Promotion
Darche brothers major in perseverance

Darche brothers major in perseverance

Most student athletes in Canada don’t expect to continue their careers at the elite levels of professional sport.

But the Darche brothers – J.P. and Mathieu -- have shown that this dream can become a reality, as long as you persevere and are willing to be flexible. J.P. played football at McGill, Mathieu played hockey.

“I’m fighting for my life everyday, to be honest with you,” Mathiue, 31, told National Post’s Sean Fitzgerald.

After a long tour of duty in the minor leagues, Mathieu is now drawing a paycheck from the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning.

Mathieu’s elder brother J.P. has also shown that persistence and flexibility works in football.

J.P., 33, was a standout linebacker with the football Redmen, but quickly realized that his long-snapping skills would give him his best chance at employment. He has now been a long snapper in the NFL for more than eight years (currently with the Kansas City Chiefs), was the first Canadian to captain an NFL team (2005), and almost won a Super Bowl while with Seattle in 2006.

Mathieu was a forward with the hockey Redmen. His first pro contract was a free agent agreement with the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets, but he wasn’t able to stick with the team.

While his older brother was making himself a regular NFL player, Mathieu bounced around the world of pro hockey, spending time with several NHL teams (Colorado, Nashville, Columbus, San Jose, Tampa Bay) and their AHL affiliates. He also spent time in a German professional league.

“As you get older in hockey, your chances get slimmer and slimmer,” Edouard Darche, their father, told the National Post. “Mathieu worked really hard over the summer, and he’s probably in the best shape of his life.”