The Jacksonville Icemen have announced that they have re-signed goaltender Matt Vernon for the 2023-24 season. Vernon, 26, returns to Jacksonville after a very strong rookie season with the Icemen, where he put up a 25-10-3 record with a 2.67 GAA, .909SV%, and one shutout; his strong play continued into the Kelly Cup Playoffs, where he went 3-3-1 with a 2.10 GAA, .928SV%, and two shutouts as the Icemen would lose to the Florida Everblades in the opening round. The San Jose, California native would be named to the ECHL All-Rookie and ECHL Second All-Star Teams. After the team signed Justin Close last week, Vernon’s signing now gives the Icemen two goaltenders on ECHL contracts. Matt Vernon is the son of former NHL Goaltender Mike Vernon, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023.
Heading into next season, expect the Icemen to start the year with Micheal Houser and Vernon, as Houser will likely be sent to Jacksonville. The Rochester Americans will likely begin the season with Devon Levi and Felix Sandstrom.
Prior to going to joining the Icemen, Vernon spent two years in the NAHL with the Aberdeen Wings, including a 40-win season in 2018-19. He led the Wings to a Robertson Cup Championship, where he would take home Goaltender of the Year and be named the Robertson Cup MVP in 2019. He played his collegiate hockey at Colorado College, where he played four seasons, picking up 19 wins while putting up a 3.02 GAA and .901SV%. He would sign his first pro contract with the Reading Royals at the end of the 2022-23 season and played two games in Reading before signing with Jacksonville in the off-season.
