The Idaho Steelheads [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/steelheads-acquire-dodero-from-cyclones]and head coach and director of hockey operations Everett Sheen announced Wednesday that the club has received defenseman Matt Anderson from the Toledo Walleye [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/the-mayor-is-returning-to-toledo]in exchange for forward Denis Smirnov. Anderson, 26, enters his fourth professional season after spending time last year in the ECHL [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/]and AHL [https://thehockeynews.com/ahl/]. He collected 11 points (2-9-11) in 27 regular-season games for the Walleye, while recording 10 points (7-3-10) in 20 Kelly Cup Playoff games. Anderson played one game with the AHL’s Utica Comets while tallying an assist in four games with the Toronto Marlies. During the 2023-24 campaign, the 6-foot, 195-pound left-shot blueliner finished second among Toledo defenders with 34 points (13-21-34) in 68 games. He notched nine points (3-6-9) in 14 Kelly Cup Playoff games. Anderson also registered three assists in three games for the AHL’s Marlies. As a rookie in 2022-23, he finished third among South Carolina Stingrays [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/community/latest-news/stingrays-announce-availability-of-cancer-awareness-jerseys]defensemen with 28 points (6-22-28) in 57 games. Prior to professional hockey, the Shakopee, Minn. native played five seasons at the University of Minnesota Duluth where he helped the Bulldogs capture back-to-back NCAA [https://thehockeynews.com/ncaa/]National Championships (2018, 2019) with fellow Steelhead, Jade Miller. Anderson appeared in 181 career games accumulating 28 points (3-25-28). He played parts of two seasons in the United States Hockey League [https://thehockeynews.com/ushl/]with the Green Bay Gamblers from 2016-17.
