Matt Ellis (ice hockey) Information & Matt Ellis (ice hockey) Links at HealthHaven.com

Born	August 31, 1981 (age 28),; Welland, ON, CAN
Height; Weight	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m); 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team; F. teams	Buffalo Sabres; Los Angeles Kings; Detroit Red Wings
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Pro career	2003 – present

Matt Ellis (born August 31, 1981, in Welland, Ontario, Canada) is a professional ice hockey left winger. He currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.

[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] Detroit Red Wings

Ellis made his NHL debut for the Detroit Red Wings on December 18, 2006 in a 4–3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

[edit] Los Angeles Kings

Ellis was claimed off of waivers by the Los Angeles Kings on February 21, 2008. He scored his first goal with the Kings, an empty-net goal, on March 13, 2008 against the Nashville Predators at Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

[edit] Buffalo Sabres

Ellis was claimed off of waivers by the Buffalo Sabres on October 1, 2008. He played his first game with the team on October 15 against the New York Rangers. On December 18, 2008 after injuries to forwards on the Sabres Ellis was recalled for the second time this season.

Matt Ellis re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres inking a one year contract on July 9, 2009.

[edit] Awards and achievements

2004–05: Matched a Grand Rapids Griffins 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

[edit] Career statistics

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998–99	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHL	47	10	8	18	6	—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHL	59	15	20	35	20	—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHL	68	21	24	45	19	18	4	8	12	6
2001–02	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHL	66	38	51	89	20	15	8	6	14	6
2002–03	Toledo Storm	ECHL	71	27	32	59	34	7	3	5	8	0
2003–04	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL	64	5	10	15	23	4	0	0	0	2
2004–05	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL	79	18	23	41	59	—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL	74	20	28	48	61	16	4	1	5	20
2006–07	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL	65	26	23	49	44	7	4	3	7	4
2006–07	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	16	0	0	0	6	—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	35	2	4	6	12	—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	19	1	1	2	14	—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Buffalo Sabres	NHL	45	7	5	12	12	—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Portland Pirates	AHL	12	2	2	4	4	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals			115	10	10	20	44	—	—	—	—	—

[edit] External links

Matt Ellis's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

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