2014 NHL Draft: Blackhawks traded up to get their hands on Matt Iacopelli
By Robert Bondy –
Sitting in his living room with family around, it took a scream of joy from Matt Iacopelli’s aunt to realize a childhood dream had finally come true.
More screaming and fireworks followed as Iacopelli and his family celebrated the Woodhaven native’s selection by the Chicago Blackhawks as the 83rd overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.
“It didn’t hit me at first, but my whole family was yelling and screaming and setting off fireworks,” Iacopelli told MiHockey. “It hit me right about an hour later, ‘Wow I just got drafted to the NHL.’ Every kid’s dream pretty much came true.”
Iacopelli was taken off the board in the middle of the third round, with the Windy City franchise deciding to move up to pick the Muskegon Lumberjack prospect. Chicago traded away forward Brandon Bollig to the Calgary Flames in exchange for the pick needed to snag Iacopelli, making it that much sweeter for the 20-year-old prospect.
“It’s a huge honor to be part of the Blackhawks organization and being drafted to Chicago, an Original Six (team),” said Iacopelli, adding that he has always been a Blackhawks fan despite growing up in Michigan.
Iacopelli played this past season in the United States Hockey League for the Muskegon Lumberjacks, where he had a record-setting campaign. Iacopelli, who said he likens his playing style to that of Tampa Bay superstar Steven Stamkos, was a regular on the scoresheet in 2013-14 with a league-best 41 goals and a total of 63 points, both regular season team records. His impressive scoring ability put him the elite ranks as only the third player in the league’s Tier I era (2002-present) to score 40 or more goals in a season.
The Western Michigan Broncos commit was also an Eastern Conference First Team Midseason All-Star and named to the postseason All-USHL First Team. However, the 6-foot-2, 192 pounder pointed to his teammates as a big reason for most his on-ice success this past season.
“My hard work and teamwork all came together during the season and kind of helped me out a bit,” Iacopelli said. “It was just a huge year, (and) It was easier when I had all the guys on my team support me, everyone working together to make it there.”
Through all the scoring, Iacopelli nearly led Muskegon into the playoffs, as the team fell just one point shy of reaching the postseason. He will have another chance to make the playoffs with the Jacks next season, however. Iacopelli said the current plan is to return to Muskegon in the fall and, from there, he plans to attend Western Michigan University to compete at the college ranks before hopefully making the short trip down the road to Chicago.