Matt Greene is a former professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on May 13, 1983, in Grand Ledge, Michigan, and grew up in the United States. Greene started playing hockey at a young age and played for his high school team before moving on to play for the Green Bay Gamblers in the United States Hockey League (USHL).
After playing for the Gamblers, Greene attended the University of North Dakota, where he played for the Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey team. He played for the team for three seasons and was named the team's captain in his final year. During his time at North Dakota, Greene was known for his physical play and his ability to block shots.
In 2002, Greene was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft. He spent several seasons playing for the Oilers' minor league affiliates before making his NHL debut in the 2005-2006 season. Greene played for the Oilers for two seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 2008.
Greene played for the Kings for nine seasons and was known for his physical play and his leadership on and off the ice. He was named an alternate captain for the Kings in the 2011-2012 season and helped lead the team to two Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014. Greene was also known for his shot-blocking abilities and was a key member of the Kings' penalty-killing unit.
Injuries began to take a toll on Greene's career in the later years, and he was limited to just 29 games in the 2015-2016 season. He missed the entire 2016-2017 season due to injury and announced his retirement from professional hockey in 2018.
Throughout his career, Greene was known for his physical play, shot-blocking abilities, and leadership on and off the ice. He played in a total of 615 NHL games, scoring 16 goals and 66 assists for a total of 82 points. Greene was also known for his work in the community and was a finalist for the NHL's King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2014, which recognizes players who demonstrate leadership on and off the ice and make significant humanitarian contributions to their communities.
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