The 24-year-old left-handed, defender will turn professional with the Stars and add versatility to the Dundee roster this season.
Poirier joins the club from the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, where he spent the past four years competing in the Canadian collegiate league, USports and was teammates with, Connor Sills – who signed with the club two weeks ago.
The 6’1” blueliner has also previously played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Maritime Hockey League for four years and prior to that he played for junior clubs in his hometown of Moncton, New Brunswick.
Speaking about the club’s latest signing, Stars General Manager and Head Coach, Omar Pacha said: “I like the fact that Michael is consistent and he is a defenseman that is a good two-way player.
“He is good in all areas, he is poised with the puck, he has a good shot and he can bring different elements to our game.
“What I also like is his versatility and he is good defensively, so he ticks all of the boxes for what we are looking for as a d-man, with the consistency of playing minutes but also being able to play on the powerplay and the penalty kill.”
Pacha continued: “He is a young kid, coming out of the USports League and I think he has some upside offensively, he is good with the puck and he is a good passer too.
“So, I think he is an interesting player, but obviously he will be new to the UK and it is his first year playing pro, so it will take him some time to adjust to the league but I am sure he will adjust well.
“Michael has the ability to release the puck really well, he can play special teams, he is very smart and can be put in multiple positions.
“But also, as a defenseman he has a strong stick and he is a good person off the ice, so I think we are getting a good asset for our team and I think he will be in a good position here in Dundee and I am confident he will do well.”
The Stars boss also had lots of positive feedback about Poirier as a person and as a player.
Pacha said: “He has very good references from teammates and coaches, all I am hearing is that he is a guy that people drift towards, he is vocal and he is a very motivated individual.
“One of his former coaches told me that he was even an asset to their recruitment team and that he was able to help bring seven players to their team, just because people gravitate towards him.
“So, he is a guy that is going to be a great person on and off the ice and as a player, I know he is going to be great for us.
“I also think it is good that we can get guys like him, that can be versatile, that can play on the powerplay and penalty kill, and can be reliable, as well as a good ambassador for the team, on and off the ice.”
After signing his first professional contract, Poirier said: “I am very excited to join the Dundee Stars.
“It is a great organisation and in the past few years, they have progressed not just one the ice but off the ice as well and that is something that is intriguing to a player when joining a team like Dundee.”
Michael also talked about how Pacha convinced him that Dundee was the next place to take his career to and he added: “My conversations with Omar were really good.
“He talked about the options as a defenseman and to play a free-will game, which with my style of play, it is really important to be offensive but obviously defensive as well.
“Omar sounds like a fantastic coach and he got a great recommendation from my previous coach at the University of Ottawa and I thought it was a good fit for me to join Dundee.”
The Canadian was also asked about leaving Canada for the first time and what he knew about the Elite League.
Poirier replied: “I am not too really familiar with it (the Elite League), I know that in the last few years, the EIHL has really improved their level of play by getting in some really quality professional hockey players.
“So, for me to come over and play in the United Kingdom it is a blessing for me, a really great opportunity and I hope I am going to succeed in this opportunity and be able to perform.”
Michael’s career started with the Moncton Flyers Midget team, in the New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island junior league, back in 2011 and in the 2012-2013 season, the Flyers were crowned the NBPEIMMHL Champions.
Also in the same season, Poirier was named to the First All-Star team and won the award for most points by a defenseman, with 29.
Then, at the end of that campaign, he played his first games in the Maritime league with Dieppe Commandos, after being selected in round five, at #48 overall by Dieppe in the 2012 MJAHL Draft.
After two seasons in the midget leagues, the 181lbs Canadian accumulated 62 points (11 goals + 51 assists) from 100 games.
From 2013, Michael spent the next three years with the Commandos but he also, had a 10-game spell in the QMJHL with Moncton Wildcats in 2013-2014.
During his four year MJHL career, Poirier played in 180 matches and scored 114 points (25+89), while spending 153 minutes in the sin bin.
The Commandos won the MJAHL title in 2014-2015 and the defender was also appointed as an alternate captain for his final season in Dieppe.
In the same year, Michael was also chosen as the winner of the MJAHL Best Defenseman award and was selected in the First All-Star team.
Then in 2016, he signed with the University of Ottawa for the next four years and in 2018/2019 season, he was part of the Gee-Gees team that won the OUA East Division of the USports League.
Over the course of his four years with the University of Ottawa, Michael appeared 116 times for the Gee-Gees and racked up 63 points (18+45) and accumulated 30 penalty minutes.
Therefore, in his career so far, Poirier has featured in 396 matches, scored 54 goals, assisted 185 times and has collected 253 penalty minutes.
Michael joins Craig Garrigan, Anthony Beauregard and Connor Sills on the roster for next season and you can get your season tickets to watch these four and the rest of the team in the 2020-2021 campaign by contacting: [email protected]
Poirier will wear the #25 Stars jersey next season.
To view Michael’s career stats on Elite Prospects click HERE.
(Feature picture by: Greg Kolz)
