Matt Beleskey is a former professional ice hockey player who played as a left winger. He was born on June 7, 1988, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Beleskey began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Belleville Bulls in 2004. He played for the Bulls for four seasons, from 2004 to 2008, and was known for his physical play and scoring ability.
In 2006, Beleskey was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the fourth round of the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Ducks in 2008 and played for the team for seven seasons. During his time with the Ducks, Beleskey established himself as a reliable scorer and a physical presence on the ice. He played in 329 games for the Ducks, scoring 57 goals and 82 assists.
In 2015, Beleskey became a free agent and signed a five-year contract with the Boston Bruins. He played for the Bruins for two seasons, from 2015 to 2017, and was a key player for the team during his time there. Beleskey's physical play and scoring ability made him a fan favorite in Boston. He played in 78 games for the Bruins, scoring 18 goals and 21 assists.
In 2017, Beleskey was traded to the New York Rangers as part of a deal that sent Rick Nash to the Bruins. He played for the Rangers for one season, from 2017 to 2018, but struggled to find his form with the team. Beleskey played in 15 games for the Rangers, scoring one goal and one assist.
In 2018, Beleskey was traded to the Providence Bruins, the AHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins. He played for Providence for one season, from 2018 to 2019, and was a veteran presence on the team. Beleskey played in 37 games for Providence, scoring six goals and 10 assists.
In August 2019, Beleskey was traded to the Detroit Red Wings as part of a deal that sent David Backes to the Bruins. However, Beleskey never played for the Red Wings and was placed on waivers in September 2019. He was subsequently assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Red Wings, where he played for one season before retiring from professional hockey in 2020.
Overall, Beleskey had a successful career in professional hockey, playing for three NHL teams and establishing himself as a reliable scorer and physical presence on the ice. While he never won a Stanley Cup, Beleskey was a valuable player for the teams he played for and was respected by his teammates and fans alike.
🏒