#20

Matt Cassidy

Forward

Player profile

  • Year Senior
  • Height 6-0
  • Weight 187
  • Hometown Medford, N.J.
  • Junior Team Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Ohio State Career

  • A two-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and an Academic All-Big Ten choice
  • Started collegiate career at Quinnipiac in 2018-19 before returning to the USHL for the next season; joined Ohio State program in 2020-21
  • Played in 46 collegiate games, with a goal and six assists, entering senior season

2022-23 (Senior Season, through Jan. 1)

  • Career-best seven assists and eight points while playing in 14 games
  • Two-assist night vs. Bowling Green Dec. 17
  • Three points in sweep of Bentley Oct. 20-21, with goal and an assist in game one and helper in game two; goal was first since December 2020 vs. Arizona State

2021-22 (Junior Season)

  • Played in 12 games, with four assists
  • First career two-assist game and two-point night vs. LIU Jan. 1
  • Helper in his first two games of the season – Oct. 9 at Bentley, Oct. 15 vs. UConn
  • Earned Academic All-Big Ten and Ohio State Scholar-Athlete honors

2020-21 (Sophomore Season)

  • Skated in 19 games, with a goal and two assists
  • First collegiate point was an assist against Arizona State Dec. 17 and notched first career goal Dec. 18 vs. the Sun Devils
  • Helper against Notre Dame Feb. 7
  • Nine shot blocks, with two in three games (Nov. 24 at Minnesota, Dec. 18 vs. Arizona State, Feb. 6 vs. Notre Dame)
  • Earned Ohio State Scholar-Athlete honors

Prior to Ohio State

  • Skated with Youngstown Phantoms in 2019-20, posting a 19-17-36 line in 49 games
  • Spent 2018-19 at Quinnipiac University, appearing in 15 games for the NCAA Tournament team and earning ECAC All-Academic Team honors
  • Played in the AJHL with the Brooks Bandits in 2017-18, notching 42 points (17g, 25a) in 52 games and adding three assists and four points in the playoffs
  • Spent 2016-17 with the Springfield Jr. Blues, with 38 points, on 15 goals and 23 assists, in 56 games; named to NAHL Midwest All-Rookie Team and was the Blues’ Rookie of the Year
  • Skated with the U.S. National U-17 Team and the USNTDP Junior Team in 2015-16, along with two games with the USHL Green Bay Gamblers
  • Played for Team Comcast AAA team and at St. Augustine Prep; earned First Team All-New Jersey and First Team All-Gordon Conference accolades
  • Also played lacrosse
  • Graduated from St. Augustine Prep in 2017

Personal

  • Son of Joseph, the vice president of finance at Stevens Institute of Technology who played football at Delaware, and Lori Ann, a reading specialist
  • Has a sister, Julie
  • On why he chose Ohio State: “A combination of world-class athletics, academics and an unbelievable alumni network attributed to my decision to attend OSU.”
  • Economics – business major
  • Enjoys fishing, golfing and going to the beach
  • Started playing hockey at age 4; father would take him to Flyers games and he fell in love with the sport early and wanted to play
  • Summer jobs have included working at a gym, fencing company and hardware store and teaching at hockey camps
  • On his favorite hockey players: “Growing up I was a huge Mike Richards fan, but recently I have been following Ryan O’Reilly very closely. I love how they play both ends of the ice, lead and produce every night to help the team succeed. Also, they WIN!

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