Things you don’t expect to read, per the ECHL:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Icemen, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres and the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans, announced that the team has agreed to terms with goaltender Matt Vernon for the 2024-25 season.
Vernon, 26, returns for a second season with the Icemen after orchestrating an outstanding rookie campaign last year. Vernon earned ECHL All-Rookie Team and All-ECHL Second Team honors after setting an Icemen team record for wins in a season with 25, while posting a 2.67 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. In addition, he was named ECHL Goaltender of the Month for February and was named ECHL Goaltender of the Week for the week of Nov. 20-26.
Prior to his professional career, Vernon played at Colorado College, totaling 19 wins, with five shutouts, a 3.02 goals-against average and .901 save percentage. The Calgary, Alberta resident also played two seasons with the North American Hockey League’s Aberdeen Wings where he compiled 57 wins, including a 40-win season with seven shutouts during the 2018-19 season.
Vernon is the son of Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Mike Vernon, who won a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989 and with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997.
I was unaware that Vernon’s son was trying to make a pro career work. I hope he does well!
