Matt Read
A tenacious undrafted forward who clawed his way into the NHL and became a reliable two-way player for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: June 14·Millennials
Biography
Matt Read's story is a classic hockey underdog tale. Overlooked in every NHL draft, he honed his game through four years at Bemidji State University, where his speed and hockey IQ turned heads. The Philadelphia Flyers, always keen on finding hidden gems, signed him as a free agent in 2011. He didn't just make the team; he exploded onto the scene, scoring 24 goals in his rookie season and finishing as a Calder Trophy finalist for best newcomer. While that offensive peak was brief, Read reinvented himself as a versatile, defensively responsible bottom-six forward, killing penalties and providing steady minutes. His career, built on work ethic rather than draft pedigree, stands as a testament to the paths less traveled to hockey's highest level.
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 1986, 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 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
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
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished as a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 2012.
- Scored 24 goals in his debut NHL season, leading all Flyers rookies that year.
- Played 481 regular-season games in the NHL, the majority with the Philadelphia Flyers.
- Won the NCAA (WCHA) Rookie of the Year award in 2008 while playing for Bemidji State University.
Did You Know?
He was the first player in Bemidji State University history to be a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top NCAA men's hockey player.
Read scored his first NHL goal in his very first game on October 6, 2011, against the Boston Bruins.
He played his final NHL season in 2018-19 with the Minnesota Wild.
After his NHL career, he played professionally in Germany for the Schwenninger Wild Wings.
“They said I was too small, so I just skated faster and thought quicker.”
