| Mike Harder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 8 February 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height Ft: | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height In: | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Lb: | 180 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position: | Center | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shoots: | Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Played For: | Milwaukee Admirals Hamilton Bulldogs Springfield Falcons Rochester Americans Hartford Wolf Pack Louisville Panthers HPK Brynäs IF HC Merano Frankfurt Lions Charlotte Checkers ERC Ingolstadt Alleghe Hockey Trenton Devils | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career Start: | 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career End: | 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Michael J. Harder (born February 8, 1973) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional player who was an All-American for Colgate.
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.[1]
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 team's history and set a league record for most series clinching goals. 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.[2]
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.[3]
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team | 1993–94 | [4] |
| All-ECAC Hockey Second Team | 1994–95 | [5] |
| All-ECAC Hockey Second Team | 1995–96 | [6] |
| All-ECAC Hockey First Team | 1996–97 | [7] |
| AHCA East Second-Team All-American | 1996–97 | [8] |