The Sheffield Steelers have signed 27-year-old netminder Matt Greenfield as preparations intensify ahead of the 2022-23 Elite League season.
The American, who joins Sheffield from the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks, is head coach Aaron Fox’s final import signing of the summer and will compete for control of the crease with 30-year-old backstop Oskar Östlund.
“Matt is a goalie who I’ve had an eye on for the last two seasons,” Fox revealed in a press release. “He’s had two very solid first seasons of playing [professional hockey] in Kansas City, averaging a .915 save percentage (SV%)… is big and moves extremely well. He likes to be aggressive and is very competitive.
“He’s coming in to compete for starts and gives us an excellent goalie duo. We will play the goalie who has the hot hand and I love having some competition [for minutes] back there. We are working diligently on getting him here before [training] camp starts on Monday 22 [August].”
Matt Greenfield attended the Tampa Bay Lightning’s development camp in 2019 (Image: Doug Clifford)
The Parkland, Florida-born netminder arrives in the Elite League following two seasons in the ECHL, the North American third tier, where he upheld a .915 SV% and 2.72 goals-against (GAA) average through 43 appearances for Kansas City.
Before entering the professional ranks, Greenfield starred for the University of Calgary in USports, recording a .908 SV% and 2.38 GAA after 53 outings for the Dinos.
Matt Greenfield: ‘I wanted to go to a club that would contend for a championship’
“I’m a calm goalie, I’d like to think I’m consistent and very competitive,” the 6’1” netminder told SheffieldSteelers.co.uk. “I keep things simple. I like to play the puck and play the game as the coach wants. I work hard: you will see that.”
While considering where to ply his trade in 2022-23, Greenfield received encouragement from former Sheffield forward Anthony DeLuca to sign on the dotted line with the Steelers.
Related: Sheffield Steelers 2022-23 Roster: Signings, Quotes & More
“I messaged him and asked for his thoughts,” the American explained. “The reply was immediate with the words ‘you must go, you will love it there, the team’s great, the fans are great, the building’s great: you have to go.’ I guess when you get a reference like that it helps make your decision.”
When quizzed about why he chose the Steelers, he added: “I decided Sheffield was the place for me after talking with a few clubs, some of them in the UK. I wanted to go to a club that would compete and contend for a championship. I’m like everyone else I guess; I want to win.”
Greenfield, who went undrafted by the NHL, filled in as a backup for the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds in 2018-19, attending the Tampa Bay Lightning’s development camp the following offseason.
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