Mike Harder

Career

Harder began his college career at Colgate in the fall of 1993 after finishing junior hockey with the Weyburn Red Wings. As a freshman he tied for the team lead in points and was named to the ECAC All-Rookie team. The following season he finished in the top ten nationally and helped Colgate win 20 games and finish third in the conference standings. He remained the focal point of the offense over the next two years and was named team captain as a senior. Although the team posted winning records, they lost all three playoff games in those seasons. Harder became Colgate's all-time leading scorer and was named an All-American and Hobey Baker finalist in his senior year. After college he turned professional and played a few games of AAA hockey. In 1998 he had a solid season and became a point-per-game player with the Rochester Americans in 1999, helping the team reach the Calder Cup finals. He played for several AHL teams until 2001, when he moved to Europe. After one season with Brynäs IF in the Swedish Hockey League, he joined the Frankfurt Lions. He helped the Lions win the DEL championship in 2004, the only title in the team's history. Harder scored the series-clinching goal in each playoff round against the Cologne Sharks, Hamburg Freezers and Berlin Polar Bears, setting a league record. He later spent four years with Alleghe, averaging at least a point per game each season, then returned to North America for one final season before retiring in 2010. In 2013 he returned to Colgate as a volunteer assistant and was brought on full time the following season, remaining with the team until 2019. Harder was inducted into the Colgate Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.