(Spruce Grove, AB) – Spruce Grove Saints General Manager Rob Sklaruk announced today the club has acquired forward Ryder Matter from the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) in exchange for forward Ewan McPherson.
Matter, who spend the previous two seasons with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, was acquired by the Sherwood Park Crusaders on June 8th, 2023 in a five player deal. Now, Matter is set to join the Spruce Grove Saints for the upcoming season.
In total, Matter appeared in 117 career AJHL games all with Fort McMurray, compiling 29 goals, 40 assists for 69 points and 104 penalty minutes.
The native of Beaumont, AB is no stranger to the spotlight, competing in the 2022 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge for Team Canada West in Cornwall, Ontario.
The right-handed centreman is listed at 6’0”, 185 pounds and is already committed to play NCAA Division I for the Michigan Tech Huskies.
Prior to his junior career, the 19-year-old developed with the Leduc Oil Kings program for two seasons, suiting up for their U15, U16 and U18 clubs. During his time with the Oil Kings, Matter played 81 games, putting up 66 points (25 goals, 41 assists) along with 44 penalty minutes.
General Manager Rob Sklaruk spoke about adding Ryder to the roster saying “Matter’s addition to our team is an absolute game-changer, we couldn’t be more thrilled to have him on board. His impressive performance in the AJHL, combined with his skillset and determination, will undoubtedly make a significant impact on our organization. Ryder brings not only talent but also a great work ethic that aligns perfectly with our goals. We can’t wait to see what he’ll achieve as a Saint.”
The Saints would like to welcome Ryder and the Matter family to the organization.
The Saints would also like to thank Ewan McPherson for his time and dedication to the organization and wish him the best of luck as a member of the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
The Spruce Grove Saints had an exceptional season, setting a new franchise record for wins on home ice and earning over 100 points in the regular season for the first time in the Silent Ice Sports & Entertainment ownership era. They also claimed the 2023 North Division Champions title after defeating the Sherwood Park Crusaders and Bonnyville Pontiacs in the playoffs.
If you’re interested in supporting the Spruce Grove Saints, season tickets for the upcoming 2022-2023 season are available for purchase at tickets.sprucegrovesaints.ca.