When Matthew Sop was learning how to walk as a baby, his dad put him in skates, effectively starting his hockey career. Hailing from Kitchener, Ontario, Sop’s passion for the game also sprang from his environment. An early convert, Sop described hockey as a religion in Canada.
“My dad always says I used to tilt my head when a hockey game was on the TV,” Sop said. “It’s just always been in my blood, and it is a pretty easy thing to get into in Canada.”
In 2020, Sop started to play for his hometown team, the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League, or OHL, a developmental league for 16-20 year olds in Canada, which he said was a dream come true.
“When you’re young in Kitchener you look up to all of those Rangers and think they are the coolest.” Sop said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better place. The atmosphere and the fans were electric and the coaches I had throughout the years helped me in so many ways.”
When Sop turned 20 years old, it was time to move on from his beloved Rangers and find his next team to start his professional hockey career. The Iowa Wild offered him a contract, and it was one he couldn’t pass up.
“I had an unreal time my first year, with a lot of learning experiences on and off the ice,” Sop said. “Iowa has been great to me, and I’m happy I ended up here.”
Coming from the Ontario Hockey League to play in the American Hockey League in Des Moines, Sop noticed a difference in speed and strength in the gameplay but said adjusting to these contrasts has only improved his game.
“You have to think quicker and almost play chess out there,” Sop said. “But I think that adapted to my game, and I’m still working to get faster and stronger.”
Sop only played in 27 games with the Wild over two seasons compared to 43 with the Heartlanders, where he’s found a home despite his short tenure.
“Playing with the Rangers for all those years, I know what it’s like to be comfortable in your situation,” Sop said. “It is reassuring when you know the area, and I couldn’t have asked for a better spot than Iowa City.”
One of Sop’s memorable moments with the Heartlanders arrived on a Friday night in Bloomington, Indiana, in an overtime matchup against the Bison. On a two-on-one breakaway, Sop fired a wrist shot that snuck past the goalie into the back of the net for a 3-2 win. Although the forward had a few overtime winners in the OHL, he said the feeling never gets old.
“There is no better feeling than scoring a goal, and adding onto that, being an overtime winner made it even better,” Sop said. “Whenever I see overtime, I chase that and want to be the guy to win it for the boys.”
The Heartlanders have struggled early with a 7-11 record and currently sit on the outside of the playoff picture. Sop tallied 32 points for the squad last season as the Heartlanders qualified for the postseason for the first time in franchise history. Despite the setbacks, Sop said wins are on the horizon.
“We come in each day with a learning mindset, and our headspace is in a good spot,” Sop said. “It’s a little slow start, but that’s okay because we are so skilled. With all of the systems we have put in place and the positive leaders in the locker room, we’re still in a good spot despite the results.”