INCH's A to Z: Sacred Heart's Matt Gingera

Click here to read Ken McMillan's story on the Inside College Hockey website.

You may not be familiar with Bentley's Brett Gensler (pictured) and Matt Gingera of Sacred Heart, the two players featured in this installment of the INCH A-Z series. Atlantic Hockey goalies know these guys all too well, however. Gingera ranked sixth in the circuit last season with 21 goals; Gensler's 13 markers in 2010-11 were second most among league's rookies. Read on and learn more about these high-powered forwards in this red-light special edition of A-Z.

MATT GINGERA
Sacred Heart
Sr. | F | Winnipeg, Manitoba

Key Statistics: Gingera was a proven goal scorer in juniors and has carried that into his collegiate days. He has produced double-digit goals in all three seasons and his 44 career tallies is within striking distance of the Atlantic Hockey mark of 70. With 24 points, he becomes the 56th player and 10th Pioneer to amass 100 points in Metro Atlantic/Atlantic Hockey history. Gingera’s 21 goals and 30 points as a junior led the Pioneers. He had 12 goals as a freshman and 11 as a sophomore.  He has 11 power-play goals and five game-winners in college. Playing two seasons with the Winnipeg Saints, Gingera had 49 goals and 91 points in 2006-07 and 66 goals and 111 points a year later, leading the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in goals and ranking third in points.

What He Does: Gingera has an innate sense of what’s happening on the ice and makes sure to be where the action is. He doesn’t intimidate with his 5-foot-10 frame, but Gingera is not afraid to get into the thick of things, making a living some 10-15 feet from the net. He’s not selfish, as his 32 assists will attest, and is not afraid to find a teammate for a better shot. The lefty doesn’t have a booming shot but he has good placement and is able to shoot off both feet. He’s a good two-way player despite posting a plus-minus rating of minus-9 last season, following a plus-13 as a sophomore.

The Bigger Picture: Gingera finished last season playing alongside center Eric Delong and right winger Toren Snyderman. The trio will start the season together but coach C.J. Marottolo is not adverse to finding new linemates for Gingera if the roster dictates. Marottolo says as long as Gingera keeps scoring goals, pro scouts are going to keep an eye on him.

Sacred Heart coach C.J. Marottolo on Gingera: “He just knows where the puck is going to end up, and that’s where he ends up. He has a sixth sense, an intuition. I like his quiet intensity.”