ECHL Player Profile: Matt Ustaski

Matt Ustakski was a seventh-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets back in 2014, and he still remembers the day his name got called, “Ya, definitely pretty cool to get your first taste of the NHL, and it’s that’s everyone’s dream growing up is to play in the NHL one day, and you gotta make it through the minors to get there.” He has definitely done his time in the minors as he has seen time in both the SPHL and ECHL, including playing with the Norfolk Admirals, Jacksonville Icemen, Idaho Steelheads, Rapid City Rush, Wheeling Nailers, Atlanta Gladiators, and most recently, the Adirondack Thunder in which he was acquired in a trade with the Gladiators, The Thunder were Ustaski’s third ECHL team this year. He has six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 49 career games, “You definitely learn to pack light; you never know when you’re going to get moved, traded, or released. There’s a bunch of different things that can happen, it’s all about opportunity and making the most of it when you get the chance. I played in a few different spots and got to see the world a little bit, which is cool, but I’d like to stay in one place,” said Utaski on his career so far.

Ustaski who was recently released from the Thunder, headed back to the SPHL’s Quad City Storm, where he is leading the team in goals and points with 22 goals and 19 assists for 41 points in 27 games, touched on getting the call-up to the ECHL, “It’s good it’s definitely a higher level, higher pace, good speed up in the ECHL, I think it was definitely deserved hopefully, I can make an impact and stay in this league” Utaski said in a post-game interview after last Friday’s game vs Florida Everblades. He also mentioned that playing in the ECHL can help his confidence level. “Ya, it definitely gives you some confidence, and now you just want to translate it to the next level and help out the team here in Adirondack.”

Ustaski and the Quad City Storm are back in action on Friday Night against the Pensacola Ice Flyers.