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Matt Villalta

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Matt Villalta
Villalta with the Tucson Roadrunners in 2024
Born (1999-06-03) June 3, 1999 (age 25)
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Utah Hockey Club
Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)
Arizona Coyotes
NHL draft 72nd overall, 2017
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2019–present

Matthew Villalta (born June 3, 1999) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Tucson Roadrunners in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

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Villalta played for the Greater Kingston Gaels U16 team in 2014–15 and for the club's U18 squad in 2015–16.[1] At age 15 in 2015, he was the only person from Greater Kingston to receive an invite to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) combine.[2] However, he was not selected in the OHL Draft and signed with the junior-B level Westport Rideaus.[3]

Villalta began playing in the OHL for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds starting in 2016, after having impressed at a Greyhounds tryout.[3][4][5] He appeared in 33 games with 28 starts in the 2016–17 season, having a 25–3–0–0 record with a .918 save percentage while having a team record 2.41 goals against average (GAA) mark.[6] He received a league rookie of the month honor and became the winner of the F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy for having the best GAA in the league among first-year players.[6][7]

Villalta was selected in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings.[8] He returned to the Greyhounds for the 2017–18 season and had a 40–5–2–2 record while playing 49 games, having a save percentage of .908 with a GAA of 2.58.[9] He was named third-team All-OHL and was the recipient of the Dave Pinkney Trophy for best GAA.[10][11] He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kings on April 27, 2018.[9] In the 2018–19 season with the Greyhounds, Villalta had a record of 33–15–5–0 in 51 games played, having a .903 save percentage and 3.03 GAA.[12]

Villalta played for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2019–20, playing 22 games while having a record of 10–6–2–0, a save percentage of .899 and a 3.27 goals against average.[4] He also saw action in eight games with the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL, recording a save percentage of .864.[13] He returned to the Reign in 2020–21 and had a 8–8–1 record while being one of the members of the Kings' taxi squad.[4][14] The following season, he ranked third in the league with 28 wins and was fourth with 2660:32 minutes played; in 46 games played his record was 28–10–7, and he helped the team reach the AHL playoffs while having a .903 save percentage.[15]

Villalta signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Los Angeles on July 1, 2022.[16] He played in 22 games and had a record of 12–8–1 in the 2022–23 season.[17] He became a free agent after the season and signed with the Arizona Coyotes.[18] He was sent to their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, and became the team's top goaltender and one of the best in the league.[19] He started the season with a record of 22–11–1 with a 2.58 GAA and .913 save percentage, being named an AHL All-Star before being recalled to the Coyotes.[3] He made his NHL debut on February 16, 2024, stopping each of the four shots he faced while playing most of the third period in a 5–1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.[20] Three days later, he made his first start against the Edmonton Oilers, resulting in a 6–3 loss.[3]

Personal life

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Villalta was born on June 3, 1999, in Kingston, Ontario.[8] His twin brother, Wyatt, played ice hockey as well, while his sister, Rachel, played college soccer.[6][21]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2016–17 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 33 25 3 0 1,795 72 1 2.42 .918 2 1 1 100 — 0 4.20 .841
2017–18 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 49 40 5 4 2,904 125 3 2.58 .908 24 14 9 1,416 — 1 3.30 .893
2018–19 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 51 33 12 5 2,930 148 1 3.03 .903 11 6 5 630 — 1 3.43 .885
2019–20 Fort Wayne Komets ECHL 8 4 3 1 468 30 0 3.85 .864 — — — — — — — —
2019–20 Ontario Reign AHL 22 10 6 2 1,157 63 0 3.27 .899 — — — — — — — —
2020–21 Ontario Reign AHL 18 8 8 1 1,016 58 1 3.43 .889 1 0 1 69 5 0 4.35 .828
2021–22 Ontario Reign AHL 46 28 10 10 2,661 132 0 2.98 .903 3 2 1 168 13 0 4.64 .829
2022–23 Ontario Reign AHL 22 12 8 1 1,288 57 1 2.65 .910 — — — — — — — —
2023–24 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 51 31 17 3 3,049 129 3 2.54 .911 2 0 2 117 5 0 2.56 .914
2023–24 Arizona Coyotes NHL 2 0 1 0 72 5 0 4.17 .828 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 2 0 1 0 72 5 0 4.17 .828 — — — — — — — —

References

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  1. ^ "Matt Villalta". EliteProspects.com.
  2. ^ Graham, Doug (April 10, 2015). "Vilardi likely to be No. 2 pick in OHL draft". The Kingston Whig-Standard.
  3. ^ a b c d "Coyotes G Matt Villalta makes first career NHL start vs. Oilers". Sportsnet. February 19, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Ruicci, Peter (January 17, 2021). "Former Hound Villalta pumped about future". The Sault Star.
  5. ^ Morgan, Craig (January 26, 2024). "Tucson Roadrunners goalie Matt Villalta continues to kick down barriers". GoPHNX.com.
  6. ^ a b c Bakay, Craig (March 29, 2017). "Villalta family well represented in Sault St. Marie hockey". Frontenac News.
  7. ^ Ruicci, Peter (March 23, 2017). "Spotlight shines on Godfrey goaltender Villalta". The Kingston Whig-Standard.
  8. ^ a b "Matt Villalta Stats". Hockey-Reference.
  9. ^ a b "Kings sign goaltender Matthew Villalta to a entry-level contract". Sportsnet. April 27, 2018.
  10. ^ "2017-18 OHL All-Star Teams Announced". Canadian Hockey League. May 18, 2018.
  11. ^ "Villalta and Johnson backstop Greyhounds to Fewest Goals Against". Canadian Hockey League. March 19, 2018.
  12. ^ Wilkins, Cory (March 19, 2019). "Greyhounds' Matthew Villalta named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week". Canadian Hockey League.
  13. ^ "Matthew Villalta Stats". HockeyDB.com.
  14. ^ Dillman, Lisa (September 18, 2021). "Kings' Quinton Byfield and his linemates shine, while a goalie gets a surprise start: Rookie game notes". The Athletic.
  15. ^ Shafran, Jared (July 1, 2022). "Kings Sign Frederic Allard and Matthew Villalta to Contract Extensions". Ontario Reign.
  16. ^ "L.A. Kings sign goalie Matthew Villalta to one-year, two way extension". Sportsnet. July 1, 2022.
  17. ^ "Coyotes' Matt Villalta: Hits waivers". CBS Sports. RotoWire. October 2, 2023.
  18. ^ "Coyotes' Matt Villalta: Signs with Coyotes". CBS Sports. RotoWire. July 1, 2023.
  19. ^ Kelley, James (October 26, 2023). "Newcomer in net Matthew Villalta takes reins as Tucson Roadrunners' No. 1 goalie". Arizona Daily Star.
  20. ^ "Coyotes' Matt Villalta: Makes NHL debut in relief outing". CBS Sports. RotoWire. February 17, 2024.
  21. ^ "Rachel Villalta". Buffalo Bulls.
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