Matthew Ford

Matthew Ford (born October 9, 1984) is an American former professional ice hockey forward who played most notably in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Playing career

Amateur Ford started his amateur career playing for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League in the 2003–04 season. In 60 games, Ford posted an impressive 37 goals and 68 points to lead the Stampede and was consequently drafted in the eighth round, 256th overall, in the 2004 NHL entry draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Ford then opted to continue his amateur career by enrolling to play collegiate hockey with the University of Wisconsin of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association the following season. Used as a role player within the Badgers, Ford never totaled more than 13 points in each of his four seasons, but helped Wisconsin win the National Championship as a sophomore in 2006.

Professional Upon completion of his college career, and unsigned from the Blackhawks, Ford made his professional debut in the 2008–09 season with the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL. He was signed to a professional try-out with AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, on November 6, 2008, before he was returned to the Checkers on December 8, 2008. Ford was selected to the American Conference team for the ECHL's All-Star game and following a three-goal, four point performance was named the All-Stars MVP on January 21. Enduring a second stint with the Wolf Pack in late January he compiled a combined 25 games, scoring one goal and two assists. On March 11, immediately after his second spell with Hartford was ended, Ford was signed to a P.T.O contract with fellow AHL team, the Lake Erie Monsters, going scoreless in five games. Ford returned to the Checkers to complete his season with 38 points in 28 regular season games and 5 points in 6 games during the playoffs.

In the 2009–10 season, Ford re-signed with the Charlotte Checkers, but played only 3 games before he was loaned back to Lake Erie on October 30, 2009. Remaining with the Monsters for the duration of the season, Ford posted 13 goals and 27 points in 45 games while also leading with a team-high Plus/Minus of +14.

Re-signed by Lake Erie prior to the 2010–11 campaign, he was invited on a try-out to participate in the Monsters NHL affiliate, the Colorado Avalanche, training camp on September 15, 2010, before returning to Cleveland to begin the season.

On July 1, 2011, Ford was signed to his first NHL contract, agreeing to a two-way one-year deal with the Washington Capitals. Assigned to the Capitals affiliate, the Hershey Bears, Ford scored 28 points in 39 games before he was traded by the Capitals to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Kevin Marshall on February 2, 2012.

Ford was re-signed to a one-year extension with the Flyers on April 4, 2012. Assigned directly to affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms, in the following 2012–13 season, he suffered from injury and a lack of production to post only 4 goals in 35 games with the Phantoms. On March 12, 2013, Ford was traded by the Flyers to the Columbus Blue Jackets for future considerations. He remained in the AHL to be immediately assigned to affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.

Released as a free agent by the Blue Jackets, Ford remained in the AHL signing a one-year contract with the Oklahoma City Barons on July 13, 2013. On July 2, 2015, Ford followed the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliation, in signing a one-year AHL contract with the Bakersfield Condors for the 2015–16 season. Ford led the Condors with 27 goals and 51 points in 64 games.

Grand Rapids Griffins

After three seasons within the Oilers AHL affiliates, Ford left as a free agent to add a veteran presence on a two-year AHL deal with the Grand Rapids Griffins, an affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings on July 12, 2016. During the 2017–18 season, Ford served as captain for the Griffins, where he recorded 22 goals and 16 assists in 72 games, ranking fourth on the team in goals and sixth in points. On June 26, 2018, the Grand Rapids Griffins signed Ford to a two-year contract extension.

On November 5, 2021, Ford officially announced his retirement after a twelve-year professional career having playing in 716 regular season AHL games.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM2001–02 Shattuck–Saint Mary's MNJHL 13 13 13 26 10 — — — — —2002–03 Shattuck–Saint Mary's HSMN 58 37 52 89 44 — — — — —2003–04Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 60 37 31 68 60 — — — — —2004–05 University of Wisconsin WCHA 21 5 5 10 18 — — — — —2005–06 University of Wisconsin WCHA 31 5 2 7 14 — — — — —2006–07 University of Wisconsin WCHA 39 7 6 13 38 — — — — —2007–08 University of Wisconsin WCHA 33 4 5 9 30 — — — — —2008–09 Charlotte Checkers ECHL 28 21 17 38 26 6 2 3 5 212008–09 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 25 1 2 3 10 — — — — — 2008–09 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 5 0 0 0 2 — — — — —2009–10 Charlotte Checkers ECHL 3 0 2 2 6 — — — — —2009–10 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 45 13 14 27 28 — — — — —2010–11 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 76 26 16 42 46 7 3 1 4 82011–12 Hershey Bears AHL 39 10 18 28 47 — — — — —2011–12 Adirondack Phantoms AHL 31 19 12 31 31 — — — — —2012–13 Adirondack Phantoms AHL 35 4 9 13 16 — — — — —2012–13 Springfield Falcons AHL 18 5 6 11 14 4 0 0 0 82013–14 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 73 25 22 47 71 — — — — —2014–15 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 69 19 34 53 34 10 2 7 9 82015–16 Bakersfield Condors AHL 64 27 24 51 60 — — — — —2016–17 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 51 14 21 35 28 19 8 4 12 242017–18 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 72 22 16 38 42 5 2 3 5 102018–19 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 61 11 13 24 49 — — — — —2019–20 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 52 10 17 27 33 — — — — — AHL totals 716 206 224 430 511 45 15 15 30 58

Awards and honors Award Year USHL Rookie of the Year 2004 AHL Calder Cup (Grand Rapids Griffins) 2017