Matt Gilroy Matthew Gilroy ( born July 30 , 1984 ) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Gilroy completed a four - year tenure with the Boston University Terriers of Hockey East . A Hobey Baker Award winner and NCAA champion with the Terriers in his senior year , Gilroy is also a three - time All - American . Like many of the prominent NHLers from Long Island , Gilroy is a student of Lithuania n hockey coach Aleksey Nikiforov . Playing career . Amateur . After a junior career in the Eastern Junior Hockey League ( EJHL ) with the Walpole Jr . Stars ( currently known as South Shore Kings ) , Gilroy joined the college hockey ranks with the Boston University Terriers of Hockey East in 2005 – 06 . Making the team as a walk - on , he was a natural forward but was forced into the eighth defenseman position – the only available role . After his third college season , Gilroy attracted considerable attention from the NHL as an undrafted free agent , but had intentions of completing his degree at Boston University . In his senior year in 2008 – 09 , he was named team captain of the Terriers and recorded a college career - high 36 points in 43 games , first among Hockey East defensemen and third in the NCAA . He went on to lead the Terriers to their third Beanpot championship in four years en route to the Frozen Four Tournament . On April 10 , 2009 , Gilroy was announced as the winner of the 2009 Hobey Baker Award . The next day , the Terriers competed for the NCAA championship against the Miami RedHawks . Trailing 3 – 1 late in the third period , the Terriers rallied with 2 goals in the final minute to force overtime . Gilroy earned an assist on Nick Bonino ' s game - tying goal with 17 seconds left . The Terriers won in overtime , defeating the RedHawks 4 – 3 , making Gilroy just the fifth player to win the Hobey Baker Award and NCAA championship in the same season . He was additionally given his third All - American honor , becoming just the third NCAA player to earn the distinction as many times , after Rick Meagher ( 1977 ) and Chris Drury ( 1998 ) . Professional . On April 17 , 2009 , Gilroy signed a two - year , $ 3 . 5 - million contract with the New York Rangers . He had initially been linked to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks in contract negotiations . On October 5 , 2009 , Gilroy scored his first NHL goal , a game winner , against Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils , a feat that he shares with fellow Rangers defenseman Marc Staal . Gilroy signed a one - year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 2 , 2011 . Personal life . Gilroy was born in North Bellmore , New York , to Frank and Peggy Ann Gilroy . Matt Gilroy is one of Eight children . His father is a member of the St . John ' s Basketball Hall of Fame , who was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers . He graduated in 2003 from St . Mary ' s High School in Manhasset , captaining the hockey team to two New York state championships . In addition to hockey , Gilroy played lacrosse at St . Mary ' s and was named team MVP in his junior year , in addition to all - league selections in his junior and senior years . Gilroy wears the number 97 in remembrance of his deceased brother Timmy , who died as the result of a bicycle accident at eight years old . Separated by 13 months , Matt and Timmy played on the same hockey teams growing up and wore the numbers 98 and 97 , respectively , in homage to Wayne Gretzky . Traditional team policy with the Boston University Terriers does not permit players to wear high numbers deemed flamboyant and self - endorsing by head coach Jack Parker . However , given the circumstances , Gilroy was allowed by Parker to wear 97 . Gilroy also has an older brother , Frank Jr . , who played basketball for St . Mary ' s High School and St . Anselm College . His younger brother , Kevin , joined Matt on the Terriers for their 2009 championship year .