2019 ECHL/CCM All-Star Classic Capsule: Matt Register

TOLEDO, Ohio – When defenseman Matt Register began the 2015-16 season, he was part of a rebranded Atlanta (formerly Gwinnett) Gladiators squad that was looking to rebound from two straight losing seasons without making the postseason. 40 games into his career with Atlanta, his former team from the 2011-12 season — the Allen Americans — came calling, acquiring the man they call “Reggie” on March 10, 2016. It was just in time for the final push towards and into the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Allen went on the win the 2016 Kelly Cup Championship that season, and after a couple more Kelly Cups with Colorado in the years following, Register finds himself the winner of three ECHL championships in a row.

Now with the Toledo Walleye, Register will participate on Team Hooks in the 2019 ECHL/CCM All-Star Classic at the Huntington Center in downtown Toledo. He will also participate in the Hardest Shot Competition. C.C. Hawkley had the opportunity to get to know the man behind three consecutive Kelly Cup rings a little bit more before his go at the All-Star Classic.

At the beginning of your career, you started off in the CHL with Allen, Tulsa, and Arizona. What led you to jump to the ECHL in 2013 with Ontario?

I was kind of jumping around the Central League a little bit, and got put on waivers in Arizona for the third time, and didn’t really know where I was going to go. Thankfully enough, I got a call from the Ontario Reign needing a guy. I came in, made the most of my opportunity, and didn’t look back.

You’ve tended to stick more in the Western Conference markets in your career. What led you to sign with Toledo in the offseason?

Well, it’s an organization that gives you the opportunity to move up the ladder. That was one of the big things for me; I still want to play at the next level. Going back a couple years ago, playing in Toledo — the atmosphere and the building — that’s the kind of place that you want to play in, in front of those kind of passionate fans. Coming down later in the summer, it got tight, but that’s where I ended up.

Your former teammate in Colorado — Ben Storm — ended up in Toledo as well. Was he a factor in deciding to sign with the Walleye?

No, I didn’t even know he was coming here, to be honest. I don’t really look too much into the signings in the summer…I just worry about myself and my family.

Some of your accolades: four-time ECHL First All-Star Team, three-time ECHL Defenseman of the Year, three consecutive Kelly Cup Championships — one with Allen, two with Colorado — and you were Kelly Cup MVP in 2017. What else would you like to achieve in your career?

Just going up the ladder, playing in the American Hockey League and being a full-time AHL player. Obviously, I still have the dream of playing in the National Hockey League. That’s definitely something I’m focusing on right now. I’m taking it day-by-day, and I’m determined to meet that goal; I’ve got high expectations for myself. I just want to come in, be a good teammate and good guy. Every shift I’m out there, I want to give it all for my team, the coaching staff, and the organization I play for. At the end of the day, the National Hockey League is still the goal, and it’s still in sight for me.

Who is one player, past or present, that you’d like to play with or against?

I’d probably say Chris Pronger. I kind of idolized him growing up, kind of wanted to roll my game around him, with a little less physicality. I would probably want to play with him.