Mid Cities forward Hutton signs NAHL tender
December 26, 2017
The Mid Cities Jr. Stars of the NA3HL are pleased to announce that forward Matthew Hutton has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Odessa Jackalopes of the NAHL South Division.
Hutton, the native of Carmel, Indiana, played two seasons for the TPH Thunder U16 before flashing his skills as a scorer the following season for Carmel High. In one hear at Carmel High, Matt was over two points per game, posting 51 points (24-27-51) over only 24 games.
“It feels great having signed on with the Jackalopes for next year,” says Hutton. “It’s always nice being wanted and it helps even more being wanted by such a great organization that has such great culture and success.”
Hutton began this season with the Austin Bruins for two games at the NAHL Showcase, but didn’t post any points. Following the showcase, Hutton made his way south where he now plays for the Mid Cities Jr. Stars of the NA3HL. Through only 21 games this season, Hutton has racked up 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists). Hutton, 18, signed his tender during the recent NA3HL Showcase.
“Matt is a forward with a really good frame and high skill set,” explains associate head coach Cody Campbell, who was in attendance during the NA3HL Showcase. “He’s a very good skater with an extremely high compete level. He has a good pedigree on top of skill, as his brother is currently playing college hockey.”
Matt is the younger brother of defenseman Grant Hutton who split parts of three seasons with three different USHL teams, as well as the Corpus Christi IceRays and Janesville Jets of the NAHL. Grant currently plays hockey for the University of Miami and is in his third season.
“My brother Grant has been a huge help to me,” boasts Matt. “He has been a role model and someone I have looked up too since day one. It’s nice having someone like him to pick up the phone and call for advice or guidance.”
Matt is a ’99 birth year, standing at 5-foot-11, 183-pounds, and has become an offensive weapon for any team.
A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders, which include one tender exclusively used on players from the NA3HL - plus or minus any trades - which became active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which will be held on June 5, 2018.
