Matt Nickerson (born January 11, 1985) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who last played for Finnish second tier side TuTo Turku. He previously played for three teams in the UK's EIHL.[1]

Matt Nickerson
Born (1985-01-11) January 11, 1985 (age 39)
Old Lyme, Connecticut, U.S.
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Right
Mestis team
Former teams
TuTo Turku
Milton Keynes Lightning
KooKoo
Ässät
Iowa Stars
Idaho Steelheads
Ilves
Malmö Redhawks
Springfield Falcons
Fife Flyers
Belfast Giants
NHL draft 99th overall, 2003
Dallas Stars
Playing career 2005–2019

Playing career

edit

Nickerson played for the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League during the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons. It was during his final season with the team that Nickerson drew the attention of NHL scouts, and in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft the Dallas Stars drafted Nickerson in the third round with the 99th overall pick. Nickerson spent his next season at Clarkson University, where he racked up 179 penalty minutes in 38 games. Nickerson signed a three-year entry-level contract before playing in Victoriaville. Due to the NHL lockout, he was sent to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Victoriaville Tigres, and finally turned pro in the Finnish SM-liiga, playing with Ässät.

Started 2005-2006 in the Dallas Stars training camp where he scored a goal on Ty Conklin in an NHL exhibition game versus the Edmonton Oilers. Nickerson was then assigned to Iowa of the AHL where he played 4 exhibition games, registering one fighting major, before ending up in Pori, Finland. In his first season with Ässät, Nickerson broke the league record for penalty minutes in the regular season, with 236 total.[2] He was assessed a match penalty for fighting in October 2005,[3] and was suspended for three games for fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct on November 2, 2005.[4]

After his first stint in SM-liiga Nickerson returned to North America for the 2006–07 season and played for the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL and the Iowa Stars of the AHL, both affiliates of the Dallas Stars. He earned a 16-game suspension during his 12 games in Idaho. After a season in North America, Nickerson returned to Pori and joined Ässät for the second time in his career. On October 20, 2007, he was suspended for three games for attacking TPS forward Teemu Laine.[5] While serving this suspension, he attacked Ilves defenseman Kevin Kantee in the locker room area of the Ässät arena on October 27, receiving an additional five-game suspension.[6] Nickerson has turned out to be a fan favourite in Pori during his stints in Finland. In February 2008 Nickerson was transferred from Ässät to Ilves. On February 4, he received a match penalty for fighting in the Ilves-Blues game.[7]

For the 2009-2010 season, he signed with the Edmonton Oilers organization but played just 19 games for the AHL's Springfield Falcons and was released without ever playing for the Oilers. Nickerson had a try-out with Danish team Esbjerg IK in November 2010 but failed to secure a contract. The Fife Flyers confirmed the signing of Matt Nickerson for the 2013/14 Rapid Solicitors Elite Ice Hockey League season. Nickerson quickly became a fan favorite at Fife where his tough edge added some much needed backbone to a team which had been bullied on the ice in the past. Playing 45 games in his first season he was an integral part in the run to the EIHL playoff semi final game where Fife lost to Belfast by 1-0. His unending desire to stand up for his team mates earned great respect from the Fife support although he did draw the attention of the EIHL referees and in December 2013 he was handed a 12-game suspension (which was reduced upon appeal) for a fight during a game against the Braehead Clan. As part of the Fife Flyers community outreach program Nickerson and team mates visited the children's hospice in Kinross operated by C.H.A.S. Touched by the work carried out by the charity Nickerson offered to let fans shave off his impressive trademark beard to raise money for the hospice. This charitable act received many plaudits from across the UK hockey community.

On 3 June 2017, after two years with the Belfast Giants, Nickerson joined EIHL newcomers Milton Keynes Lightning ahead of their inaugural Elite League season.[8][9] During his time with the Lightning, Nickerson received a 20 game ban for abusing an official and punching a fan, [10] and was released by the club the following day.[11]

Career statistics

edit
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 Texas Tornado NAHL 47 1 12 13 97
2002–03 Texas Tornado NAHL 47 6 23 29 277
2003–04 Clarkson University ECAC 38 5 9 14 179
2004–05 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 48 1 11 12 182 6 0 1 1 27
2005–06 Ässät SM-liiga 36 5 8 13 236 14 1 0 1 50
2006–07 Iowa Stars AHL 40 0 3 3 97
2006–07 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 13 1 1 2 73
2007–08 Ässät SM-liiga 25 1 6 7 106
2007–08 Ilves SM-liiga 13 3 3 6 39 9 0 2 2 24
2008–09 Malmö Redhawks Allsv 6 1 2 3 18
2008–09 Ilves SM-liiga 40 1 1 2 156 3 1 0 1 0
2009–10 Springfield Falcons AHL 19 0 1 1 44
2012–13 KooKoo Mestis 41 1 11 12 154
2013–14 Fife Flyers EIHL 40 2 7 9 307 4 0 1 1 6
2014–15 Fife Flyers EIHL 46 2 15 17 192 2 0 0 0 4
2015–16 Belfast Giants EIHL 35 3 6 9 93 2 0 0 0 0
2016–17 Belfast Giants EIHL 51 2 12 14 77 3 1 0 1 6
2017–18 Milton Keynes Lightning EIHL 36 2 4 6 150
2018–19 TUTO Hockey Mestis 35 1 6 7 150 7 0 2 2 63
SM-liiga totals 114 10 18 28 537 26 2 2 4 74
EIHL totals 208 11 44 55 819 11 1 1 2 16

References

edit
  1. ^ https://eliteleague.co.uk/lightning-sign-matt-nickerson/ [dead link]
  2. ^ Matt Nickerson palaa Poriin - SM-LIIGA - 09.10.2006 - Uutiset - Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta
  3. ^ Laatikaiselle kaksi ottelua pannaa, muut selvisivät ilman lisäsanktioita - SM-LIIGA - 17.10.2005 - Uutiset - Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta
  4. ^ Nickersonille kolmen ottelun panna, Ässille sakot - SM-LIIGA - 11.11.2005 - Uutiset - Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta
  5. ^ Nickersonille kolmen ottelun huili - SM-LIIGA - 22.10.2007 - Uutiset - Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta
  6. ^ Nickersonille pelikielto, Ässille sakot - SM-LIIGA - 30.10.2007 - Uutiset - Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta
  7. ^ Jääkiekko - MTV3.fi
  8. ^ http://www.britishicehockey.co.uk/eihl/milton-keynes-lightning/nickerson-joins-eihl-new-boys/ [dead link]
  9. ^ "MKL add former NHL draft pick Nickerson | Milton Keynes Lightning". Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Sean Blanchard signs for the season". BBC. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Nickerson sacked after punching a fan". BBC Sport.
edit