Matthew Argentina Signs Professional Hockey Contract

The Iowa Heartlanders, an ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and the Iowa Wild, have signed forwards Matthew Argentina, John Lundy, and Jack Collins to ECHL contracts. The signings were announced on April 8, 2026.

Matthew Argentina, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the fourth player from Northern Michigan University (NMU) to sign a professional contract since the Wildcats’ season concluded at the beginning of March. Argentina is a 5-foot-11, 193-pound forward who played two seasons at NMU after spending two years at Boston College.

Argentina’s Collegiate Performance

During his four-season collegiate career, Argentina played 103 games, recording 10 goals and 14 assists for a total of 24 points on 124 shots. His most productive period occurred during the 2025-26 season at Northern Michigan University.

In that final collegiate season, he played a career-best 34 games, collecting four goals and six assists for 10 points. His statistics for the season also included two power-play goals, one game-winning goal, 12 blocked shots, and 16 penalty minutes resulting from eight minor penalties.

Argentina previously played for the Waterloo Black Hawks from 2019 to 2021.

Additional Heartlanders Signings

Alongside Argentina, the Heartlanders added John Lundy and Jack Collins to their roster. Lundy, 24, is a native of Brooklyn, New York, and recently finished his collegiate career at Ferris State, where he recorded five goals and 11 points this season. During his previous three seasons at American International College, Lundy reached double-digit goals in a season twice, specifically during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns.

Lundy signed his contract immediately before the start of the Heartlanders’ game against Fort Wayne on Saturday, April 11, 2026. He is expected to be on the roster as the team prepares for a home series against the Indy Fuel from April 10 to April 12, 2026.

Jack Collins, also 24, is a native of Canton, New York. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 220 pounds, Collins played four seasons for the UMass-Lowell River Hawks. In 15 games during the current season, he recorded one goal and two penalty minutes. Before his time in college, Collins played three seasons in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) with Lone Star.

Northern Michigan University Professional Transitions

Argentina’s signing is part of a broader trend of Northern Michigan University players moving into the professional ranks. He joins three other former Wildcats who signed ECHL contracts within the last six weeks.

• Caiden Gault, a forward and former senior, signed with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
• Kyle Bettens, a forward and former senior, signed with the Indy Fuel.
• Tynan Ewart, a defenseman who was a junior eligibility-wise, signed with the Maine Mariners.

The ECHL serves as a second-tier minor league feeder into the National Hockey League (NHL), positioned below the American Hockey League (AHL).