The ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals have announced they have signed goaltender Matt Vernon to a contract for the 2026-27 season.  

This will be Vernon’s first season with the Admirals and third full season in the ECHL. He spent the 2025-26 season in Europe with Innsbruck HC in the International Central European Hockey League.  

He began his professional and ECHL career with the Reading Royals in the 2022-23 season after finishing his four-year college career with NCAA Division I Colorado College. He appeared in two games with Reading, putting up a 2.40 goals-against average and .904 save percentage. 

Vernon then spent two full seasons with the Jacksonville Icemen, including a rookie breakout season in 2023-24. He tallied a 25-10-3 record, a 2.67 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and one shutout. 

He earned ECHL All-Rookie and All-ECHL Second Team honors, plus Goaltender of the Month in February and multiple Goaltender of the Week awards.  

Vernon’s next season with Jacksonville in 2024-25 saw similar numbers with a 24-8-6 record, 2.59 goals against average and .916 save percentage in 39 appearances.  

The San Jose native also had two Kelly Cup Playoff stints with the Icemen, appearing in seven games with a 2.12 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.  

His father, Mike Vernon, is a 2023 Hall of Fame inductee net-minder who won two Stanley Cups (Calgary 1989, Detroit 1997) and received the Conn Smythe Award in 1997.

Photo/Jacksonville Icemen/ECHL

— ECHL Staff

(August 12, 2026)