Matt Calvert
A late-round draft pick who carved out a decade-long NHL career through relentless hustle and a fearless, shot-blocking style that made him a fan favorite.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: December 24·Millennials
Biography
Matt Calvert’s path to the NHL was anything but guaranteed. Hailing from Brandon, Manitoba, he was a fifth-round selection by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2008, a draft slot that often yields little more than organizational depth. Calvert, however, had other plans. He made his mark not with flashy scoring, but with an engine that never quit. He became the embodiment of the Blue Jackets' emerging identity in the 2010s: tenacious, hard to play against, and willing to sacrifice his body on every shift. His most memorable moment came in the 2014 playoffs, scoring a double-overtime winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After eight seasons in Columbus, he brought his brand of gritty utility to the Colorado Avalanche, providing veteran stability to a young team on the rise before injuries led to his retirement. His career stands as a testament to how will and work ethic can forge a lasting place in the world's best hockey league.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Matt was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 566 regular-season games in the NHL for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche.
- Scored a double-overtime playoff game-winning goal for Columbus against Pittsburgh in 2014.
- Recorded a career-high 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists) in the 2017-18 season with Columbus.
- Was a key penalty-killer and defensive forward throughout his decade-long NHL career.
Did You Know?
He played his junior hockey for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, the same team his brother, Lance, later played for.
Calvert once required 30 stitches after blocking a shot with his face during a game.
He was known for his distinctive, wide-eyed expression during intense moments on the ice, which fans often noted.
He and his wife, Courtney, are involved in charitable work, including supporting the Ronald McDonald House.
“I built my career on outworking everyone else, shift by shift.”
