Mathieu Olivier Bio
Mathieu Olivier (born February 11, 1997) is a Canadian–American professional ice hockey player who plays right wing for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 232 pounds, Olivier has built a reputation as a hard-working, physical forward since turning professional in 2018. He is notable as the first Mississippi-born player in NHL history and the first player born in the Gulf Coast region to suit up for the Nashville Predators.
Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, Olivier has represented both the United States and Canada through his hockey journey, eventually playing internationally for the United States. After beginning his career within the Nashville Predators organization, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in July 2022, where he has continued to develop into a steady bottom-six contributor known for his willingness to drop the gloves.
Early Life and Background
Mathieu Olivier was born on February 11, 1997, in Biloxi, Mississippi, while his father, Simon Olivier, was playing for the East Coast Hockey League’s Mississippi Sea Wolves. Because of his father’s professional hockey career, the younger Olivier spent his earliest years moving between cities and countries, including stops in Canada, Germany, Oklahoma City, and Houston. He attended kindergarten in Germany and became fluent in the language before his family eventually returned to their native Canada.
Growing up in the province of Quebec, Olivier developed his love for the game in a region deeply tied to hockey culture. As a youth, he played for the Lévis Commandeurs in the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League, where his combination of size, skating, and edge began to attract the attention of major junior scouts. These early experiences in the Canadian junior system laid the foundation for the physical, responsible style he would carry into his professional career.
Path to Professional Hockey
Olivier was selected by the Moncton Wildcats in the 2013 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Entry Draft, beginning his major junior career at the age of sixteen. His time with the Wildcats lasted only a year and a half, as he was traded to the Shawinigan Cataractes in December 2014 in exchange for a third-round pick. At the time of the trade, he had recorded 21 points across 86 games in the QMJHL.
Upon joining the Cataractes, Olivier quickly made his mark by scoring a goal in the QMJHL’s first-ever Winter Classic, a 4–2 win over the Victoriaville Tigres. He was later named an assistant captain before the 2015–16 season, helping lead the team to the President’s Cup Finals, where they were eliminated by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. On the opening night of the 2017–18 training camps, he was traded to the Sherbrooke Phoenix, where he tallied 42 points while serving as an alternate captain.
His strong play across five QMJHL seasons earned Olivier his first professional contract, signing with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) on February 19, 2018. He finished that year by helping the Phoenix reach the second round of the playoffs, recording six points in ten postseason games, and was recognized with the team’s MVP and Fan Favourite Award.
Mathieu Olivier Career
Early Professional Career (2018–2019)
Following the conclusion of his major junior career, Olivier attended the Nashville Predators’ Development Camp and Prospects Showcase ahead of the 2018–19 season, earning a spot in the organization. Assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals for his first professional season, he posted four goals and 12 points through 54 games while also leading the entire AHL with nine fights, showcasing the combative edge that would become a hallmark of his game. His physical presence and steady play earned him a two-year entry-level contract extension with the Predators covering the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.
Nashville Predators Era (2019–2022)
Olivier began the 2019–20 season with the Admirals, recording seven points in 17 games before receiving his first recall to the Predators on November 18, 2019. He made his NHL debut the following night, appearing on the fourth line in a 2–1 defeat to the Winnipeg Jets on November 19, 2019. Over the following seasons, he continued to develop his role as an energy forward within the Predators organization, eventually wearing a letter and contributing in a depth capacity.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2022–Present)
Following his fourth season within the Predators organization, Olivier was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2022 on July 1, 2022. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to carve out a full-time NHL role, and he has since become a regular contributor in the Blue Jackets’ bottom six. His combination of physicality, forechecking, and penalty-killing reliability has made him a trusted option for the coaching staff in Columbus.
Playing Style and Strengths
Olivier is widely recognized for his physical, no-nonsense approach to the game. He is an aggressive forechecker who is willing to engage opponents physically, and his willingness to drop the gloves has made him one of the league’s notable fighters in recent seasons. Beyond the fighting, he is also a responsible defensive forward, frequently used on the penalty kill and in matchup situations where his size and work ethic shine.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most notable milestones of Olivier’s career is his standing as the first Mississippi-born player in NHL history, a unique distinction linked to his father’s time with the Mississippi Sea Wolves. He is also the first player born in the Gulf Coast region to play for the Nashville Predators. More recently, he was selected as an alternate captain for Team USA at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, representing his country on the international stage.
Mathieu Olivier Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Mathieu Olivier has been valued more for his physical contributions, defensive responsibility, and team play than for point totals. While specific win totals across leagues are not fully verified, his impact has been consistently measured in the energy and momentum he provides his lineups.
QMJHL Highlights
Across five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Olivier developed into a respected leader, highlighted by his time as an assistant captain with the Shawinigan Cataractes and alternate captain with the Sherbrooke Phoenix. He helped lead the Cataractes to the President’s Cup Finals in 2016 and later helped the Phoenix reach the second round of the QMJHL playoffs in 2018, earning the team’s MVP and Fan Favourite Award for his efforts.
Other Performances
At the AHL level with the Milwaukee Admirals, Olivier posted four goals and 12 points in 54 games during his rookie professional season, while leading the league in fights with nine. His ability to combine offensive contribution with a physical edge made him one of the more intriguing bottom-six prospects in the Predators’ system during his developmental years.
Mathieu Olivier Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Olivier family. Mathieu Olivier was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, because his father, Simon Olivier, was playing for the ECHL’s Mississippi Sea Wolves at the time of his birth. Growing up, Mathieu followed his father through multiple cities and countries as Simon continued his professional career, an upbringing that gave Mathieu early exposure to the demands and lifestyle of the sport.
Personal Life
Publicly available verified information about Mathieu Olivier’s personal life, including marital status, spouse, and children, is limited. He is known to maintain an active presence on social media, where fans can follow his career and updates.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Mathieu Olivier remains a key depth forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets, valued for his physicality, penalty killing, and energy role. His continued presence in the lineup has provided the Blue Jackets with a dependable bottom-six option capable of matching up against opposing teams’ top competitors while also shifting momentum with timely physical play.
Throughout the season, Olivier has remained a regular in the Columbus rotation, contributing in a fourth-line and penalty-kill capacity while also offering occasional offensive contributions. His leadership qualities, honed through years of wearing a letter in junior and representing the United States internationally, continue to make him a respected voice in the Blue Jackets’ locker room.
Looking ahead, Olivier’s role with the Blue Jackets appears secure, and his selection as an alternate captain for Team USA at the 2026 IIHF World Championship underscores the respect he has earned across the league. With his combination of size, toughness, and two-way responsibility, he is expected to remain a steady contributor for Columbus both in 2025 and beyond.
