CORALVILLE, Iowa - Matt Hubbarde, former forward of the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, has signed a professional contract with the Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL. He played in his first-career game on Mar. 8 and tallied his first-career goal and point for the Heartlanders.

"Matt is someone who had an amazing second half of the season for us," said head coach Erik Largen. "Scoring at clutch times and being a major factor in securing the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup for a 14th-straight year. We are looking forward to seeing him continue his scoring at the next level." 

Hubbarde played just one season for the Nanooks after two seasons at Dartmouth College, one at Providence College, and his final season coming this year with the Nanooks. This year was a career-year for Hubbarde. He played in 30 games for Alaska, matching a career-high, and he tallied career numbers in goals scored and total points. Hubbarde led the Nanooks in goals scored, posting 13. He added 10 helpers to post a team-high 23 points this season. His 10 apples was fifth on the team. He scored two goals in the first half of the season before erupting for 11 goals in 10 games in the second half, including a goal in six-straight games, and a point in eight-straight. Hubbarde's biggest performance of the season came on Feb. 1 at home against Alaska Anchorage. The senior forward posted a hat-trick and an assist for a four-point performance in the 5-1 victory. On the season, he had a .217 shooting percentage, one power-play goal, one empty-net goal, one game-winning goal, and one game-tying goal.

He earned the January NCAA DI Independent Hockey Co-Player of the Month honor after skating in all six games for the Nanooks. The transfer from Providence College posted six points, all coming on goals for a one-point-per-game average and one goal-per-game average. His goal-scoring streak started on Jan. 4, at Minnesota Duluth; he made it two in a row with a pair of goals at Alaska Anchorage on Jan. 18, his first-career multi-goal game. His hot streak continued to UMass, where, despite being swept, he tallied a goal in each game. He then scored one more goal to end January on Jan. 31 in front of the Carlson Center crowd, helping the Nanooks grab a 3-1 win over the Seawolves.

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