By: Andrew Mossbrooks, Cincinnati Cyclones
Cincinnati, OH – The Cyclones announced that the team had re-signed defenseman Matt Cairns to a standard player contract for the 2023-24 ECHL season. Cairns becomes the fourth blue liner to sign with Cincinnati and the seventh returnee from last year’s Central Division Champions team to re-sign with the ‘Clones.
“Guys can overlook how important it is to be able to play for the same team multiple years in a row at this level,” said Cairns. “That isn’t lost one me. I’m very thankful for Coach (Jason) Payne wanting to sign me again. I think the game I play has fit well into his system and how he likes our team’s defense to operate. He gives me a lot of trust to play my game, and he knows what it takes to get me to the next level. That’s my ultimate goal as an individual and Payner knows what I want in that sense.”
Since the start of the 2021-22 season, no defenseman has played more games for the Cyclones than Cairns, who now enters his third season with the team. Including playoffs, the 25-year-old has skated in 128 games for Cincinnati, scoring three goals and 20 assists for 23 points. Over two regular seasons, Cairns has posted a +/- 38 rating and earned two call-ups to the AHL, most recently last season with Milwaukee, where the Mississauga, Ontario native appeared in seven games for the Admirals.
“Matt’s maturity and growth at the pro level has been very impressive since coming into the league a couple seasons back,” said Payne. “He works hard to constantly evaluate where he is and how he can get stronger in each area on the ice. He’s coachable. He wants to learn and wants to show you that you can trust in him to not cheat the game and play the right way. We’re excited to have him back in the fold for us this season and we will continue to do everything we can as an organization to further his development.”
Cairns is a former third-round NHL Draft choice by the Edmonton Oilers in 2016. From there, he went on to play division one hockey for Cornell University and the University of Minnesota-Duluth. In 2021, Cairns signed an AHL contract with the Rochester Americans, where he spent the bulk of his season with Cincinnati. He signed his first ECHL contract with the ‘Clones last summer before playing in 45 games and posted six points while accruing 50 penalty minutes.
The 2023-24 Cyclones season starts on home ice, with First Face-Off Saturday, October 21st! Call (513) 421-PUCK for tickets and more information, and stay on top of all the latest team updates and information on Facebook, Twitter (@CincyCyclones), and Instagram, along with our website, cycloneshockey.com.
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
Top picks
SHAY COSTA REPORTING…CATCHING UP ON PAST COLLEGE AND WOLF PACK
EDITOR’S NOTE: Shay Costa worked hard covering these games and deserved to have them published. my full-time job has caused me to have to work close to 100 hours a week, and I haven’t had the time to post them. Getting them all posted here is important. She deserves respect for the effort she put in… – Mitch Beck All…
WOLF PACK – CATCHING UP ON PAST NEWS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack RANGERS RECALL 13 FROM WOLF PACK HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has recalled 13 players from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. The club recalled seven forwards, five defensemen, and one goaltender from Hartford. Forwards: Alex Belzile, Brett Berard, Anton Blidh, Jake Leschyshyn,…
WOLF PACK ENJOYS STRONG 2023-24 SEASON IN THE COMMUNITY AND AT THE BOX OFFICE
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack completed another successful season both on and off the ice last week. On the ice, the club advanced to the Atlantic Division Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season, winning two playoff rounds in the process. Off the ice, the Wolf Pack enjoyed…
WOLF PACK SIGN DEFENSEMAN CARTER BERGER TO ONE-YEAR DEAL
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Carter Berger on a one-year, standard AHL player contract. Berger, 24, scored 20 points (4 g, 16 a) in 36 games with Western Michigan University during…
SHAY COSTA REPORTING…CATCHING UP ON PAST COLLEGE AND WOLF PACK
EDITOR’S NOTE: Shay Costa worked hard covering these games and deserved to have them published. my full-time job has caused me to have to work close to 100 hours a week, and I haven’t had the time to post them. Getting them all posted here is important. She deserves respect for the effort she put in… – Mitch Beck All…
WOLF PACK – CATCHING UP ON PAST NEWS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack RANGERS RECALL 13 FROM WOLF PACK HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has recalled 13 players from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. The club recalled seven forwards, five defensemen, and one goaltender from Hartford. Forwards: Alex Belzile, Brett Berard, Anton Blidh, Jake Leschyshyn,…
WOLF PACK ENJOYS STRONG 2023-24 SEASON IN THE COMMUNITY AND AT THE BOX OFFICE
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack completed another successful season both on and off the ice last week. On the ice, the club advanced to the Atlantic Division Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season, winning two playoff rounds in the process. Off the ice, the Wolf Pack enjoyed…
WOLF PACK SIGN DEFENSEMAN CARTER BERGER TO ONE-YEAR DEAL
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Carter Berger on a one-year, standard AHL player contract. Berger, 24, scored 20 points (4 g, 16 a) in 36 games with Western Michigan University during…
SWAMP RABBITS RELEASE 2024-25 SCHEDULE
The season begins at home on October 18th in the Kelly Cup Playoff rematch By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the team’s schedule for the 2024-25 ECHL Season, presented by Bon Secours. A schedule detailing promotions and specialty jerseys will be revealed…
CINCINNATI CYCLONES RELEASE 2024-25 SCHEDULE
72-game regular season schedule is revealed By: Dana Grey, Cincinnati Cyclones CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Cyclones, along with the ECHL, have released the 2024-25 regular season schedule. Cincinnati begins the 72-game slate on the road against Kalamazoo on Saturday October 19th. The Cyclones then return to the Heritage Bank Center ice for “First Faceoff” the next weekend on Saturday…
ECHL ANNOUNCES SWAMP RABBITS AS AWARDS FINALIST
Team up for six different awards to be announced at ECHL Summer Meetings By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The ECHL announced today that the Greenville Swamp Rabbits organization, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, is a finalist in six different categories for the 2023-24 ECHL Awards, presented by SponsorCX. The winners will be…
SWAMP RABBITS ANNOUNCE PROTECTED LIST
The first domino of offseason roster construction features 29 players By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced in conjunction with the ECHL their 2024 Protected List. The protected list is considered the first stage of the hockey operations off-season in roster maintenance to complete…