Cyclones agree to terms with Hellickson

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced that defenseman Matt Hellickson has signed for the 2026-27 season. With his signing, Hellickson will return to professional hockey after his last appearance in 2023-24.

Hellickson spent his last three professional seasons in the Maple Leafs system, appearing in games with the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies and their former ECHL affiliate, the Newfoundland Growlers. Hellickson re-joins the system with the Cyclones with an impressive resume that includes two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program, and four seasons with the University of Notre Dame.

While at Notre Dame, Hellickson was a four-year member of the Fighting Irish and served as an alternate captain in his final season (2020-21). Over the course of his collegiate career, Hellickson notched 52 points (13g-39a) in 146 appearances. In addition, he anchored a Notre Dame blueline that won the Big Ten Conference in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Following the end of his college career, Hellickson appeared in the AHL with the Binghamton Devils, and later claimed a Bronze Medal at the 2021 IIHF Men's World Championship while representing the United States.