Matt Coronato Bio
Matthew Coronato is an American professional ice hockey player who plays as a winger for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on November 14, 2002, in Huntington, New York, Coronato was selected by the Flames with the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. After finishing his college career at Harvard University, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with Calgary in March 2023 and has since become one of the team’s most promising young forwards.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Coronato was born on November 14, 2002, in Huntington, New York, and grew up in nearby Greenlawn, New York. He is the son of Richard and Samantha Coronato, and comes from an athletic family. His father played college lacrosse at the College of the Holy Cross, and his younger brother Jake also played hockey. Coronato is of Italian descent and became interested in ice hockey at a young age after attending a New York Islanders game with his family.
Coronato began playing organized hockey with the Long Island Royals in the Long Island Amateur Hockey League, where he spent six seasons developing his skills. He later joined the New Jersey Colonials U14 program, ranking second on the team with 18 goals and 29 assists for 47 points through 21 games. He went on to play for the Long Island Gulls and helped St. Anthony’s High School win a New York Catholic State Championship in 2018.
Path to Hockey
Coronato enrolled at the Salisbury School in Connecticut for the 2018–19 season, where he played prep school hockey and announced his commitment to Harvard University. During his time at Salisbury, he was also selected by the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in the team’s 2018 Futures Draft. He graduated from St. Charles East High School in St. Charles, Illinois, while playing for the Steel.
Joining the Chicago Steel for the 2019–20 USHL season, Coronato made an immediate impact as a rookie, tallying 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points in 45 games and finishing fourth among USHL rookies in scoring. His physical playing style earned him the nickname “Bison” for the way he bulldozed through opponents when entering the offensive zone. He was named to the USHL’s All-Rookie Second Team at the end of the season.
Matt Coronato Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Coronato returned to the Chicago Steel for the 2020–21 USHL season and delivered a record-breaking campaign. He opened the season with 17 goals and 40 points through the first 19 games, setting a new USHL record by recording at least one point in every one of those contests, including 13 multi-point games. He finished the year as Chicago’s all-time leader in career goals and set a new franchise record for goals in a single season.
During the Steel’s run to the 2021 Clark Cup championship, Coronato led all USHL skaters with nine goals and 13 points in just eight games. His outstanding season earned him the USHL Forward of the Year award and a spot on the All-USHL First Team. Leading up to the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, NHL Central Scouting ranked him as the ninth-best North American skater.
NHL Breakthrough (2021–2023)
On July 23, 2021, the Calgary Flames selected Coronato with the 13th overall pick in the draft. He went on to play one season with the Harvard Crimson, where he scored his first collegiate goal while shorthanded in a 9–3 win over Dartmouth on October 29, 2021, finishing the night with four points. By early December, he had been named ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week and added to the United States’ World Junior preliminary roster.
Following his sophomore year at Harvard, Coronato signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames on March 26, 2023, and immediately joined the team for the remainder of the 2022–23 season, wearing jersey number 27. His move marked the official start of his professional career in the NHL.
Calgary Flames Era (2023–Present)
During the 2023–24 season, Coronato split his time between the Flames and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers. On January 10, 2024, he was selected to represent the Wranglers at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic alongside teammate Dustin Wolf, gaining valuable experience at the professional level.
Coronato’s offense blossomed during the 2024–25 NHL season, when he scored 24 goals and 47 points in his first full-time NHL campaign. On May 3, 2025, the Flames signed him to a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension, signaling the organization’s commitment to him as a core piece of their future.
Playing Style and Strengths
Coronato is recognized for his powerful skating, physical forechecking, and ability to drive the net with authority, traits that earned him the “Bison” nickname during his USHL days. His combination of speed, shot, and willingness to engage physically makes him effective in offensive-zone play and along the boards.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his key milestones, Coronato set multiple Chicago Steel franchise records, led the USHL in scoring during the 2021 Clark Cup Playoffs, and was drafted 13th overall by Calgary in 2021. He also became the youngest player from his Harvard recruiting class to reach the NHL and earned a major long-term contract extension after his first full NHL season.
Matt Coronato Career Highlights
Across his young career, Coronato has already built an impressive résumé, including USHL individual awards, a Clark Cup championship with the Chicago Steel, and a steady rise through the NHL ranks with the Calgary Flames. His combination of collegiate and professional experience has made him one of the most talked-about young American forwards in the game.
USHL Highlights
Coronato won the 2021 Clark Cup with the Chicago Steel and was named USHL Forward of the Year after setting franchise records for goals in a season and career goals. He also earned All-USHL First Team honors following that dominant campaign.
Harvard Highlights
In his lone full season with the Harvard Crimson, Coronato made an immediate impact, highlighted by a four-point performance in his college home opener against Dartmouth. He was recognized as ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week during his freshman year.
NHL Highlights
Coronato scored 24 goals and 47 points during the 2024–25 NHL season, his first full campaign in the league. He was later rewarded with a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension from the Calgary Flames in May 2025.
Matt Coronato Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Matthew Coronato was raised in Greenlawn, New York, by his parents Richard and Samantha. His father Richard played college lacrosse at the College of the Holy Cross, giving Matthew a strong athletic foundation. His younger brother, Jake, also played hockey, continuing the family’s connection to the sport.
Personal Life
Coronato is of Italian descent and remains closely tied to his family on Long Island. He focuses primarily on his professional hockey career with the Calgary Flames and continues to build on the foundation his family provided during his upbringing in New York.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 portion of the 2024–25 NHL season, Matt Coronato took a significant step forward as a full-time contributor for the Calgary Flames. Playing a top-nine role and earning consistent ice time, he produced 24 goals and 47 points over the year, establishing himself as a reliable scoring threat on a young Flames roster.
His strong finish helped Calgary shape its long-term vision around a developing core, and the Flames rewarded him with a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension on May 3, 2025. The deal reflected both his production that season and the organization’s belief in his continued growth.
Looking ahead, Coronato is expected to remain a central figure in the Flames’ lineup, with an expanded offensive role and increased responsibility on special teams. His blend of speed, physicality, and finishing ability positions him as a key building block for Calgary’s plans beyond 2025.