Introduction
Matthew Beleskey (born June 7, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Playing career
Beleskey grew up in the small town of Midhurst, Ontario in the Springwater Township. He played his minor hockey for the Barrie Icemen AAA program of the OMHA's Eastern AAA League. After his Bantam season with the Icemen, Beleskey played one season with the nearby Collingwood Blues Jr.A. club of the OHA.
He was drafted in the 2nd round (21st overall) in the 2004 OHL Priority Selection by the Belleville Bulls. In the 2008 OHL Finals versus the Kitchener Rangers, Belleville was down 3-0 in the series and 4-1 in the game, but on the back of captain Beleskey's four-point night, including the game winner in overtime, Belleville won the game and pushed the series to seven games, before ultimately losing the series.
He was selected by the Ducks 112th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and turned professional in 2008 after a four-year junior career with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League. He made his NHL debut in 2008–09, appearing in two games with the Ducks but spent most of the season in the American Hockey League with the Iowa Chops. Matt Beleskey played in the UK for Coventry Blaze ice hockey team in the Elite Ice Hockey League during the NHL lockout.
Playing in 65 games during the 2014-15 NHL season, Beleskey scored 22 goals to go with 10 assists. He recorded eight goals and an assist during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Ducks lost to the Chicago Blackhawks during the Western Conference Finals.
On July 1, 2015 Beleskey signed as a free agent to a five-year $19.8 million contract with the Boston Bruins.
Personal
Beleskey's family at one time lived in NHLer Shayne Corson's home, with his family. Beleskey's mother worked at Corson's family restaurant in Barrie.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2002–03 | Barrie Icemen | OMHA | 33 | 18 | 14 | 32 | 93 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Collingwood Blues | OPJHL | 46 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 110 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Belleville Bulls | OHL | 68 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 118 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
| 2005–06 | Belleville Bulls | OHL | 61 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 119 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | ||
| 2006–07 | Belleville Bulls | OHL | 66 | 27 | 41 | 68 | 124 | 15 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 18 | ||
| 2007–08 | Belleville Bulls | OHL | 62 | 41 | 49 | 90 | 106 | 21 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 23 | ||
| 2008–09 | Iowa Chops | AHL | 58 | 11 | 24 | 35 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | San Antonio Rampage | AHL | 12 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Toronto Marlies | AHL | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 60 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 35 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 27 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 70 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Coventry Blaze | EIHL | 26 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 42 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 56 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2013–14 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 55 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 64 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 2013–14 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 65 | 22 | 10 | 32 | 39 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 80 | 15 | 22 | 37 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 409 | 72 | 77 | 149 | 367 | 34 | 13 | 4 | 17 | 16 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Canada | WJC | 4th | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 37 | |
| Junior totals | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 37 | ||||