Matt Nickerson

Matt Nickerson (born January 11, 1985, in Old Lyme, Connecticut, U.S.) is a professional ice hockey defenceman. For the 2009-2010 season, he has signed with the Edmonton Oilers organization.

Playing career
Nickerson played for the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League during the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons. It was during his final season with the team that Nickerson drew the attention of NHL scouts, and in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft the Dallas Stars drafted Nickerson in the third round with the 99th overall pick. Nickerson spent his next season at Clarkson University, where he racked up 179 penalty minutes in 38 games. Nickerson signed a three year entry level contract before playing in Victoriaville. Due to the NHL lockout, he was sent to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Victoriaville Tigres, and finally turned pro in the Finnish SM-liiga, playing with Ässät.

Started 2005-2006 in the Dallas Stars training camp where he scored a goal on Ty Conklin in a NHL exhibition game verse the Edmonton Oilers. Nickerson was then assigned to Iowa of the AHL where he played 4 exhibition games,registering one fighting major, before ending up in Pori, Finland. In his first season with Ässät, Nickerson broke the league record for penalty minutes in the regular season, with 236 total. He was assessed a match penalty for fighting in October 2005, and was suspended for three games for fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct on November 2, 2005.

After his first stint in SM-liiga Nickerson returned to North America for the 2006–07 season and played for the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL and the Iowa Stars of the AHL, both affiliates of the Dallas Stars. He earned a 16 game suspension during his 12 games in Idaho. After a season in North America, Nickerson returned to Pori and joined Ässät for the second time in his career. On October 20, 2007, he was suspended for three games for attacking TPS forward Teemu Laine. While serving this suspension, he attacked Ilves defenceman Kevin Kantee in the locker room area of the Ässät arena on October 27, receiving an additional five-game suspension. Nickerson has turned out to be a fan favourite in Pori during his stints in Finland. In February 2008 Nickerson was transferred from Ässät to Ilves. On February 4, he received a match penalty for fighting in the Ilves-Blues game.