remained the focal point of the Red Raiders' offense over the next two years, and was named team captain in his senior season. While the team managed to produce winning records in those years, they lost all three of their playoff games. Despite the disappointing finishes, Harder became Colgate's all-time leading scorer and was named an All-American and Hobey Baker finalist in his senior year.
After finishing his college career, Harder turned pro and rounded out the year with a few games of AAA hockey. He had a solid year in 1998 and became a point-per-game player with the Rochester Americans in 1999. He helped the team reach the Calder Cup finals that season and looked to be on track to reach the NHL but instead played for several AHL teams until 2001 when he headed to Europe.
After a season with Brynäs IF in the Swedish Hockey League, Harder settled in with the Frankfurt Lions. He helped the club win the DEL championship in 2004, the only title in the team's history. The heavy underdog Lions surprisingly disposed of three higher ranked teams (Cologne Sharks, Hamburg Freezers and Berlin Polar Bears) in the playoffs, with Harder scoring the series clinching goal in each round, setting a league record.
A few years later, he found his way to Alleghe and spent four years with the team, averaging at least a point per game each season. He returned to North America for one final season before retiring in 2010.
In 2013, Harder returned to Colgate as a volunteer assistant and was brought on full time the following season. He remained with the team until 2019.
Harder was inducted into the Colgate Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
Statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular Season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1991–92 Weyburn Red Wings SJHL 6118345244————— 1992–93 Weyburn Red Wings SJHL 64416310447————— 1993–94 Colgate ECAC Hockey 3321254614————— 1994–95 Colgate ECAC Hockey 3622365818————— 1995–96 Colgate ECAC Hockey 3223325526————— 1996–97 Colgate ECAC Hockey 3322335520————— 1996–97 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 20110————— 1996–97 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 7134620110 1997–98 Springfield Falcons AHL 32022————— 1997–98 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 6420173732————— 1997–98 Springfield Falcons AHL 8426043258 1998–99 Rochester Americans AHL 793148793920291123 1999–00 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 5618213933120444 2000–01 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 3610192927————— 2000–01 Louisville Panthers AHL 381324378————— 2001–02 HPK SM-Liiga 40002————— 2001–02 Brynäs IF Elitserien 11437440000 2002–03 Springfield Falcons AHL 10000————— 2002–03 HC Merano Italy 2618244210————— 2003–04 Frankfurt Lions DEL 50215174215551012 2004–05 Charlotte Checkers ECHL 4212314324————— 2004–05 ERC Ingolstadt DEL 70004110114 2005–06 Alleghe Hockey Italy 4823386148423510 2006–07 Alleghe Hockey Italy 402153746010391210 2007–08 Alleghe Hockey Italy 4117335036————— 2008–09 Alleghe Hockey Italy 356293522————— 2008–09 VEU Feldkirch Austria 2 53690879166 2009–10 Trenton Devils ECHL 223131624————— 2009–10 Charlotte Checkers ECHL 164486————— 2009–10 VEU Feldkirch Austria 2 75611243250 SJHL totals 125 59 97 156 91 — — — — — NCAA totals 134 88 126 214 78 — — — — — ECHL totals 80 19 48 67 54 — — — — — IHL totals 71 21 20 41 38 2 0 1 1 0 AHL totals 223 78 115 193 109 36 5 15 20 35 Austria 2 totals 12 8 12 20 2 12 10 11 21 6 DEL totals 57 2 15 17 46 26 5 6 11 16 Italy totals 190 85 177 262 176 14 5 12 17 20
Awards and honors Award Year All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team 1993–94 All-ECAC Hockey Second Team 1994–95 All-ECAC Hockey Second Team 1995–96 All-ECAC Hockey First Team 1996–97 AHCA East Second-Team All-American 1996–97
Head coaching record
References
External links Colgate Raiders bio