Stéphane Da Costa | |||
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Da Costa in 2013
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Born |
Paris, France |
11 July 1989 ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
Weight | 179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb) | ||
Position | Centre | ||
Shoots | Right | ||
KHL team Former teams |
CSKA Moscow Ottawa Senators |
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National team | France | ||
NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
Playing career | 2011–present |
Stéphane Da Costa (born 11 July 1989) is a French-Polish professional ice hockey player currently playing for CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Born in France, Da Costa moved to the United States as a junior to develop as a player. After junior, Da Costa moved on to NCAA collegiate hockey, playing two seasons with Merrimack College. He then signed as a free agent with the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Ottawa Senators in 2011, and played three seasons in the organization, including 47 games with Ottawa. In 2014, he left the organization as a free agent, signing with CSKA Moscow.
Da Costa moved from his native country of France to the U.S. to play junior hockey for the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) at the age of 17, not yet able to speak English fluently. With the Tornado in 2006–07, Da Costa had 23 goals and 40 points in 50 games, tied for third in team scoring.
Da Costa then transitioned to the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2007–08, joining the Sioux City Musketeers. In his first season with the team, Da Costa had 12 goals and 37 points in 51 games, helping the team qualify for the playoffs. In four post-season games, Da Costa had a goal and three points.
He returned to the USHL's Musketeers for a second season in 2008–09, leading the team in scoring with 31 goals and 67 points in 48 games. Sioux City, however, failed to qualify for the post-season.
Da Costa joined the Merrimack College Warriors of the NCAA's Hockey East conference in North Andover, Massachusetts, for the 2009–10 season. In his second game of his freshman season, Da Costa scored five goals against the United States Military Academy team. He finished the season with 16 goals and 45 points in 34 games. After the season, Da Costa won the National Rookie of the Year, USCHO Rookie of the Year, Inside College Hockey Rookie of the Year, College Hockey News Rookie of the Year and Hockey East Rookie of the Year honours.