Records, Rings, Awards and Respect - Matt Register Retires

 

MATT REGISTER RETIRES

 

After a long professional career, Matt Register shared these heartfelt thoughts with me today:

First, I just want to say thank you.

It's hard to put into words what hockey has meant to me. I never imagined how much this game would shape my life. Hockey became more than just a sport to me; it became part of who I am. It taught me how to work hard, how to overcome adversity, and how to keep going even when things got tough. Hockey has given me lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories, and lessons I will carry forever. 

To my coaches - thank you for believing in me, even during the moments I doubted myself. Thank you for pushing me to work harder and become a better player and person, both on and off the ice, and for giving me every opportunity to live out my dream.

To my teammates - some of my greatest memories in life came from standing beside you in that locker room and battling together every game. Every laugh in the locker room and every unforgettable moment we shared together were what made my career so special. There's nothing like being part of a hockey family.

To my Mom and Dad - I want to thank the two people who made this journey possible from the very beginning. Thank you for every early morning practice, every late-night drive home, every tournament weekend, and every sacrifice you made so I could play the game I love. You spent countless hours in cold rinks, cheered me on through wins and losses, and never stopped believing in me, even when I doubted myself. I wouldn't be standing here without you.

Hockey has given me some of the best years of my life, and I will always be grateful for every second I got to spend on the ice. As hard as it is to walk away. I know hockey will always be a part of me. The game may end, but the lessons, memories, and love for it never will.

This isn't goodbye, it is just the start of a new chapter.

 

- Here is my salute to Matt's career:

Stick taps to long-time ECHL defenseman Matt Register, who has retired. A lock for the ECHL Hall of Fame, Matt has played in the ECHL since 2012-13, except for one season. In 2021-22, he went to Europe (EIHL) and won a championship. He has played for ECHL teams in Ontario, Allen, Colorado, Toledo, and Idaho. Here are some of Register’s ECHL accomplishments:

 

2016 Kelly Cup champion (Allen)

2017 Kelly Cup champion (Colorado)

2018 Kelly Cup champion (Colorado)

2019 Kelly Cup runner-up (Toledo)

2023 Kelly Cup runner-up (Idaho)

2017 Kelly Cup Playoff MVP

2014 ECHL Defenseman of the Year

2017 ECHL Defenseman of the Year

2018 ECHL Defenseman of the Year

Nine-Time All-Star

 

 

How dominant has Register been since 2012-13? If you combine regular-season and playoff stats, he leads in all categories by a wide margin. Since 2012-13, among defensemen, here are his stats with the distance between him and #2:

 

#1 in games played (843), 247 more games than #2

#1 in points (668), 371 more points than #2

#1 in goals (147), 72 more goals than #2

#1 in assists (521), 280 more assists than #2

 

- Register dominates stats among defensemen, but he also leads ALL players in points and assists since 2012-13 (regular season and playoffs combined)

 

- Register has transitioned into coaching and is the Assistant Coach for the Allen Americans.