Serving Up Stops: Buffs Veteran Goaltender Matthew Server

Colorado goalkeeper Matthew Server leads the Buffs onto the ice against Metro State. (Photo by Jacob Hock)

A rotating set of goalie pads is a common practice for youth hockey teams, as it's a position that takes a lot of commitment; something that most little kids do not have.

When the pads found their way to a young Matthew Server on his youth team, he took an immediate interest in the position. Server only started wanting to play hockey after watching the St. Louis Blues on TV, ditching his unsuccessful soccer career.

“I was like, four or five, I think I saw a Blues game on TV, and I was playing soccer at the time, I like, busted my chin open. I sucked at it all right," Server told Sko Buffs Sports. " I Just told my mom, you know, I want to play. And she tried to make it happen.”

An interesting opportunity opened up for Server to begin his hockey career. He was taught how to skate by then-active NHL referee Tim Peel, who was looking for work during the NHL’s lockout season in 2004-05. The two would train at a rink just five minutes away from Server's house in St. Louis.

Server was not a natural to begin, making the lowest level B2 team as a skater his first year. It would be with this B2 team that Server would get his first taste of goaltending. After his first game in net, he was able to convince his coach to let him play the rest of the season as the starter. 

“I wasn't very good to start, just because I didn't know what I was doing, but (improved) once I actually got some coaching. Wasn't really fast at the time because I was just a big fat kid, but I was naturally athletic,” Server said. “I kind of understood angles and stuff like that. Always had good hand-eye and I so I kind of naturally picked it up.”

Server saw more success as a goalie than as a skater, moving up three tiers after his second year tryouts.  

“The next year, I tried out as a goalie, made A1. An immediate jump. So, yeah, that was a sign that I should probably stay at goalie,” Server said.

Server would play and develop in St. Louis till he was 16, when he would leave to play juniors in Canada. 

“It was an unorthodox move, too, but it was kind of necessary for me because I wasn't going to get anywhere staying in St Louis. Like I was just permanently stuck in AA and couldn't move up anywhere,” Server said. “Part of that is politics. Part of that's me just not developing good enough. Part of that's just being in a really stacked age group… So it's like, okay, if I actually want to try and make it somewhere, then I just have to leave.”  

The strong selection of goalies in St. Louis in Server’s age group included current Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll. Players like Woll held AAA starting positions, stopping Server from facing better competition and contributing to him leaving St. Louis.

In Canada, he played in the Canadian Premier Junior Hockey League, where he was top five in the league in save percentage all three years that he played. He would then switch to playing in the United States Premier Hockey League-Premier, where he posted an impressive 1.99 goals against average and a .919 save percentage in 24 games. 

His time in juniors turned him into a talented goalie thanks to the professional experience his coaches provided. In the CPJHL, former Chicago Blackhawk Sylvian Cloutier coached him on the Essa Stallions. In the USPHL-Premier Marty Quarters, a coach with twenty years of experience, coached him on the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings. These coaches set rigid expectations that allowed Server to flourish.

“Those two coaches in particular, really kind of got me used to what real hockey is… got me used to coaches that are no nonsense, really getting on you, making sure you do everything right.” Server said.“Really helped me there to develop and kind of prepare me for college.”

Aging out of the junior leagues, now 20-year-old Server had a decision to make. He had to consider either playing NCAA Division III or playing in the lower league American Collegiate Hockey Association. His choice came down to what experience he wanted to get out of college.

“There's really no difference skill-wise between D3 and ACHA. So it's like, why wouldn't I go to ACHA?” Server said. “Bigger school, better academics usually. Will be a diploma from a school that people actually recognize instead of like some middle-of-nowhere, Uptown New York school.”

Server would accept an offer from Ohio University, a school in the ACHA, where he would play backup for two years. Ohio was not a great fit; he had a .890 save percentage average and 3.61 goals against average over the two seasons and the 21 games he was a Bobcat for. The turmoil of the coach that originally recruited him being fired and the new coach bringing in his own goalie led to Server transferring out of Athens, Ohio.

He would end up at the University of Oregon, which had just moved up to Division 1 of the ACHA. The team had young talent, but they struggled in their first year in D1, going 7-18. 

After his 2022-23 performance on the struggling Ducks, Server earned offers from CU and Maryville. While Maryville decided to go in the direction of their younger goalies, CU was open to taking the senior goalie transfer and needed someone to play alongside then-junior Liam O’Gwen. O’Gwen was performing well for the Buffs (.920 sv%, 2.70 gaa in 2022-23), but they needed a backup.

The addition of Server ended up being a great move for both parties. He posted the best numbers of his ACHA career at the time in the 2023-24 season, a 3.47 goals against average and a .915 save percentage in 15 games. CU benefited from the bittersweet problem of having two good options in goal.

“I think I turned out better than even they expected. Which caused some other issues,” Server said.“But good issues to have. It's a good problem to have.” 

Server played well enough to sign with the Knoxville Ice Bears in the Southern Professional Hockey League after his senior season at CU. He did not make it through training camp, however, playing only a couple of pre-season games. With the year off from playing on a team, he began to coach. Coaching gave Server a new perspective on the game and would help him step up his game.

When the school year began here at CU, Server decided to cash in on the extra year he had available to him. Although he played during the 2020-21 season, the ACHA allows players to play an extra year because of the effects the COVID-19 pandemic had. So far this season, Server has been dominant in net, with a .920 save percentage through 14 games. This season he is only one start shy of his total starts from last season, as he has had to be a workhorse in net. 

He is first in saves (809) in the ACHA this season after starting 14 of the 17 games the Buffs have played. Server has prepared and accepted the increased workload he is getting.

“Selfishly, it feels great,” Server said.“For me, it's not an issue. That's just part of what goes into training. You train to play all 30 games. So, I mean, for me, it's not much.”

The young team that the Buffs are fielding this year and the new coaching staff have led to a team learning curve. Even though Server plays in a different position than most, he still tries to help the younger guys get an understanding of what it takes to play at the ACHA level.

“You basically have to treat it like a job. (If you) played four years of juniors. You kind of get that because it's basically pro without pay,” Server said. “Just being able to kind of relay that message of like, Hey, this is what it actually takes.”

For his last season, Server is trying to enjoy the little things and make sure that he lives in every moment. 

“Just control what I can control, keep playing well, just trying to enjoy it, though,” Server said. “Try and enjoy each practice, each game, because I definitely can't come back after this.” 

After this season, he will look to sign in another pro league like he did in 2024. His impressive play so far this season should be a large contributor to his chances, especially if he can maintain it. Whatever the future holds for Server, CU will forever be an important place to him.

“Boulder is by far my favorite place I've been throughout college, for sure. Just everything from campus to teammates to fans to pretty much everything,” Server said. “I couldn't have really asked for a better place to end my career. I'm glad I chose it as my last stop for sure.”