Matt Ellis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Left Wing |
| Shoots | Left |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) |
| NHL Team (P) Cur. Team |
Detroit Red Wings Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) |
| Nationality |  Canada |
| Born | August 31, 1981, Welland, ONT, CA |
| Pro Career | 2003 – present |
Matt Ellis (born August 31, 1981, in Welland, Ontario, Canada) is a professional ice hockey left winger. He currently plays as captain for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.
Contents |
[edit] Professional career
[edit] Minor league hockey
Ellis started play in the OHL with the Toronto St. Michael's Majors in 1998. He quickly learned the speed and style of the game, as he started producing goals and assists right away. Each year with the Majors saw Ellis improving his point totals, from 18 the first year, onto 35,45, and finishing with 38 goals and 51 assists for 89 total points in his final year with Toronto, helping them with the Central Division title.
The Detroit Red Wings came calling and signed Ellis as a free agent on May 10, 2002. He was sent to play on the Wings' farm team the Toledo Storm in the ECHL where he posted 59 points in the regular season and tacked on eight points in the Storms' short playoff run.
[edit] Reaching the AHL
In the following season, Ellis was quickly brought up to the AHL to join the Grand Rapids Griffins and tallied his first AHL point on October 24, 2003 with an assist on the game-winning goal versus the Utah Grizzlies. Ellis again took time to adjust to the faster pace but soon found his place with the team. Each year his point totals went up and in the 2005-06 season, Ellis was named captain; the youngest captain ever in Griffins' history. This gave him the needed confidence to continue his growth as a player, which Ellis summed up when he had this to say about his captaincy:
“It’s definitely a big factor. You can totally tell the difference when there’s a guy out there playing with confidence and when a guy’s unsure of himself. Being a fourth-year pro, it makes a huge difference. Each year, you come in with a little more confidence, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by some great players and coaches who were there to give me a pat on the back or help me out and keep me motivated.”
When asked about the chance to play for the Red Wings, Ellis said:
“I’m hoping. Grand Rapids is a great place to learn and develop, but I’d like to get my feet wet in Detroit – for sure.”
[edit] Ellis the Red Wing
Ellis finally made his NHL debut for the Detroit Red Wings on December 18, 2006 in a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
[edit] Awards & achievements
- 2004-05: Matched a franchise record with four shorthanded goals
- 2004-05: First player in Griffins history to score two shorthanded goals in a home game. (March 12, 2005 vs. Hamilton Bulldogs)
- 2005-06: Named youngest captain in Grand Rapids Griffins' history
