Matt Generous
# Matt Generous

Matthew James Generous (born May 4, 1985) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who last played for Ilves of the Finnish Liiga.

## Playing career

Generous first played Junior A hockey in the EJHL with the New England Jr Falcons before he was drafted in the seventh round, 208th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. Generous then committed to play collegiate hockey in the ECAC with St. Lawrence University. In his senior year in 2008–09, Generous had 8 goals for 17 points and was +5 in 35 games to be named the ECAC's Outstanding Defensive Defenseman. Generous completed his four-year Saints career with 56 points (18+38) in 139 games, and was a four-time member of the ECAC All-Academic Team.

On April 1, 2009, Generous signed a one-year, entry level contract with the Buffalo Sabres and was immediately assigned to AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, to begin his professional career in the remainder of the 2008–09 campaign.

After attending the Sabres training camp for the 2009–10 season, Generous was then reassigned to the Pirates on September 22, 2009. In his first full professional season, Generous remained with the Pirates for the entirety of the year and in 61 games posted 2 goals and 11 assists.

Without a contract offer from the Sabres at season's end, Generous attended fellow AHL team, the Providence Bruins, training camp on a try-out for the 2010–11 season. On October 1, Generous was released from the Bruins, however, he was then signed a one-year contract with ECHL affiliate, the Reading Royals. After starting the season on the Blueline with Royals Generous was then signed to a professional try-out contract with the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL on December 14, 2010.

After three seasons with Lukko, Generous opted to join newly promoted Sport on a one-year contract on April 17, 2014. During the season Generous was traded to HIFK on February 3, 2015. He left the team after the conclusion of the 2016–17 season and signed with EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian EBEL on May 23, 2017.

In the 2017–18 season, Generous served as Salzburg's shutdown defenseman with 6 points in 39 games. In the post-season, Generous helped Salzburg reach the final as Austrian Champions, before losing in game 7 to HC Bolzano. In the off-season Generous opted to return to Finland, securing a one-year contract with his fourth Liiga outfit, Ilves Tampere, on May 25, 2018.

## Career statistics

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2002–03 | New England Jr. Coyotes | EJHL | 49 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | New England Jr. Coyotes | EJHL | 34 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | New England Jr. Falcons | EJHL | 49 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 105 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | St. Lawrence University | ECAC | 34 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | St. Lawrence University | ECAC | 37 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | St. Lawrence University | ECAC | 33 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | St. Lawrence University | ECAC | 35 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | Portland Pirates | AHL | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009–10 | Portland Pirates | AHL | 61 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 74 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | Reading Royals | ECHL | 22 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | Lake Erie Monsters | AHL | 40 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 63 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2011–12 | Lukko | SM-l | 57 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 102 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | Lukko | SM-l | 60 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 38 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| 2013–14 | Lukko | Liiga | 52 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 47 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 2014–15 | Sport | Liiga | 45 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014–15 | HIFK | Liiga | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 45 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 2015–16 | HIFK | Liiga | 48 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 134 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 16 |
| 2016–17 | HIFK | Liiga | 34 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 67 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 38 |
| 2017–18 | EC Red Bull Salzburg | AUT | 39 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 44 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 26 |
| 2018–19 | Ilves | Liiga | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| AHL totals | AHL totals | AHL totals | 105 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 150 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Liiga totals | Liiga totals | Liiga totals | 347 | 11 | 39 | 50 | 559 | 71 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 110 |

## Awards and honors

| Award | Year |
| - | - |
| College |||
| All-ECAC Rookie Team | 2005–06 |
