Matt Keith Explained

Position:Centre
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:200
Played For:Chicago Blackhawks
New York Islanders
ERC Ingolstadt
Örebro HK
HC Karlovy Vary
Dornbirner EC
EC Red Bull Salzburg
Braehead Clan
Birth Date:April 11, 1983
Birth Place:Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Career Start:2003
Career End:2017
Draft:59th overall
Draft Year:2001
Draft Team:Chicago Blackhawks

Matt Keith (born April 11, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who last played and captained Braehead Clan of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). He previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders.

Playing career

Keith was drafted 59th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He appeared in his first NHL game on February 24, 2004, against the Philadelphia Flyers. On March 1 of that same year against the Nashville Predators, he scored his first goal.

On December 29, 2006, he was traded along with Sébastien Caron and Chris Durno to the Ducks in exchange for P. A. Parenteau and Bruno St. Jacques.[1]

On January 9, 2008, he was traded to the Islanders from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Darryl Bootland. Keith appeared in 3 games with the Islanders upon the completion of the 2007–08 season. On July 25, 2008, Keith signed with German team ERC Ingolstadt of the DEL.

For the 2009–10 season Keith returned to North America signing with, the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL, affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks.[2] Scoring 21 goals in 69 games for the IceHogs, Keith was then signed to a one-year contract with fellow AHL team, the Abbotsford Heat, affiliate of the Calgary Flames on September 28, 2010.[3]

After one season in Sweden with second division side, Örebro HK, Keith moved to the Czech Republic, signing a one-year free agent contract with HC Karlovy Vary on July 9, 2012.[4] After only four games into the 2012–13 Czech Extraliga season, Keith left Karlovy to sign a try-out contract with Dornbirner EC of the Austrian Hockey League on October 8, 2012.[5] He remained with the Bulldogs for the remainder of the year to total 28 points in 37 games.

Following three years in the UK with Braehead Clan, where Keith captained the team, the forward announced his departure from the EIHL in April 2017.[6] He later announced his retirement from professional hockey after 14 seasons.[7]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1998–99Spokane ChiefsWHL71014
1999–2000Spokane ChiefsWHL39134371512311
2000–01Spokane ChiefsWHL33131427631213414
2001–02Spokane ChiefsWHL683433677111551016
2002–03Spokane ChiefsWHL722411
2002–03Red Deer RebelsWHL492526513223671330
2003–04Norfolk AdmiralsAHL6613132657812310
2003–04Chicago BlackhawksNHL2023510
2004–05Norfolk AdmiralsAHL801831497460110
2005–06Norfolk AdmiralsAHL722619456130110
2005–06Chicago BlackhawksNHL20000
2006–07Norfolk AdmiralsAHL19281015
2006–07Chicago BlackhawksNHL20004
2006–07Portland PiratesAHL4410122222
2007–08Portland PiratesAHL34551013
2007–08Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL42891722
2007–08New York IslandersNHL30000
2008–09ERC IngolstadtDEL4615132860
2009–10Rockford IceHogsAHL692120412740002
2010–11Abbotsford HeatAHL7720153545
2011–12Örebro HKAllsv5211162740102466
2012–13HC Energie Karlovy VaryELH40004
2012–13Dornbirner ECAUT377212866
2013–14EC Red Bull SalzburgAUT537815371331412
2014–15Braehead ClanEIHL511844625920002
2015–16Braehead ClanEIHL461929486720112
2016–17Braehead ClanEIHL521318315220000
AHL totals5031231322553362114512
NHL totals2723514

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Blackhawks send Caron to Ducks in multi-player deal . . 2006-12-28 . 2008-11-10.
  2. Web site: Rockford sets 2009-10 opening night roster. Rockford IceHogs. 2009-10-01. 2009-11-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031154/http://www.icehogs.com/news/index.html?article_id=1712. 2016-03-04. dead.
  3. Web site: Keith, Nyren signed by Heat . . 2010-09-28 . 2010-10-05.
  4. Web site: Czech . Vary add energy impact player Keith . . 2012-07-09 . 2012-07-09.
  5. Web site: Dornbirner recruit Canadian striker Keith. . 2012-10-08 . 2012-10-08 . German .
  6. Web site: Keith announces departure from Braehead . . 2017-04-21 . 2017-04-21.
  7. Web site: Amazing retirement present . . 2017-07-20 . 2017-07-20 . Matt Keith.