Arrigoni Hall of Fame
Matty Byrne entered the Goal Club Hall of Fame as one of the greatest players in the history of Iona hockey.
Byrne arrived from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx to star for Hall of Fame coaches Bill Edwards and Frank Effinger during his career. In four seasons, he led the Gaels to a 67-21-3 (.741) overall record. It was during his freshman year that the Iona hockey program made the transition from club status to varsity competition.
Byrne earned Rookie of the Year honors in 1977 after leading the team with 23 goals, 33 assists, and 56 total points. Byrne also led the team in scoring both his sophomore and senior campaigns, when he would be named to the Eastern College Athletic Association (ECAC) All-Star team.
Byrne rewrote the Iona record books, posting 70 goals and 93 assists in 86 career games. He currently ranks sixth on Iona’s career scoring chart with 163 points. His 70 career goals rank seventh on Iona’s career goal scoring list, while his 93 assists place him fourth on the all-time assist chart.
Matty was a two-year captain of the hockey squad, best known for his leadership abilities and great personality both on and off the ice. At the time of his induction, he, his wife, Debbie, and their two children lived in Three Bridges, NJ. His son Matt, was a baseball standout for the Gaels from 2012-2017.
