Another Vancouver Island hockey star is heading to the NHL.
Matthew Wood, who grew up in Nanaimo and developed his game with the Victoria Grizzlies, has signed his first professional contract with the Nashville Predators, inking a three-year entry-level contract on Sunday.
The 20-year-old forward takes this next step after an impressive junior and collegiate career.
Wood鈥檚 NHL journey officially began when the Predators selected him 15th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft 鈥� a draft hosted by Nashville.
From selection to signed in Smashville 鉁嶏笍
鈥� Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL)
Wood was born in Lethbridge, Alta., but moved to Nanaimo at a young age. His hockey journey on the Island began with the Nanaimo Clippers in the Vancouver Island Bantam Hockey League in 2018-19.
He then joined the Victoria Grizzlies, where he quickly emerged as a top prospect. Over two British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) seasons from 2020 to 2022, he racked up 98 points in 64 games.
His rookie season in 2021-22 was one for the record books, as he led the BCHL in both goals (45) and points (85), solidifying his status as one of the top young players in Canadian junior hockey. That success propelled him to the NCAA, where he committed to the University of Connecticut (UConn).
As a freshman and the youngest player in the NCAA in 2022-23, Wood wasted no time making an impact, leading UConn in scoring with 34 points. He repeated the feat in his sophomore season, posting 28 points in 35 games.
Seeking new challenges, Wood entered the NCAA transfer portal, moving to the University of Minnesota for his junior year, joining a powerhouse program filled with 15 other NHL prospects.
He thrived on the big stage, notching career highs in goals (17) and points (39) across 39 games while helping the Golden Gophers secure a share of the Big Ten regular-season title.
His development continued on the international stage as well, representing Canada in multiple tournaments.
He registered four points at the 2024 World Junior Championship and was a key contributor to Canada鈥檚 bronze-medal finish at the 2023 U-18 World Championship, where he tallied 13 points in 7 games. He also won gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
The timing of Wood鈥檚 signing is notable, coming just three days after Minnesota was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in a stunning 5-4 loss to UMass Amherst. With his collegiate career now behind him, the 6'5", 205-pound forward is ready to take the next step.
Wood鈥檚 arrival in Nashville comes as the Predators face a disappointing end to their season. With nine games remaining, the team has already been eliminated from playoff contention, making Wood鈥檚 signing a potential signal of change.
As Nashville looks toward the future, they鈥檒l be hoping the Vancouver Island product can be part of a new wave of talent to lead the franchise forward.
From the BCHL to the NCAA and now the NHL, Wood has excelled at every level 鈥� and the next chapter of his career is just beginning.
