Matt Kinch
Encyclopedia
Matt Kinch is a Canadian
professional ice hockey
defenceman
playing in Germany for the EV Ravensburg
of the 2nd Bundesliga
. He played major junior in the Western Hockey League
(WHL) before also playing pro in the American Hockey League
(AHL), ECHL
, Austrian Hockey League
, Swiss
Nationalliga A and Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
of the WHL
in 1995–96. He amassed 83 points in 1998–99 en route to helping lead the Hitmen to the 1999 President's Cup as WHL champions. In the subsequent off-season, he was drafted in the fifth round, 146th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres
in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft
. Two seasons later, Kinch recorded an 84-point season, bettering his previous WHL best to set the Hitmen's single-season points record by a defenceman (tied by Paul Postma
in 2008–09
).
Kinch turned pro in 2001 with the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL
. He worked his way up to the Hartford Wolfpack of the AHL
the next season, where he played through to 2003–04. Before earning the opportunity to play for the Sabres in the NHL, Kinch went overseas in 2004–05 to play for EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Swiss
Nationalliga A. After one season in Switzerland, he spent two seasons in the German
Deutsche Eishockey Liga before returning to North America in the AHL. He played one season with the Binghamton Senators
, then took off to Germany once more to play for the Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
playing in Germany for the EV Ravensburg
EV Ravensburg
EV Ravensburg is an ice hockey team in Ravensburg, Germany. They play in the 2nd Bundesliga, the second level of ice hockey in Germany. In 2007, the club was promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga....
of the 2nd Bundesliga
2nd Bundesliga (ice hockey)
The 2nd Eishockey-Bundesliga is the second tier of Ice hockey in Germany. It is organised by the DEB, the German Ice Hockey Federation. In the 2007-08 season, it features 14 teams.- History of the 2nd Ice Hockey Bundesliga :...
. He played major junior in the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
(WHL) before also playing pro in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL), ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
, Austrian Hockey League
Austrian Hockey League
The Austrian Hockey League , called the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level ice hockey league in Austria.-History:...
, Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Nationalliga A and Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
Playing career
Kinch began playing major junior with the Calgary HitmenCalgary Hitmen
The Calgary Hitmen are a major junior ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Hitmen play in the Central Division of the Western Hockey League . They play their home games at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a local-born professional wrestler, was a founding owner...
of the WHL
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
in 1995–96. He amassed 83 points in 1998–99 en route to helping lead the Hitmen to the 1999 President's Cup as WHL champions. In the subsequent off-season, he was drafted in the fifth round, 146th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft
1999 NHL Entry Draft
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. According to Sports Illustrated and other sports news agencies, at the time the 1999 draft was considered one of the deepest in talent in years, headed by Patrik Stefan and the Sedin twins. However, the...
. Two seasons later, Kinch recorded an 84-point season, bettering his previous WHL best to set the Hitmen's single-season points record by a defenceman (tied by Paul Postma
Paul Postma
Paul Postma is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the St. John's IceCaps of the American Hockey League . He was drafted 205th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and is a prospect for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League...
in 2008–09
2008–09 WHL season
The 2008–09 WHL season was the 43rd season of the Western Hockey League . The regular season began on September 18, 2008, and ended on March 15, 2009. The WHL Playoffs commenced on March 20, 2009, and the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge series, featuring Team WHL versus the Russian Selects, took...
).
Kinch turned pro in 2001 with the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
. He worked his way up to the Hartford Wolfpack of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
the next season, where he played through to 2003–04. Before earning the opportunity to play for the Sabres in the NHL, Kinch went overseas in 2004–05 to play for EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Nationalliga A. After one season in Switzerland, he spent two seasons in the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Deutsche Eishockey Liga before returning to North America in the AHL. He played one season with the Binghamton Senators
Binghamton Senators
The Binghamton Senators are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . Nicknamed the B-Sens, they play in Binghamton, New York at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Along with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL, the B-Sens are minor league affiliates of the Ottawa Senators...
, then took off to Germany once more to play for the Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams.
Records
- Calgary HitmenCalgary HitmenThe Calgary Hitmen are a major junior ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Hitmen play in the Central Division of the Western Hockey League . They play their home games at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a local-born professional wrestler, was a founding owner...
team record; single-season points by a defenceman - 84 in 2000–01 (tied with Paul PostmaPaul PostmaPaul Postma is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the St. John's IceCaps of the American Hockey League . He was drafted 205th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and is a prospect for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League...
- 2008–092008–09 WHL seasonThe 2008–09 WHL season was the 43rd season of the Western Hockey League . The regular season began on September 18, 2008, and ended on March 15, 2009. The WHL Playoffs commenced on March 20, 2009, and the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge series, featuring Team WHL versus the Russian Selects, took...
)