Zach Metsa
Born (1998-10-19) October 19, 1998
Delafield, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
AHL team Rochester Americans
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2023–present

Zach Metsa (born October 19, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey defenceman for the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Playing career

Junior

Metsa began the 2017–18 season with the Youngstown Phantoms, where he recorded one goal and 12 assists in 37 games. On February 7, 2018, he was traded to the Central Illinois Flying Aces. He finished the season with three goals and eight assists in 23 games for the Flying Aces.[1]

Collegiate

Metsa began his collegiate career for Quinnipiac during the 2018–19 season. During his freshman year he recorded two goals and two assists in 32 games. During the 2019–20 season in his sophomore year he recorded five goals and 12 assists in 34 games.[2]

During the 2020–21 season in his junior year he recorded five goals and 21 assists in 29 games. He was tied for the national lead among defensemen in points and led all defensemen in assists (21), power-play assists (11) and power-play points (14). Following an outstanding season he was named to the All-ECAC First Team.[3] He was also named co-winner of the Coaches' Award, as selected by the men's ice hockey coaching staff.[4]

On May 21, 2021, he was named an assistant captain for the 2021–22 season. During his senior year he recorded 10 goals and 27 assists in 42 games. Metsa and the Bobcats led both the league and the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 0.93 goals per-game. He blocked 24 shots, and led the team during the regular season with 34 points. He ranked in the top three in the nation all season amongst defenseman in points, assists, and plus/minus.[5] Following an outstanding season he was named the ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman and named to the All-ECAC First Team.[6][7] He was also named an AHCA East First Team All-American.[8]

After guiding the Bobcats to a National Championship victory as team captain in the 2022–23 season, Metsa embarked on his professional career in signing a two-year contract with the Rochester Americans of the AHL on April 13, 2023. He immediately joined the Americans for the remainder of their playoff run.[9]

Personal life

Metsa was born to Tom Metsa and Lisa Driscoll. His father, Tom, played hockey at Hamline University.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2015–16 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2016–17 Merritt Centennials BCHL 57 3 24 27 15 11 0 5 5 2
2017–18 Youngstown Phantoms USHL 37 1 12 13 12 — — — — —
2017–18 Central Illinois Flying Aces USHL 23 3 8 11 12 — — — — —
2018–19 Quinnipiac University ECAC 32 2 2 4 4 — — — — —
2019–20 Quinnipiac University ECAC 34 5 12 17 2 — — — — —
2020–21 Quinnipiac University ECAC 29 5 21 26 8 — — — — —
2021–22 Quinnipiac University ECAC 42 10 27 37 8 — — — — —
2022–23 Quinnipiac University ECAC 40 9 28 37 12 — — — — —
2022–23 Rochester Americans AHL — — — — — 13 1 2 3 0
AHL totals — — — — — 13 1 2 3 0

Awards and honors

Award Year
College
All-ECAC First Team 2021 [11]
All-ECAC First Team 2022 [12]
ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman 2022 [13]
AHCA East First Team All-American 2022 [14]
All-ECAC Second Team 2023 [15]
AHCA East Second Team All-American 2023 [16]
NCAA All-Tournament Team 2023 [17]

References

  1. ↑ "Flying Aces pick up trio of players from Youngstown in trade". flyingaceshockey.com. February 7, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Zach Metsa bio". gobobcats.com. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Three Named to All-ECAC Hockey First Team". gobobcats.com. March 17, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Mayanja, Metsa Share Men's Ice Hockey's Coaches' Award". gobobcats.com. May 11, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Perets, Metsa Named to All-ECAC Hockey First Team". gobobcats.com. March 10, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  6. ↑ Fornabaio, Michael (March 15, 2022). "Quinnipiac's Perets, Pecknold, Metsa all receive ECAC honors". CT Insider. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Metsa Named Best Defensive Defenseman". gobobcats.com. March 12, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Seven Hockey East Players Named to 2021-22 Men's All-American Teams". hockeyeastonline.com. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Amerks sign Metsa to a two-year deal". Rochester Americans. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Zach Metsa bio". gobobcats.com. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  11. ↑ "ECAC Hockey Announces First Team All-League". ecachockey.com. March 17, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  12. ↑ "ECAC Hockey Announces 2022 First-Team All-League". hockeyeastonline.com. March 10, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Zach Metsa Named 2022 Best Defensive Defenseman". hockeyeastonline.com. March 12, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Five NCHC Players Tabbed CCM/AHCA All-Americans for 2021-22". nchchockey.com. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  15. ↑ "ECAC Hockey Announces 2022-23 Men's All-League Teams". ecachockey.com. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  16. ↑ "2022-23 Men's CCM Hockey Division I All-Americans". ahcahockey.com. April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Quinnipiac crowned". collegehockeyinc.com. April 9, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
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