Derek Hatch

The NHL Alumni Association is devastated to learn that Matt Davidson has passed away at the age of 48. Matt was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft after two seasons with the WHL’s Portland Winter Hawks, and returned to Portland to play two additional seasons before starting his professional hockey career with Buffalo’s affiliate club in Rochester. After playing three seasons with the Sabres organization, Matt joined the Columbus Blue Jackets ahead of the 2000-01 NHL season and made his NHL debut on December 2, 2000. Matt scored his first NHL goal on November 2, 2001, and would play 56 games with Columbus from 2000 to 2003. Matt’s professional hockey career continued for an additional seven seasons in Europe, retiring in 2011. Nearly thirty years after playing his last junior hockey game for the Winter Hawks, Matt returned to Portland in 2024 to serve as the club’s Director of Player Personnel. We send our deepest condolences to Matt’s family, friends, and former teammates during this incredibly difficult time.

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