CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Add Versatile Forward Matt Piegza

Published on August 31, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS --- The Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League (CHL) today (August 31st, 2010) announced the signing of rookie forward Matt Piegza (pronounced pee-AY-zah) to the roster for the 2010-2011 regular season. Piegza becomes the 17th announced signing by the RiverKings during the off-season. Matt becomes the tenth forward added to the Mississippi roster.

RiverKings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin "Killer" Kaminski believes Piegza will bring everything. "The report on him is that he will be a strong skater with high energy," Kaminski said. "Matt likes to get on the forecheck, loves to finish his checks and create turnovers. Matt also takes the puck hard to the net and loves to 'get his nose dirty.'"

A native of Blue Island, Illinois, the 6-foot, 200 pound Piegza comes to the RiverKings after a four-year career at Manhattanville College, an NCAA Division III school located outside of New York City.

Last season for the Valiants, Piegza finished the season with nine goals for 22 points and 22 penalty minutes in 25 contests. He ranked sixth on the roster for points scored and was tied for second in power play goals scored with six.

In his junior season, Piegza played in 23 games scoring five goals for eleven points, and finished the season second on the roster for game-winning goals with three. He contributed one red-lighter for ten points in his sophomore year of 2007-08.

Matt started his college career strong as a freshman, leading Valiant rookies with 12 goals and 24 points in 24 games at Manhattanville. He was fifth overall for points and tied for the team lead in power play goals with five. That year, Piegza ranked 22nd among Division III rookie scorers nationally for points scored and was fifth among ECAC West rookies in scoring. Matt scored a hat-trick in his second college game ever, against Brockport, scoring a goal in each period. Piegza was named ECAC West Rookie of the Week twice during his freshman season.

Piegza finished his Manhattanville career in the top-15 in program history for goals (27), assists (40) and points (67), while also ranking seventh in power play goals with 14 and ninth in game-winning goals (five). He was a part of three ECAC West Conference Tournament championships, two NCAA Tournament teams and helped the Valiants finish with a top-10 national ranking according to USCHO.com in each of his four seasons.

Prior to playing college hockey, Piegza played two seasons of junior hockey with the Jersey Hitmen of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. With the Hitmen, Piegza total nine goals for 16 points and 21 penalty minutes in 16 games of the 2004-05 season, followed the next season with a total of ten goals scored for 30 points and 75 penalty minutes in 44 games of the 2005-06 campaign. He served as a team captain for the Hitmen and was a league all-star.

Matt ended the 2004-05 season tied for third on the Hitmen roster for goals scored. The next year, Piegza finished third on the Jersey roster for points, tied for fourth in goals scored, and second for assists.

Piegza's hockey background also includes winning a pee-wee national championship 1999, and playing alongside current Colorado Avalanche star forward Paul Stastny as a USA Hockey Select 17 player.

Piegza says he's happy to begin the next phase of his hockey career in Mississippi. I'm really excited to be a part of the organization and happy to start my pro career and it seems like Mississippi's going to be a great place."

He adds that he'll try to be an agitator as well as a scorer. "I try and finish a lot of my hits and try to get under the other team's skin a little bit."

The RiverKings are getting ready for its 19th season of professional hockey in the Mid-South as the longest active pro sports franchise in the region. Single game tickets for RiverKings hockey are now on sale; groups and season ticket packages are also available. For more ticket information, call the RiverKings at 662-342-1755 or go online to www.riverkings.com today!

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Central Hockey League Stories from August 31, 2010


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