Matt Calvert endeared himself to thousands of Blue Jackets fans with his hustle.
But before he was a Columbus Blue Jacket, Matt Calvert was a Brandon Wheat King.
Before Matt Calvert was a Brandon Wheat King, he was just a kid from Brandon that played hockey.
Now, his career has come full circle. Calvert retired from the NHL earlier this summer after 10 seasons with the Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche. He'll be joining his hometown team, the Brandon Wheat Kings, as a development coach.
Per a press release from the Wheat Kings, Calvert "will focus primarily on the career development of current players and prospects, emphasizing skill development, fitness, nutrition, mental health, and education."
It's a great opportunity for Calvert to begin his coaching career in the city where he grew up and for a team that he played for. He tallied 99-131-230 in 198 games with the Wheat Kings, and was drafted by the Blue Jackets prior to his final season in Brandon.
“I'm excited to move my family back to Brandon,” said Calvert in a press release. “I'm excited to have the opportunity to help these players out and try and make them better every day. It’s been a lot of fun spending this time off with my family, but it’s time to get back to work."
On the Blue Jackets' all-time leaderboards, Calvert currently ranks T-9 for hat tricks (1), T-8 for even-strength goals (59), and T-4 for short-handed goals (6). He suited up in 416 games for Columbus, notching 72-77-149 while becoming a fan favorite.
