Matt Underhill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matt Underhill |
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| Born | September 16, 1979 Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Goalie | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Alaska Aces | ||
| NHL Draft | 170th overall, 1999 Calgary Flames |
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| Playing career | 2002–2006 | ||
Matthew Joseph Underhill (born September 16, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender, also known as a goalie. He played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2003–04 season. Most of his playing career, which lasted from 2002 to 2006, was spent in smaller hockey leagues. He was honored and added to the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame on November 3, 2012. Today, he has three children and coaches ice hockey at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire.
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Matthew Underhill's Hockey Journey
Matthew Underhill had an interesting path in ice hockey, playing at different levels before becoming a coach.
Starting Out in Hockey
Matthew began his hockey journey in junior leagues. He played for the Notre Dame Hounds in the SJHL during the 1996–97 and 1997–98 seasons. This helped him develop his skills as a goalie.
College Hockey Star
After junior hockey, Matthew went to Cornell University. He played for the Cornell Big Red team in the ECAC league from 1998 to 2002. He was a very good college player, known for his strong performance in goal. In his final two years, he had excellent numbers, showing how skilled he was at stopping pucks.
Playing in the Pros
After college, Matthew turned professional. He played in several minor leagues, including the ECHL and the AHL. These leagues are where players often develop their skills hoping to reach the NHL.
He played for teams like the Pee Dee Pride, Providence Bruins, Manchester Monarchs, Norfolk Admirals, Florence Pride, Mississippi Sea Wolves, St. John's Maple Leafs, and the Alaska Aces.
His big moment came during the 2003–04 season when he played one game for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL. This is the top professional hockey league in North America. Even though it was just one game, it's a huge achievement for any hockey player.
Life After Playing
Matthew retired from playing professional hockey in 2006. He then moved into coaching. He now shares his knowledge and love for the game by coaching young hockey players at Kimball Union Academy.
Awards and Honors
During his time playing hockey, Matthew Underhill received some special awards, especially during his college career:
- He was named to the All-ECAC Hockey First Team in the 2001–02 season. This means he was one of the best players in his college league.
- He also received the AHCA East First-Team All-American award in 2001–02. This is a big honor for college players across the country.
- He was part of the ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team in 2002.
See also
- List of players who played only one game in the NHL
