ECHL: Matthew Sop Heads Overseas

Originally posted on Inside The Rink
By Armand Klisivitch | Last updated May 26, 2026 2:37 PM ET

Iowa Heatlanders forward Matthew Sop is heading overseas to Slovakia to join HK Dulka Trecin after spending his first two seasons in North America. Sop, 23, had 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points in 55 games last season with the Hearlanders. He also played in three AHL games with the Iowa Wild. Sop becomes the Heartlander to take the overseas route since it was announced that the team will take a voluntary suspension for the 2026-27 season.

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The Kitchener, Ontario, native had 30 goals and 38 assists for 68 points during his two seasons with the Heartlanders. During the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs, he had a goal and five assists for six points in five games. At the AHL level, he put up four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 27 games.

Prior to going pro, Sop played part for four seasons in the OHL with his hometown Kitchener Rangers. Over the course of his four seasons with the Rangers, he put up 76 goals and 93 assists for 169 points in 203 games. He would add six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 30 OHL playoff games. In 2024, Sop was named the Leo Lalonde Trophy, which is awarded to the OHL Overage Player of the Year.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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