Gryphon Gallery: Matt Pettinger

June 10, 2022

Alumni

Stuart Brambley, Archivist Stuart Brambley, Archivist photo

The 85th World Ice Hockey Championship wrapped up in Finland in May 2022 and I was reminded of our only NHL player who attended Glenlyon Norfolk School and who played in the 70th World Championship in Latvia. Matt Pettinger attended GNS from 1989 to 1991. He was an outstanding athlete, playing soccer, basketball, volleyball, cross-country and track.

Matt was also passionate about ice hockey, evidenced by his skill at floor hockey in the old Glenlyon gym and playing his ‘formative years’ on the ice at the Racquet Club. During the 1996 to 1998 seasons he played with the fledgling BCHL Victoria Salsa and represented Canada at U17 during that time. He then enrolled at the University of Denver for a business degree, playing outstanding hockey, helping to win the NCAA Championship and representing Canada in the World Junior Championships in Winnipeg, winning a silver medal. He then joined the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL and represented Canada again at the World Juniors in Finland, coming away with a bronze medal.

He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2000 having many great games and experiences, enough to be included in the senior squad at the Latvia World Championships and finishing in fourth place. During the 2007/2008 season he joined the Vancouver Canucks and a year later the Tampa Bay Lightning. Matt returned briefly to the Canucks the following year to bolster their playoff hopes.

Matt then spent five years in the Elite German League with Cologne and Hamburg before ‘hanging up his skates’ and happily settling into family life back in Victoria as Senior Vice president at Avison Young Global commercial real estate.

In the archive case at the Junior School campus is a floor hockey puck allegedly signed by Matt.