Matt Balke

484-855-0204 balke18@aol.com

Bio

Matt began his hockey career playing in the Philadelphia area at the age of three before playing Tier 1 hockey with the Valley Forge Minutemen and Little Flyers. After completing one year at Archbishop Carroll High School, he moved to Connecticut where he was recruited as a leading defenseman to join the nationally ranked, South Kent School. Following graduation from South Kent, Matt had multiple Division 3 NCAA offers however he decided to move closer to home where he played for Penn State Berks to continue his hockey career.  While playing Division 1 ACHA for the next four years he helped lead his team to the National Tournament three of the four years while he served as team captain for both his junior and senior years. Matt still maintains a position of an all-time points leader at Penn State.

Coaching Experience

After Matt’s hockey career came to an end, he took his hockey knowledge and love for the game to pursue youth coaching. Matt was the head coach for several years of the Valley Forge Mites program, 2015 Valley Forge Militia and 2015 Valley Forge Minutemen.

Coaching Philosophy

Matt’s passion is to set every player up for success, by devoting his time and hockey wisdom he strives to build committed, well-rounded youth players that have the discipline to excel not just on the ice but off the ice as well.