Matthew Peca Bio
Matthew Peca is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League (AHL). A centre who shoots left, he was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round, 201st overall, of the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) entry draft. After four seasons at Quinnipiac University, he made his NHL debut in 2016 and has since spent time with several organizations while building a reputation as a steady, two-way forward in the minor professional ranks.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Peca was born on April 27, 1993, in Petawawa, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a region with deep roots in Canadian amateur hockey, and he developed his game on local rinks before reaching junior eligibility. His early development in Petawawa laid the groundwork for the work ethic that would later define his path through junior and college hockey.
Path to Hockey
Before committing to a collegiate program, Peca played for the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Central Canada Hockey League, a junior circuit based in Ontario. In his final year with Pembroke, he helped the Lumber Kings capture the Royal Bank Cup, the national Junior A championship. He was also drafted by the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and was claimed off waivers by the Kitchener Rangers in the offseason before 2011–12, though he never suited up for Kitchener because of his commitment to Quinnipiac University.
Matthew Peca Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Following his graduation from Quinnipiac, Matthew Peca signed an amateur tryout with the Syracuse Crunch, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s AHL affiliate, before inking a two-year entry-level contract with the Lightning on April 1, 2015. He spent the bulk of his first professional seasons developing with Syracuse, refining his two-way game and earning the trust of the Lightning’s coaching staff.
On December 27, 2016, the Lightning announced Peca’s call-up to the NHL roster. He made his debut the next day, appearing in a 4–3 overtime win over the visiting Montreal Canadiens. Peca recorded his first NHL point, an assist on a goal by Alex Killorn, on December 31, and on January 3, 2017, he scored his first NHL goal against Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, becoming the first Quinnipiac Bobcat to score a goal in the NHL. He signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Tampa Bay on July 5, 2017, and was named to the 2018 AHL All-Star Game on January 4, 2018.
Montreal Canadiens Era (2018–2020)
As a free agent, Matthew Peca signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens on July 1, 2018. He opened the 2018–19 season with Montreal and scored his first goal for the club on November 8, 2018, in a 6–5 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres. He continued to rotate between centre and wing duties, contributing in a depth role for the Canadiens.
In the final year of his contract, Peca was unable to lock down an NHL spot through training camp and was placed on waivers before being assigned to the Laval Rocket, Montreal’s AHL affiliate. He appeared in five scoreless games on recall with the Canadiens, then was dealt to the Ottawa Senators at the 2019–20 NHL trade deadline on February 24, 2020, in exchange for Aaron Luchuk and a 2020 draft pick. He played five games for Ottawa, registering one assist, and added 21 games with the Belleville Senators, where he scored three goals and 11 points.
St. Louis Blues and Springfield Thunderbirds Era (2021–Present)
On July 29, 2021, Matthew Peca signed a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues as a free agent. He was assigned to the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Blues’ AHL affiliate, after clearing waivers at the start of the 2021–22 season. Peca was recalled on December 10, 2021, and played five games with the Blues, recording one point, before being returned to Springfield on December 20. He was re-signed by St. Louis to a two-year contract extension on March 23, 2022.
After attending Blues training camp in 2023, Peca was placed on waivers on October 1, 2023, and went unclaimed. He was assigned to Springfield on October 2 to open the 2023–24 campaign, and on opening night, October 14, 2023, he was named captain of the Thunderbirds. On March 14, 2024, Peca signed a two-year AHL contract extension with the organization. On January 11, 2025, he recorded his 158th point with the Thunderbirds, an assist on a Dalibor Dvorský goal, becoming the franchise’s all-time points leader in a 6–4 win over the Providence Bruins.
During the 2024–25 season, Peca set new career highs with 31 goals and 63 points in 67 games, and was named to the AHL First All-Star Team for the first time in his career. On March 10, 2026, while under contract with the Thunderbirds, Peca was traded to the Syracuse Crunch in exchange for defenceman Wyatt Newpower.
Driving Style and Strengths
Matthew Peca is recognized as a reliable two-way centre with strong hockey sense and dependable faceoff work. His compact build and quick first step allow him to win races to pucks and disrupt opposing offensive zone entries. Coaches have consistently valued his penalty-killing reliability and his willingness to play in all situations, traits that have made him a leader in every AHL locker room he has joined.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Matthew Peca’s career came on January 3, 2017, when he became the first Quinnipiac Bobcat to score a goal in the NHL. More recently, on January 11, 2025, he became the Springfield Thunderbirds’ all-time franchise points leader, a milestone reflecting his consistency and longevity. His 2024–25 selection to the AHL First All-Star Team further cemented his standing among the league’s top performers that season.
Matthew Peca Career Wins
Matthew Peca’s career is highlighted by a Royal Bank Cup championship with the Pembroke Lumber Kings, an NHL debut highlighted by his first goal, and a record-setting tenure as captain of the Springfield Thunderbirds. His combination of junior, collegiate, and professional accomplishments underscores a career built on steady improvement and leadership.
AHL Highlights
Since turning professional, Peca has spent the majority of his career in the AHL, with stints in Syracuse, Laval, Belleville, and Springfield. He was named to the 2018 AHL All-Star Game during his time with Syracuse, and in 2024–25 he set new personal bests with 31 goals and 63 points for Springfield, earning AHL First All-Star Team honours. On January 11, 2025, he surpassed the Thunderbirds’ previous franchise points record, finishing the year as the team’s all-time leading scorer.
Other Wins and Performances
In his final year with the Pembroke Lumber Kings, Peca helped the club win the Royal Bank Cup, the Canadian Junior A national championship. He later captained the Quinnipiac Bobcats in 2014–15 and was named to the All-ECAC Hockey First Team, signalling his emergence as one of the top collegiate players in the conference that season.
Matthew Peca Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly verified details about Matthew Peca’s family background are limited, and no specific relatives are widely documented in major hockey reference sources.
Personal Life
Matthew Peca keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye, and no verified information about a spouse, partner, or children is currently available in major reporting or team profiles.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season represented the high-water mark of Matthew Peca’s professional career. Serving as captain of the Springfield Thunderbirds, he set new personal bests with 31 goals and 63 points across 67 games, and his selection to the AHL First All-Star Team confirmed his place among the league’s elite performers. His January 11, 2025, record-breaking performance that made him the franchise’s all-time points leader served as the symbolic centerpiece of a memorable campaign.
Looking beyond the 2024–25 regular season, Peca’s trajectory suggested continued leadership value for Springfield, both on the ice and in the locker room. His two-year AHL contract extension signed in March 2024 indicated organizational confidence in his long-term role, and his production trends pointed to another strong statistical season ahead. Heading into the next chapter of his career, Peca remained one of the most established veterans in the Thunderbirds’ lineup.