Hoover hopes for bigger taste of pro hockey
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Matt Hoover’s introduction to professional hockey didn’t last long.
The five-foot-10, 180-pound forward recently finished his U.S. collegiate career and immediately signed with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies. However, after arriving in Utah on March 10, the 24-year-old Brantford native was on his way home the following week when the ECHL and every other major professional sports league shut down due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Hoover expressed disappointment over his brief exposure to professional hockey.
“But it was great to go out there and get a sniff of what pro hockey is all about,” he said.
“It was good to get my feet wet a little bit and see what the days are like.”
Hoover was slated to play in his first game with the Grizzlies on March 13 but the league pulled the plug on its season the day before. He did practise a couple of times with the team.
“Utah is a great place, a great organization,” he said.
“It’s one of the better programs in their league.”
Hoover’s dream is to play in the National Hockey League. His father, Ron, played 18 games in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins. However, he knows achieving his goal will mean putting in hard work in the minors.
“You have to make your way there if you’re not one of those top-end guys.”
He expressed gratitude that the Grizzlies are giving him a chance.
“I’ve always wanted to play professional hockey and being able to sign with Utah was great.”
Hoover cemented his spot in Utah after a great senior season at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.
“Over my four years, I think I had a pretty decent career,” he said. “I enjoyed my time at Canisius very much.”
Hoover scored 47 goals and added 52 assists in 148 career games at Canisius, including 15 goals and 17 assists this past season as the team’s captain.
“It’s obviously an honour when you get the captaincy and have an opportunity to lead the team,” he said.
“It was great.”
As for the team’s performance, things didn’t go as planned during Hoover’s final year.
“We struggled pretty hard at the start of the year,” he said. “I think we went 2-12, or something like that, to start the year.
“Then we got back from Christmas break and we went on a (seven-game) undefeated streak. We kind of turned it around there.”
But the team was swept in the opening round of the playoffs by Bentley University of Waltham, Mass.
Hoover was one of 79 nominees during the first phase of voting for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s hockey player. Although he was among the 10 finalists named, just being in the “conversation with some of the great guys who were playing this year, it’s obviously an honour,” he said.
The award will be handed out April 10.
Now back in Brantford, Hoover is facing a longer than expected off-season of six months before training camp is to begin. He said he plans to use the time to get ready for his first full season of professional hockey.
As soon as COVID-19 is no longer a concern, he said he hopes to be back at Athlete Farm Training on Dalkeith Drive, working out with Luke Van Moerkerke.
“For right now, I’ll do my best to stay active and not sit on my butt all day,” he said.
“I want to progress as much as can.”
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