Player Profile: Matt Seidel
December 17, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release
Matt Seidel found himself a long way from home during his first NAHL season a year ago.
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Seidel was drafted by the Kenai River Brown Bears in the second round of the 2012 NAHL Draft. The Brown Bears' home rink in Alaska is just shy of 4,000 miles from Seidel's home in Troy, Michigan.
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A non-stop drive from Troy to Kenai River would take just under three days. The flight alone lasts over 12 hours.
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Despite being so far from home, Seidel excelled with the Brown Bears, leading the team in scoring in his rookie season with 42 points on 23 goals and 19 assists.
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Two trades later, he finds himself playing with the Port Huron Fighting Falcons, just an hour away from home. The 19-year-old forward doesn't even need to stay with a billet family in Port Huron, opting instead to live at home and commute.
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"Alaska was a beautiful place to play, but being able to play in Port Huron where my friends and family can come support me has been amazing," said Seidel.
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Seidel has played 17 games with the Fighting Falcons this season, and has 13 points on six goals and seven assists. He set a new franchise record with six points on four goals and two assists in the team's 10-4 win at Janesville in November, and had another four points on a goal and three assists in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Johnstown Tomahawks.
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Seidel was named the Easton North Division Star of the Week after his six-point effort.
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Seidel is enjoying being a part of the first-place Fighting Falcons, who hold a four-point lead atop the North Division standings.
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"I think our depth has been the biggest factor in our success so far this season," said Seidel. "We can roll four lines until the end of the game, which is something most teams aren't able to do, and a huge advantage to stay fresh since the style of play in the North Division is so physical."
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Aside from the proximity to home, his favorite thing about Port Huron so far has been heading over to the Zebra Lounge for burgers with his teammates after practice on Wednesdays, something teammate Vito Aluia had also mentioned as one of his favorite things to do in town.
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Though he is one of the newer members of the Fighting Falcons, Seidel was no stranger to many of his new teammates. Seidel played AA hockey for the Troy Sting with current teammates Mitch Maloney and Alex Blankenburg. Maloney, Blankenburg and Bryan Yim all played with Seidel on the Honeybaked Midget Major team. Seidel and Aluia teamed up for Summit AA and Belle Tire Midget Major.
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In the off-season, Seidel trades in his skates for roller blades to play roller hockey. Like most of his teammates, he's also a golfer and enjoys spending time out on the water.
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With a year of junior eligibility remaining, Seidel, who has been selected in two USHL Drafts, has his sights set on playing Division 1 hockey. Like the Fighting Falcons, the Kenai River Brown Bears sent several players to college last year, and Seidel hopes to follow in their footsteps.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2013
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- NAHL Announces Easton Divisional Stars of the Week - Brookings Blizzard
- Player Profile: Matt Seidel - Port Huron Fighting Falcons
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