Matt Vinc
Encyclopedia
Matt Vinc is a lacrosse goaltender in the National Lacrosse League
, currently playing for the Rochester Knighthawks
, the Six Nations Chiefs
of the MSL
, and the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse
.
Vinc was born in St. Catharines, Ontario
. He was a member of Team Canada during the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship
. He is also a teacher and lacrosse coach at Denis Morris Catholic High School
in St. Catharines.
in the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League
from 1999 to 2003. His accomplishments playing for the A's include:
, along with fellow professional lacrosse
players Billy Dee Smith
, Craig Conn
, and Sean Greenhalgh
. In five years, he helped the Holy Cross Raiders to 2 gold medals, 1 silver, and 1 bronze at the OFSAA field lacrosse championships. This would begin a dynasty for the Holy Cross lacrosse program to excel in Niagara and Ontario
competition.
, where he played long-stick defense and was named the college's Male Athlete of the Year.
in the 2005 NLL entry draft in the first round (sixth overall). In the 2006 NLL season
, Vinc played sparingly with the Stealth. Following the season, he was acquired by the New York Titians in the 2006 NLL expansion draft. In 2007
, he took over the starting goaltender roll for the Titans. In 2009
, Matt Vinc guided his team to a 10-6 record for a three way tie for first place in the Eastern Division with the Buffalo Bandits and the Boston Blazers. The New York Titans were awarded the Eastern Division regular season championship by way of tie breakers. On May 9, in the Eastern Division playoff championship game, Matt Vinc stopped 41 out of 44 shots and kept the highly offensive Buffalo Bandits to only three goals as the Titans defeated Buffalo 9-3. Vinc allowed 1 more goal than the National Lacrosse League
playoff record of 2 goals against in a game, which was set by Bob Watson
, and the Toronto Rock
defeated the Philadelphia Wings
13-2 during a 1999
semi-final playoff game.
Vinc became a member of the Orlando Titans
when the franchise moved to Florida for the 2010 season. When the team folded after that season, Vinc was chosen first overall in the dispersal draft
, sending him to the Colorado Mammoth
. As he teaches high school in St. Catharines, Ontario
, however, he did not want to play in Colorado. In October 2010, he was thus traded to the Rochester Knighthawks
in a significant trade that sent Vinc and transition player Matt Zash
to Rochester in exchange for superstar attackman John Grant, Jr. and defenseman Mac Allen
. Draft picks were also exchanged.
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
, currently playing for the Rochester Knighthawks
Rochester Knighthawks
The Rochester Knighthawks are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They play in Rochester, New York at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. The Knighthawks were previously members of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1995 to 1997...
, the Six Nations Chiefs
Six Nations Chiefs
The Six Nations Chiefs are Senior "A" box lacrosse team from Six Nations, Ontario. The chiefs play in the Major Series Lacrosse Senior "A" League.-See also:* Six Nations Arrows - an affiliated Junior "A" box lacrosse team.-External links:* * * *...
of the MSL
Major Series Lacrosse
Major Series Lacrosse is a Senior A box lacrosse league based out of Ontario, Canada sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Most of the players in the league play or have played in the National Lacrosse League. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the right to compete against the...
, and the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
.
Vinc was born in St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines is the largest city in Canada's Niagara Region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario, Canada, with 97.11 square kilometres of land...
. He was a member of Team Canada during the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship
2006 World Lacrosse Championship
2006 Warrior World Lacrosse Championship, held in London, Ontario from 13–22 July 2006, was won by Team Canada and featured a record twenty-one competing nations...
. He is also a teacher and lacrosse coach at Denis Morris Catholic High School
Denis Morris Catholic High School
Denis Morris Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic Secondary School in St. Catharines, Ontario. The school is administered by the Niagara Catholic District School Board.-Notable alumni:*Linda Evangelista - Supermodel...
in St. Catharines.
Junior career
Vinc had an outstanding junior career. He played for the St. Catharines AthleticsSt. Catharines Athletics Jr. A
The St. Catharines Athletics are a Junior "A" box lacrosse team from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The Athletics play in the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League.-Minto Cup Championships:...
in the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League
OLA Junior A Lacrosse League
The Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League is a box lacrosse league in Ontario, Canada sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. The playoff champion moves on to compete for the National Championship—the Minto Cup.-The teams:-Playoff Champions:...
from 1999 to 2003. His accomplishments playing for the A's include:
- 1 OLA Jr.AOLA Junior A Lacrosse LeagueThe Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League is a box lacrosse league in Ontario, Canada sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. The playoff champion moves on to compete for the National Championship—the Minto Cup.-The teams:-Playoff Champions:...
regular season MVP award - 3 OLA Jr.A playoff MVP awards
- 3 OLA Jr.A championships (2001–2003)
- 3 Bob Meleville Memorial Awards (lowest team total goals)
- 2 Minto CupMinto CupThe Minto Cup is awarded annually to the champion junior men's lacrosse team of Canada.It was donated in 1901 by the Governor-General, Lord Minto, and from 1901 until 1909 awarded to the senior men's champion of Canada...
National championships (2001, 2003) - 1 Minto Cup MVP Award
- B.W. Evans Award (Top Graduating Player).
High school career
Vinc played high school field lacrosse at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary SchoolHoly Cross Secondary School (St. Catharines)
Holy Cross is a Catholic Secondary School in St. Catharines, Ontario. The school is administered by the Niagara Catholic District School Board.-History:Holy Cross was founded in 1985. Originally known as P.K...
, along with fellow professional lacrosse
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
players Billy Dee Smith
Billy Dee Smith
Billy Dee Smith is a professional lacrosse player who plays for the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League and formerly of the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse...
, Craig Conn
Craig Conn
Craig Conn is a Canadian lacrosse player who plays for the Washington Stealth in the National Lacrosse League.-High school career:...
, and Sean Greenhalgh
Sean Greenhalgh
Sean Greenhalgh is a lacrosse player for the Buffalo Bandits in the National Lacrosse League. Sean is a cousin to Charlie Mulgrew, a Scottish footballer, who plays for Celtic FC.-Junior career:...
. In five years, he helped the Holy Cross Raiders to 2 gold medals, 1 silver, and 1 bronze at the OFSAA field lacrosse championships. This would begin a dynasty for the Holy Cross lacrosse program to excel in Niagara and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
competition.
College career
Vinc is also a graduate of Canisius CollegeCanisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
, where he played long-stick defense and was named the college's Male Athlete of the Year.
NLL career
Vinc was acquired by the San Jose StealthSan Jose Stealth
The San Jose Stealth were a member of the National Lacrosse League, the professional box lacrosse league of North America from 2004 until 2009. They played at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, which is also the home of the NHL's San Jose Sharks and the AFL's San Jose SaberCats. They relocated to San...
in the 2005 NLL entry draft in the first round (sixth overall). In the 2006 NLL season
2006 NLL season
-All-Star game:The 2006 All-Star Game was held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario on February 25, 2006. The West Division defeated the East Division 14-13. The MVP of the game was Lewis Ratcliff of the Calgary Roughnecks, who scored 4 goals, including the game winner...
, Vinc played sparingly with the Stealth. Following the season, he was acquired by the New York Titians in the 2006 NLL expansion draft. In 2007
2007 NLL season
The Knighthawks had the overall top seed in the playoffs, but were unable to host the Championship game due to a scheduling conflict at the Blue Cross Arena.-Team Movement:...
, he took over the starting goaltender roll for the Titans. In 2009
2009 NLL season
-Pre-season:* August 19, 2008: The NLL announced that the Minnesota Swarm would be moving from the East division to the West division, giving the West six teams to the East's seven....
, Matt Vinc guided his team to a 10-6 record for a three way tie for first place in the Eastern Division with the Buffalo Bandits and the Boston Blazers. The New York Titans were awarded the Eastern Division regular season championship by way of tie breakers. On May 9, in the Eastern Division playoff championship game, Matt Vinc stopped 41 out of 44 shots and kept the highly offensive Buffalo Bandits to only three goals as the Titans defeated Buffalo 9-3. Vinc allowed 1 more goal than the National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
playoff record of 2 goals against in a game, which was set by Bob Watson
Bob Watson (lacrosse)
Bob "Whipper" Watson is a former goaltender for the Toronto Rock in the National Lacrosse League and is regarded as one of the best goaltenders ever to play indoor lacrosse Watson won six NLL Championships with the Rock, and was named Championship Game MVP in both 2003 and 2011. Watson was named...
, and the Toronto Rock
Toronto Rock
The Toronto Rock is a lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Rock of the late 1990s / early 2000s has been called a dynasty, having won five NLL championships in seven years. From 1999 to 2003, the Rock appeared in an NLL-record...
defeated the Philadelphia Wings
Philadelphia Wings
The Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
13-2 during a 1999
1999 NLL season
-Awards:-Weekly Awards:Each week, a player is awarded "Player of the Week" honours.-Monthly Awards:Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie.-Statistics Leaders:...
semi-final playoff game.
Vinc became a member of the Orlando Titans
Orlando Titans
The Orlando Titans were a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League that played in the 2010 season. The Titans began as the New York Titans, and played for three seasons in New York before announcing the move to Orlando on August 10, 2009....
when the franchise moved to Florida for the 2010 season. When the team folded after that season, Vinc was chosen first overall in the dispersal draft
Dispersal draft
A dispersal draft is a process in professional sports for assigning players to a new team when their current team goes out of business, consolidates with another team, or for some other reason ceases to exist. Since most sports drafts are held in North America, this is where most dispersal drafts...
, sending him to the Colorado Mammoth
Colorado Mammoth
The Colorado Mammoth are a member of the National Lacrosse League. They have played at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, United States, since the 2003 season....
. As he teaches high school in St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines is the largest city in Canada's Niagara Region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario, Canada, with 97.11 square kilometres of land...
, however, he did not want to play in Colorado. In October 2010, he was thus traded to the Rochester Knighthawks
Rochester Knighthawks
The Rochester Knighthawks are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They play in Rochester, New York at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. The Knighthawks were previously members of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1995 to 1997...
in a significant trade that sent Vinc and transition player Matt Zash
Matt Zash
Matt Zash is a lacrosse player for the Philadelphia Wings in the National Lacrosse League, and for the Long Island Lizards of Major League Lacrosse.-Collegiate:...
to Rochester in exchange for superstar attackman John Grant, Jr. and defenseman Mac Allen
Mac Allen
Mac Allen is a lacrosse player for the Colorado Mammoth in the National Lacrosse League and formerly of the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse. Allen was a member of the Edmonton Rush from 2007 to 2008 and the Rochester Knighthawks from 2009 to 2010. He was traded along with superstar...
. Draft picks were also exchanged.
NLL
| Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | Min | GA | Sv | GAA | Sv % | GP | Min | GA | Sv | GAA | Sv % | ||
| 2006 | San Jose | 4 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 16.97 | 55.56% | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2007 | New York | 14 | 712 | 157 | 419 | 13.23 | 72.74% | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2008 | New York | 16 | 888 | 168 | 562 | 11.35 | 76.99% | 2 | 106 | 23 | 52 | 13.08 | 69.33% | ||
| 2009 | New York | 16 | 916 | 173 | 609 | 11.33 | 77.88% | 3 | 182 | 25 | 110 | 8.23 | 81.48% | ||
| 2010 | Orlando | 16 | 902 | 143 | 609 | 9.51 | 80.98% | 2 | 112 | 24 | 68 | 12.81 | 73.91% | ||
| 2011 | Rochester | 16 | 933 | 152 | 585 | 9.77 | 79.38% | 1 | 60 | 10 | 44 | 10.00 | 81.48% | ||
| NLL Totals | 82 | 4,366 | 797 | 2789 | 10.95 | 77.77%!! 8 !! 460 !! 82 !! 274 !! 10.69 !! 76.97% | |||||||||