Matt Stajan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Matt Stajan
Stajan with the Calgary Flames in 2010
Born	(1983-12-19) December 19, 1983 (age 41) Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs Calgary Flames EHC München
NHL Draft	57th overall, 2002 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	2004–2019

Matthew Stajan (born December 19, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a centre. The Toronto Maple Leafs picked him in the second round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 57th player chosen overall.

Stajan started playing in the NHL in 2004. He played for the Maple Leafs until 2010. Then, he was traded to the Calgary Flames. He finished his hockey career playing for EHC Red Bull München in Germany. Matt also won a silver medal with the Canadian junior team at the 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Matt's Hockey Journey

Starting in Junior Hockey

Matt Stajan grew up in Mississauga, Ontario. He played minor hockey there before joining the Belleville Bulls in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). This was a major junior league. He played three seasons in the OHL from 2000 to 2003. During this time, he scored 206 points in 182 games.

In his first OHL season (2000–01), he scored 27 points. The next season, he got 33 goals and 85 points. He was also known as a great defensive forward. The Toronto Maple Leafs chose Stajan in the 2002 NHL Draft. Being picked by his hometown team was a "dream come true" for him.

He played one more OHL season (2002–03). He finished with 94 points, ranking 8th in the league. He also played for the Canadian junior team at the 2003 World Junior Hockey Championships. He helped Canada win a silver medal.

Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs

After his OHL season, Stajan joined the St. John's Maple Leafs in the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his professional debut in April 2003. The very next night, he played his first NHL game for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He even scored his first NHL goal in that game!

Stajan earned a full-time spot with Toronto for the 2003–04 season. He played in 69 games, scoring 14 goals and 27 points. He also played in the NHL YoungStars Game during the 2004 All-Star Game. He scored a goal and an assist there.

The 2004-05 NHL season was cancelled due to a player lockout. Stajan played for St. John's in the AHL that year. He scored 66 points in 80 games. When the NHL started again in 2005–06, Stajan returned to Toronto. He worked on being good at both offense and defense. He even led the league in short-handed points that season.

Stajan signed new contracts with the Maple Leafs. His scoring improved, with 39 points in 2006–07. In 2008–09, he had 55 points and led the team with 40 assists. On January 31, 2010, Stajan was part of a big trade. He moved to the Calgary Flames along with other players. He finished that season with a career-high 57 points.

Time with the Calgary Flames

Even though he could have left, Stajan chose to stay with the Flames. He signed a four-year contract with them. His scoring numbers went down for a couple of seasons. He also dealt with a sprained ankle injury. But he ended the 2011–12 season by scoring his 100th career goal.

When the Flames got a new coach, Bob Hartley, Stajan's role grew. He had a great 2012–13 season, scoring 23 points in 43 games. He was praised for his strong defensive play. He even had the best plus-minus rating on the team.

In the 2014–15 season, the Flames made the playoffs for the first time in a while. Stajan played a key role. He scored the winning goal in Game 6 of their first-round series against the Vancouver Canucks. This win sent the Flames to the next round! He finished the playoffs with 1 goal and 4 points in 11 games.

In the 2015–16 season, Stajan played on the fourth line. His scoring went down, but he was still a valuable player. Later, he moved to the third line. During the 2017–18 season, Stajan played his 1,000th NHL game. This is a huge milestone for any hockey player.

Playing in Germany and Retirement

On August 29, 2018, after 15 seasons in the NHL, Stajan signed with EHC Red Bull München in Germany. He played one season there.

Matt Stajan announced his retirement from hockey on May 2, 2019.

Matt's Life Off the Ice

Matt's parents are Mike and Nada Stajan, and he has an older sister, Michelle. Matt and his wife, Katie, live in Calgary. They have two sons.

Matt is of Slovenian descent. His grandparents moved to Canada in the 1950s. He wore jersey number 14 for most of his youth career and with the Maple Leafs. This was to honor his uncle Robert, who also played hockey and wore number 14. When Matt joined the Flames, he changed his number to 18.

Matt Stajan is well-known for his amazing charity work. He was nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2007. This award is for players who show leadership and help their community. In Calgary, he has been a spokesperson for the Alberta Children's Hospital. He also supports the Ronald McDonald House.

In 2013, the Flames gave him the List of Calgary Flames award winners#Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award. This award is for players who show perseverance, dedication, and leadership. Matt and his wife Katie have also hosted events to raise money for hospitals. They have helped families and babies in need. Stajan also works with the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) to represent players.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play

Medal record
Representing Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championship
Silver	2003 Canada

Awards and Honours