Matt Gilroy is a former professional ice hockey player also known as the better half of Fox Sportscaster Jenny Taft. The American rose to prominence in 2009 after joining the National Hockey League (NHL) as a defenseman. He would go on to cement his career in the sport whilst playing for various teams over the years.
In the NHL, he has played for teams like the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, and the Florida Panthers. Additionally, he played NCAA hockey with Boston University of the Hockey East conference and appeared in Beanpot; an ice hockey tournament where he won the Hobey Baker Award. He is also an NCAA champion with the Terriers and a three-time All-American.
Profile Summary of Matt Gilroy
- Full Name: Matthew J. Gilroy
- Date of Birth: 20th July 1984
- Age: 38 years (as of 2022)
- Place of Birth: North Bellmore, New York, U.S
- Ethnicity: White
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Leo
- Education: St Mary High School, Boston University
- Profession: Former professional ice hockey player, Hockey Instructor
- Net Worth: $2 million
- Height: 6 feet 2 inches
- Weight: 91 kg
- Marital Status: Married
- Matt Gilroy’s wife: Jenny Taft
- Children: Georgie James Gilroy
Matt Gilroy Tied the Knot with TV Personality Jenny Taft in 2016
Matt Gilroy is married to popular sports television personality Jenny Taft who works for Fox Sports 1 on shows like Skip and Shannon: Undisputed. She also serves as the lead college football sideline reporter on Fox Sports 1 broadcasts. Additionally, she is the daughter of John Taft, a former professional ice hockey defenseman noted for playing on the 1976 U.S Olympic team.
Matt and Jenny met as freshmen at Boston University and started dating in 2005. Jenny was a college athlete just like Matt. While he played hockey, Jenny was on the women’s lacrosse team. The bond between the sports enthusiasts grew over time though they had to manage a long-distance relationship due to the nature of their jobs. Almost four years after graduation, the once freshman couple eventually tied the knot in a private wedding held on June 5, 2016. The marriage was graced by close friends and family.
In December 2021, Matt and Jenny announced that they were expecting a baby girl. The news was met with good wishes from fans and coworkers alike. On March 28, 2022, Jenny posted a video of their newborn baby girl named Georgie James Golroy “Gigi”. The couple is currently living in Minnesota USA with their beautiful baby girl.
Matt Comes from a Family of Athletes
Matthew Gilroy was born into a large household with 7 siblings. He was born to Frank Gilroy and Peggy Ann Gilroy on 20th July 1984 in North Bellmore, New York, United States of America. He comes from a family of athletes as his father and brothers are all involved in sports. Gilroy’s father is a member of the St. John’s Basketball Hall of Fame. He was further drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers. Matt
Matt grew up playing hockey with his brothers, Timmy, Kevin, and Frank Jr. His older brother Frank jr. played basketball for St. Mary’s High School and St. Anselm College. His younger brother Kevin was a member of the Terriers’ championship in 2009. Matt and Timmy were teammates on the same hockey teams. Matt wears the number 97 in remembrance of his brother and teammate Timmy who died in a bicycle accident when he was eight years.
Talking about Matt’s education, he attended St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset, New York where he led his school’s hockey team to two state championships. Young Matt also partook in lacrosse at St. Mary’s and was named team MVP in his junior year, in addition to all-league selections in his junior and senior years. After his high school graduation in 2003, he subsequently attended Boston University and participated in NCAA hockey.
He won the Hobey Baker Award and NCAA Championship in 2009
Matt started playing hockey at a relatively young age. He started in the 1988 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the New Jersey Devils minor ice hockey team. He later graduated to play junior ice hockey in the Eastern Junior Hockey League with South Shore Kings, formerly known as Walpole junior stars.
In his high school days at St. Mary’s, he captained the hockey team to two New York State Championships. While studying at Boston University he joined Hockey East – an ice hockey team in 2005-2006. Though he was a natural forward, he was thrust into the eighth defenseman position as that was the only available position. Subsequently, after his third season in college, he started getting offers from the National Hockey League as an undrafted free agent. However, he remained in college to complete his degree.
During the 2008-2009 season, Matt became the captain of the Terriers and recorded a high of 36 points in 43 games, which makes him the first player among Hockey East defensemen and third in NCAA. Furthermore, he led the Terriers to their third Beanpot Championship in four years, and on April 10, 2009, he was awarded the 2009 Hobey Baker award. After the win, the Terriers defeated the Miami RedHawks scoring 4-3 in the NCAA Championship, making Matt the fifth player to win both the Hobey Baker Award and NCAA Championship in the same season. Again he was awarded his third All-American honor, making history as the third NCAA player to earn the honor many times.
Matt Gilroy Became a Professional Ice Hockey Player in 2009
After his achievements in college, Matt Gilroy signed a two-year, $3.5 million contract with the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers on April 17, 2009. His career took a major leap on 2nd July 2011 when he signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent. However during the 2011/2012 season, on 27th February 2012, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators at the NHL trade deadline in exchange for fellow defenseman Brian Lee.
Matt later signed an American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Connecticut Whale but would return to the New York Rangers Organization in 2013. During the offseason, the Rangers released Matt to free agency and he subsequently signed a year contract with the Florida Panthers. In the 2013/2014 season, he participated in only 16 games for the Panthers before being reassigned to the San Antonio Rampage for the remaining season.
Matt Gilroy eventually decided to forgo free agency to sign his first European contract, a one-year deal with Russian Club Atlant Moscow Oblast of the Kontinental Hockey League in 2014. A year later, he signed with Spartak Moscow because Atlant would not participate in the KHL from the 2015-2016 season.
The athlete would later play for Swiss club SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers in 2018 before calling time on his career.
The former NHL Defenseman is Presently a Coach
Wondering what the former defenseman and winner of the Hobey Baker award is currently doing? It appears that Matt Gilroy has changed his career path and is now into coaching. Following his retirement as a hockey player, he took up a job as a head instructor and coach with a Southern California-based youth hockey training camp called Rapid Athletes Development ( RAD).
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What is Matt Gilroy’s Net Worth?
Matt Gilroy has achieved huge success in his ice hockey career. He is a source of inspiration for many young hockey enthusiasts and as such, it is no surprise that he has amassed a net worth of around $2 million. During his career as a hockey player, he has made different figures from different contracts. From signing a two-year deal at $3.5 million with the New York rangers. His estimated total NHL earnings are around $4,880,49.
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