Matthew Highmore

Matthew Highmore (born February 27, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, currently playing with the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Matthew Highmore
Highmore at the 2018 AHL All-Star Game
Born (1996-02-27) February 27, 1996
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position Left Wing, Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team Chicago Blackhawks
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2017–present

Playing career

Highmore was drafted 8th overall by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the 2012 QMJHL Entry Draft.[1] He was awarded alternate captain during the 2014–15 QMJHL season.[2]

Despite his success as an alternate captain in the QMJHL, Highmore was passed over at the NHL Entry Draft twice, the second time being in his last year of eligibility. However, in his last year with the Saint John Sea Dogs, where he led Saint John in assists and points, the Chicago Blackhawks chose to sign him to a three-year NHL contract in March 2017 as an undrafted player.[3][4] In his last year with the Sea Dogs, he was the only player who earned a professional hockey contract without being drafted.[5] At the end of the 2016–17 season, Highmore was named Sea Dogs MVP and was awarded the Pepsi Top Scorer Award for the second year in a row, after netting 34 goals and 89 total points.[6]

Highmore started the 2017–18 season with the Blackhawks AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. He recorded his first professional hat trick against the Iowa Wild on December 27, 2017.[7] After leading his team in points, Highmore was selected to participate in the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic along with teammate Carl Dahlström.[8] On February 24, 2018, Highmore became the first Rockford rookie to score more than 20 goals in their rookie season since Rockford joined the Blackhawks organization in 2007.[9] Highmore was called up to the NHL for the first time on February 26, 2018.[9] He made his NHL debut on March 1, 2018, in a 7–2 loss to the San Jose Sharks.[10] He had two shots on net in under 13 minutes of ice time.[11] Highmore recorded his first NHL goal in a 4–7 loss to the Boston Bruins on March 10, 2018.[12] He was reassigned to the AHL on March 27, 2018, after playing in 13 games and recording 2 points.[13] On April 13, 2018, Highmore was named the IceHogs Rookie of the Year after he was tied for the team lead with 42 points and ranked fourth among rookies in the league in goals.[14] During the last regular season game before the 2018 Calder Cup playoffs, Highmore set a new IceHogs rookie goal record with his 24th goal of the season.[15]

While attending the Blackhawks training camp prior to the 2018–19 season, Highmore was reassigned to the IceHogs on September 26, 2018, to begin the season in the AHL.[16] He was later named an alternate captain for the IceHogs prior to the 2018-19 season.[17] On November 13, Highmore underwent surgery to repair his right shoulder and he was expected to need four to six months to recover.[18] After rehabilitating, Highmore spent the summer training in Halifax with other NHL and AHL players.[19]

He attended the Blackhawks training camp prior to the 2019–20 season but was reassigned to the IceHogs.[20] He was subsequently named an assistant captain alongside Jacob Nilsson and Tyler Sikura.[21] After recording four goals and six assists in 17 games, Highmore was recalled to the NHL on November 26.[22] Highmore recorded 3 goals and 1 assist during the Blackhawks' play-in and playoff run during the 2019-20 NHL playoff bubble.[23]

Personal life

Highmore attended Maritime Varsity Academy, a school that focused on athletics, from 2008 to 2010.[24]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 30 4 5 9 26 — — — — —
2013–14 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 68 19 31 50 62 — — — — —
2014–15 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 62 11 13 24 60 5 0 1 1 6
2015–16 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 65 22 53 75 38 17 9 11 20 12
2016–17 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 64 34 55 89 46 18 6 18 24 14
2017–18 Rockford IceHogs AHL 64 24 19 43 24 13 2 7 9 2
2017–18 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 13 2 0 2 0 — — — — —
2018–19 Rockford IceHogs AHL 12 3 6 9 6 — — — — —
2019–20 Rockford IceHogs AHL 21 4 8 12 14 — — — — —
2019–20 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 36 2 4 6 6 9 3 1 4 2
NHL totals 49 4 4 8 6 9 3 1 4 2

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2013 Canada Atlantic U17 8th 5 1 3 4 4
Junior totals 5 1 3 4 4

References
  1. Palmeter, Paul (May 16, 2017). "Dartmouth's Matthew Highmore gunning for Memorial Cup title". cbc.ca. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  2. "SMALLMAN NAMED NEW SEA DOGS CAPTAIN". sjseadogs.com. September 25, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  3. Lazerus, Mark (July 20, 2017). "Blackhawks prospects learning there are countless paths to the NHL". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  4. Roumeliotis, Charlie (March 2, 2017). "Blackhawks sign undrafted free agent forward Matthew Highmore to three-year deal". nbcsports.com. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  5. MacNeil, John (May 14, 2017). "Highmore set to write final chapter of junior career". thechronicleherald.ca. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  6. Roszell, Tim (March 20, 2017). "HIGHMORE NAMED SEA DOGS MVP". sjseadogs.com. Saint John. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  7. "Highmore's hat trick sparks IceHogs win". Des Moines, Iowa: The Journal Standard. December 28, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  8. Filomeno, Joshua (January 18, 2018). "Dahlstrom, Highmore Named AHL All-Stars". mystateline.com. Rockford. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  9. "HIGHMORE RECALLED BY BLACKHAWKS". icehogs.com. February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  10. "Joe Pavelski scores twice in Sharks' rout of Blackhawks". sportsnet.ca. March 2, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  11. Gilmore, Eric (March 2, 2018). "Pavelski, Jones power Sharks past Blackhawks". NHL.com. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  12. Kalman, Matt (March 10, 2018). "Bruins score four in third to defeat Blackhawks". NHL.com. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  13. Leber, Scott (March 27, 2018). "Matthew Highmore assigned back to the Rockford IceHogs by the Chicago Blackhawks". mystateline.com. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  14. "ROCKFORD ANNOUNCES 2017-18 TEAM AWARDS". icehogs.com. April 13, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  15. Taft, Jay (April 17, 2018). "IceHogs Quick Shots: Matthew Highmore sets rookie goal record". The Journal Standard. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  16. Robinson, Chris (September 26, 2018). "EJDSELL, FORTIN & HIGHMORE ASSIGNED TO ROCKFORD". icehogs.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  17. Robinson, Chris (October 5, 2018). "ICEHOGS ANNOUNCE SEASON-OPENING ROSTER". icehogs.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  18. "ICEHOGS MEDICAL UPDATE: MATTHEW HIGHMORE". icehogs.com. November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  19. Hall, Travis (September 24, 2019). "Big Offseason Sets Stage For Highmore's Return". icehogs.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  20. Pope, Ben (September 25, 2019). "Finally healthy, AHL-bound Matthew Highmore ready to just play hockey again". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  21. "Kris Versteeg Named 2019-20 Team Captain". icehogs.com. October 2, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  22. Taft, Jay (November 26, 2019). "IceHogs Quick Shots: Matthew Highmore gets call-up to Hawks". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  23. Hockey Reference. Missing or empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  24. "MVA Alumni Signs with The Blackhawks!". maritimehockey.com. March 3, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
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