Matt Pelech Matt Pelech ( born September 4 , 1987 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Graz 99ers in the Austrian Hockey League ( EBEL ) . He formerly played with the Calgary Flames and the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Pelech was a draft pick of the Calgary Flames , selected in the first round , 26th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in 2009 as a defenceman with the Flames . He has since switched to right wing and become known as an enforcer . His brothers Adam Pelech and Michael Pelech , also play professionally . Playing career . Pelech played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sarnia Sting , London Knights and Belleville Bulls . In 2007 , he was assigned to the Quad City Flames of the American Hockey League . He was recalled by the Flames on April 4 , 2009 , making his NHL debut that night against the Minnesota Wild . Pelech recorded his first career point , an assist , three nights later against the Los Angeles Kings . He joined the Abbotsford Heat for the 2009 – 10 season when the Flames relocated their AHL team . He was sidelined in January 2010 with a blood clot in his arm , an ailment team doctors initially feared was season ending . Pelech recovered in time to join the Heat for their playoff run , appearing in all 13 of the team ' s post - season games . On July 6 , 2011 , Pelech was signed by the San Jose Sharks for one year , spending the season with their AHL affiliate , the Worcester Sharks . He appeared in 59 games during the 2011 - 12 AHL season , where he scored eight points and had 168 PIM . He was an alternate captain in Worcester , and was voted the team ' s " unsung hero " . Pelech , who was moved to the right wing and developed into an enforcer role in the Sharks organization , returned to Worcester for the 2012 - 13 season where he recorded seven points in 58 games and added a career - high 238 PIM . He also appeared in two games with San Jose . The Sharks again re - signed Pelech to a one - year contract prior to the 2013 - 14 NHL season . Following a training camp in which he worked to prove he could be more than just a fighter , Pelech was initially assigned to the San Francisco Bulls of the ECHL , but was recalled to San Jose for the season opening game when the Sharks ' coaching staff felt the team required a greater physical presence . He scored his first NHL goal – the game winner – against goaltender Roberto Luongo in a 4 – 1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on October 10 , 2013 . On May 13 , 2015 , Pelech agree to a one - year contract with Schwenningen Wild Wings of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga [ DEL ] of Germany . He made 49 appearances in his sole season with the Wild Wings , tallying eight goals and twelve assists . In April 2016 , Pelech inked a two - year deal with fellow DEL team Hamburg Freezers . However , the Freezers folded the following month . In September 2016 , he signed with the Graz 99ers of the Austrian Hockey League Personal . His younger brothers Michael ( born 1989 ) plays in the ECHL for the Utah Grizzlies and Adam ( born 1994 ) plays in the NHL with the New York Islanders . They are nephews of Former Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis .