Matthew Peca

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Matthew Peca

| image = Matthew peca 2 (1).jpg

| caption = Peca with the Syracuse Crunch in 2017

| image_size = 230px

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|4|27}}

| birth_place = Petawawa, Ontario, Canada

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 9

| weight_lb = 175

| position = Centre

| shoots = Left

| league = AHL

| team = Springfield Thunderbirds

| prospect_league =

| prospect_team =

| former_teams = Tampa Bay Lightning
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
St. Louis Blues

| played_for =

| draft = 201st overall

| draft_team = Tampa Bay Lightning

| draft_year = 2011

| career_start = 2015

| career_end =

}}

Matthew Peca (born April 27, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round (201st overall) of the 2011 NHL entry draft. After playing four years at Quinnipiac University, he made his NHL debut during the 2016–17 season.

Playing career

=Amateur=

Prior to turning professional, Peca played for the Pembroke Lumber Kings in the Central Canada Hockey League. He won the league title the Royal Bank Cup in his final year with Pembroke. He was drafted by the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League priority.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/prospect-report-matt-peca/c-638772 |title=Prospect Report: Matt Peca |last=Pukalo |first=Mark |publisher=Tampa Bay Lightning |date=July 27, 2012 |access-date=March 10, 2023}} In the offseason before the 2011–12 season, he was claimed off waivers by the Kitchener Rangers but never played for them due to his commitment to Quinnipiac University.{{cite web |title=Rangers claim Peca |url=https://www.kitchenerpost.ca/community-story/5905833-rangers-claim-peca/ |work=Kitchener Post |access-date=September 10, 2018 |date=August 12, 2011 |archive-date=September 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044946/https://www.kitchenerpost.ca/community-story/5905833-rangers-claim-peca/ |url-status=dead}}

Peca attended Quinnipiac University for four years, where he played four seasons with the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team which competes in NCAA's Division I in the ECAC Hockey conference. He was recognized for his outstanding play with the Bobcats when he was named as a freshman to the 2011–12 ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team,{{cite web |last1=Sweeten |first1=Ken |title=Quinnipiac Ice Hockey's Matthew Peca Featured In Tampa Bay Lightning's Prospect Report |url=https://quinnipiacbobcats.com/news/2012/8/1/8_1_2012_2310.aspx?path=mhockey |publisher=Quinninpiac Bobcats |access-date=September 10, 2018}} and in his final season was named to the 2014–15 All-ECAC Hockey First Team and team co-captain.{{cite web |title=Quinnipiac Men's Ice Hockey Lands Five On All-ECAC Hockey Teams |url=https://quinnipiacbobcats.com/news/2015/3/20/3_20_2015_2093.aspx?path=mhockey |publisher=Quinninpiac Bobcats |access-date=September 10, 2018}}

=Professional=

Peca was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round in the 2011 NHL entry draft. After graduation from Quinnipac University, Peca signed an amateur try out with the Lightning's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch{{cite web |last1=Stockton |first1=Evan |title=#AHLOTB: Matthew Peca Making a Name in Syr |url=https://theahl.com/ahlotb-matthew-peca-making-a-name-in-syr |publisher=American Hockey League |access-date=September 10, 2018 |date=December 25, 2015}} before signing a two-year entry-level contract with the Lightning on April 1, 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2015/4/1/8326113/quinnipiacs-matthew-peca-signs-with-tampa-bay-lightning |title=Matthew Peca Signs with Tampa Bay |date=April 1, 2015 |website=SB Nation College Hockey}}

On December 27, 2016, the Lightning announced that Peca would be called up to the NHL roster.{{cite web |url=http://www.quinnipiacbobcats.com/news/2016/12/27/mens-ice-hockey-former-bobcat-captain-matthew-peca-recalled-by-nhls-tampa-bay-lightning.aspx |title=Former Bobcat Captain Matthew Peca Recalled By NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning |publisher=Quinnipiac University}} On December 28, Peca made his NHL debut in a 4–3 Lightning overtime win over the visiting Montreal Canadiens.{{Cite tweet |user=BBurnsNHL |number=814269942304542721 |date = December 28, 2016 |title=Peca makes NHL debut against Montreal Canadiens}}{{cite web|url=http://lightninginsider.com/index.php/game-recaps/143-lightning-find-right-injection-to-serve-as-remedy-in-comeback-victory|title=Lightning find right injection to serve as remedy in comeback victory|first=Erik|last=Erlendsson|work=Lightning Insider.com|date=December 28, 2016|access-date=December 29, 2016|archive-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230000110/http://lightninginsider.com/index.php/game-recaps/143-lightning-find-right-injection-to-serve-as-remedy-in-comeback-victory|url-status=dead}} On December 31, Peca recorded his first career NHL point, which was an assist on a goal by Alex Killorn.{{Cite tweet |user=BBurnsNHL |number=815368636483469312 |date = December 31, 2016 |title=Peca records first career NHL point}} On January 3, 2017, Peca scored his first NHL goal against Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, making him the first Quinnipiac Bobcat to score a goal in the NHL.{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/callahan-returns-from-injury-for-lightning/2308338/|title=Lightning falls at home to Jets |first=Joe |last=Smith |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=January 3, 2017 |access-date=January 3, 2017}} On July 5, 2017, Peca signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with the Lightning.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/lightning-re-sign-matthew-peca-to-one-year-contract/c-290294406 |title=Lightning re-sign Matthew Peca to one-year contract |author= |date=July 5, 2017 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=July 5, 2017}} On January 4, 2018, Peca was named to the 2018 AHL All-Star game.{{cite web |url=http://syracusecrunch.com/news/2018/1/4/syracuse-crunch-matthew-peca-named-2018-ahl-all-star.aspx |title=Matthew Peca named 2018 AHL All-Star |author= |date=January 4, 2018 |website= syracusecrunch.com |publisher=Syracuse Crunch |access-date=January 4, 2018}}

File:Matthew Peca during the 2022 Calder Cup Finals (2).jpg

As a free agent, Peca signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens on July 1, 2018.{{cite web |last1=Cudzinowski |first1=Matt |title=Canadiens agree to terms with Matthew Peca |url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/canadiens-agree-to-terms-with-matthew-peca/c-299370678 |publisher= Montreal Canadiens |access-date=July 1, 2018 |date=July 1, 2018}} During the following 2018–19 season, on November 8, 2018, Peca scored his first goal for Montreal in a 6–5 overtime defeat against the Buffalo Sabres.{{cite web |last1=Hickey |first1=Pat |title=Habs show moxie by battling back all night, but fall 6-5 in OT to Sabres |url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/habs-show-moxie-by-battling-back-all-night-but-fall-6-5-in-ot-to-sabres |website=The Montreal Gazette |access-date=November 11, 2018 |date=November 9, 2018}} In the final year of his contract with the Canadiens in the 2019–20 season, Peca was unable to keep his role in the NHL through training camp and was placed on waivers before he was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. He appeared in five scoreless games on recall with Montreal through the season, before he was dealt at the NHL trade deadline to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Aaron Luchuk and a 2020 draft pick on February 24, 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/senators-matthew-peca-heads-to-ottawa/ |title=Matthew Peca heads to Ottawa |work=CBS Sports |date=February 24, 2020 |access-date=February 24, 2020}} He played in five games for the Senators, registering one assist and an additional 21 games for Ottawa's AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, scoring three goals and eleven points.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/blues-sign-3-players-to-one-year-two-way-contracts/c-325865090 |title=Blues sign 3 players to one-year, two-way contracts |publisher=St. Louis Blues |date=July 29, 2021 |access-date=July 29, 2021}}

On July 29, 2021, Peca was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues. He was assigned to the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds after clearing waivers at the beginning of the 2021–22 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/blues-matthew-peca-surfaces-on-waivers-list/ |title=Blues' Matthew Peca: Surfaces on waivers list |work=CBS Sports |date=October 2, 2021 |access-date=March 10, 2023}} Peca was recalled on December 10, 2021{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/blues-matthew-peca-joins-big-club/ |title=Blues' Matthew Peca: Joins big club |work=CBS Sports |date=December 10, 2021 |access-date=March 10, 2023}} and played in five games with the Blues, registering one point before being sent to Springfield again on December 20.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/blues-matthew-peca-dropped-to-minors/ |title=Blues' Matthew Peca: Dropped to minors |work=CBS Sports |date=December 20, 2021 |access-date=March 10, 2023}} He was re-signed by the Blues to a two-year contract extension on March 23, 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/blues-matthew-peca-receives-two-year-extension/ |title=Blues' Matthew Peca: Receives two-year extension |work=CBS Sports |date=March 23, 2022 |access-date=March 10, 2023}}

Peca attended the Blues 2023 training camp but failed to make the roster. He was placed on waivers on October 1, 2023{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/blues-matthew-peca-waived-sunday/#:~:text=Peca%20was%20waived%20by%20the,with%20AHL%20Springfield%20last%20year. |title=Blues' Matthew Peca: Waived Sunday |work=CBS Sports |date=October 1, 2023 |access-date=October 12, 2023}} and after going unclaimed, was assigned to Springfield on October 2 to begin the 2023–24 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/blues-assign-4-players-to-thunderbirds |title=Blues assign 4 players to Thunderbirds |publisher=St. Louis Blues |date=October 2, 2023 |access-date=October 12, 2023 |via=NHL.com}} He was named the captain of the Springfield Thunderbirds on opening night of the 2023–24 season, on October 14.{{cite web |url=https://www.masslive.com/sports/2023/10/springfield-thunderbirds-drop-home-opener-to-hartford.html |title=Springfield Thunderbirds drop home opener to Hartford |work=Masslive.com |last=Rooney |first=Brendan |date=October 15, 2023 |access-date=October 15, 2023}} On March 14, 2024, he signed a two-year AHL contract extension with the Thunderbirds.{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/ahl/players/springfield-thunderbirds-re-sign-captain-matthew-peca-to-a-two-year-contract-extension |title=Springfield Thunderbirds Re-Sign Captain Matthew Peca to a Two-Year Contract Extension |work=The Hockey News |last=Collins |first=Dillon |date=March 14, 2024 |access-date=October 28, 2024}}

On January 11, 2025, Peca scored his 158th point with the Thunderbirds, with an assist on a Dalibor Dvorský goal, becoming the franchise's points leader, in a 6–4 win over the Providence Bruins.{{cite web |url=https://www.masslive.com/thunderbirds/2025/01/matthew-peca-makes-history-as-thunderbirds-defeat-p-bruins-on-throwback-night-photos.html |title=Matthew Peca makes history as Thunderbirds defeat P-Bruins on Throwback Night (photos) |work=MassLive |last=Berry |first=Matthew |date=January 12, 2025 |access-date=January 12, 2025}} He established new career highs in goals (31) and points (63) in 67 games during the 2024–25 season, and was named to the AHL First All-Star Team for the first time.{{cite web |url=https://theahl.com/news/2024-25-first-second-all-star-teams |title=2024-25 First and Second All-Star Teams unveiled |publisher=American Hockey League |date=April 17, 2025 |access-date=April 21, 2025}}

Career statistics

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

style="background:#e0e0e0;"

! colspan="3" style="background:#fff;"|

! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"|

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"|

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

style="background:#e0e0e0;"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

style="text-align:center;"

| 2009–10

| Pembroke Lumber Kings

| CJHL

| 60

| 21

| 26

| 47

| 10

| 15

| 3

| 6

style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2010–11

| Pembroke Lumber Kings

| CCHL

| 50

| 26

| 46

| 72

| 14

| 11

| 10

| 21

| 6

style="text-align:center;"

| 2011–12

| Quinnipiac University

| ECAC

| 39

| 8

| 31

| 39

| 12

| —

style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2012–13

| Quinnipiac University

| ECAC

| 39

| 15

| 30

| 36

| —

style="text-align:center;"

| 2013–14

| Quinnipiac University

| ECAC

| 40

| 12

| 26

| 38

| 16

| —

style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2014–15

| Quinnipiac University

| ECAC

| 39

| 7

| 29

| 36

| 27

| —

style="text-align:center;"

| 2014–15

| Syracuse Crunch

| AHL

| 8

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 0

| 3

| 1

| 2

style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2015–16

| Syracuse Crunch

| AHL

| 65

| 8

| 35

| 43

| 10

| —

style="text-align:center;"

| 2016–17

| Syracuse Crunch

| AHL

| 68

| 12

| 29

| 41

| 14

| 22

| 4

| 10

| 14

| 4

style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2016–17

| Tampa Bay Lightning

| NHL

| 10

| 1

| 2

| —

style="text-align:center;"

| 2017–18

| Syracuse Crunch

| AHL

| 63

| 13

| 33

| 46

| 18

| 6

| 3

| 6

| 9

| 2

style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2017–18

| Tampa Bay Lightning

| NHL

| 10

| 2

| 3

| 5

| 0

| —

style="text-align:center;"

| 2018–19

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 39

| 3

| 7

| 10

| 4

| —

style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2019–20

| Laval Rocket

| AHL

| 34

| 4

| 9

| 13

| 12

| —

style="text-align:center;"

| 2019–20

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 5

| 0

| —

style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2019–20

| Ottawa Senators

| NHL

| 9

| 0

| 2

| 0

| —

style="text-align:center;"

| 2020–21

| Ottawa Senators

| NHL

| 5

| 0

| 1

| 0

| —

style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2020–21

| Belleville Senators

| AHL

| 21

| 3

| 8

| 11

| 5

| —

style="text-align:center;"

| 2021–22

| Springfield Thunderbirds

| AHL

| 68

| 23

| 37

| 60

| 16

| 18

| 6

| 10

| 16

| 2

style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2021–22

| St. Louis Blues

| NHL

| 5

| 0

| 1

| 0

| —

style="text-align:center;"

| 2022–23

| Springfield Thunderbirds

| AHL

| 38

| 9

| 26

| 35

| 4

| 2

| 0

style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2023–24

| Springfield Thunderbirds

| AHL

| 48

| 12

| 29

| 41

| 18

| —

style="text-align:center;"

| 2024–25

| Springfield Thunderbirds

| AHL

| 68

| 31

| 32

| 63

| 16

| 3

| 0

| 1

| 0

style="background:#e0e0e0;"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 83

! 6

! 15

! 21

! 6

! —

Awards and honours

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

| colspan="3" | College

ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team

| 2011–12

|{{cite web|url=https://lightning.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=751727|title=Lightning Prospect Spotlight: Matthew Peca |url-status=dead |publisher=Tampa Bay Lightning |via=NHL.com |date=February 4, 2015 |last=Spencer |first=Doug |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218024947/https://lightning.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=751727 |archive-date=February 18, 2015}}

All-ECAC Hockey First Team

| 2014–15

|{{cite web | url = http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2014-15/News/20152003_Men_Awards | title = League Announces Postseason Awards | publisher = ECAC Hockey | date = March 20, 2015 | access-date = June 4, 2015 | archive-date = March 23, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150323105004/http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2014-15/News/20152003_Men_Awards | url-status = dead}}

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

| colspan="3" | AHL

AHL All-Star game

| 2018

First All-Star Team

| 2024–25