ECHL Defenseman of the Year Matt Register returns to Eagles

WINDSOR, Colo. – The Colorado Eagles, ECHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, announced that they have re-signed defenseman Matt Register for the 2017-18 season.

Register is coming off a season in which he captured ECHL Defenseman of the Year honors for the second time in his career, joining four-time winner Chris Valicevic and three-time winner Tom Nemeth, both members of the ECHL Hall of Fame, as the only players to win the Defenseman of the Year award multiple times.

The Calgary, Alberta native led all ECHL defensemen last season with 64 points in 72 regular-season games, earning him a spot on the All-ECHL First Team. He was also named Most Valuable Player of the 2017 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs, posting 24 points (8g-16a) in 20 postseason contests, helping lead the Eagles to a Kelly Cup championship and becoming the first defenseman in the League's 29-year history to receive the postseason MVP honor.

Register notched new career highs during the 2016-17 campaign in goals (18), assists (46), points (64) and penalty minutes (59). His 64 points were the third-most by a defenseman in Colorado Eagles history.

The 27-year-old has posted 208 points (57g-151a) in 269 ECHL games, after beginning his professional career in the Central Hockey League with the Allen Americans, Arizona Sundogs and Tulsa Oilers. He was named the ECHL Defenseman of the Year during the 2013-14 season with the Ontario Reign and also earned a spot on the ECHL All-Star Team in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns.