A self-described late bloomer, prolific Walleye defenseman Matt Register overcame serious doubt to become one of the most accomplished defensemen in ECHL history.

Register, who is in his first year with Toledo, has been named the ECHL’s defenseman of the year three times in the past five seasons. The 29-year-old also has won three Kelly Cup titles. Register also is the only defenseman in the 30-year history of the ECHL to be named MVP of the playoffs.

The accolades did not come easy, however, for the native of Calgary. In fact, the marquee signing for the Walleye in the off-season nearly quit the sport when he was 18.

“After junior hockey, I wasn’t sure if I was good enough to play pro hockey,” Register said. “I had a lot of people tell me I should do something else. But hockey was always my passion. It took me a bit. I was a late bloomer. I needed someone to take a chance on me and I needed to figure it out on my own. You can see my development over the years. Along the way you play with different guys and for different coaches. They all helped me out. As I look back on it, I’m proud of myself.”

Register, who has been named the league’s top D-man for two consecutive years running, has not missed a beat in his first season as a Walleye. Register, a 6-foot-2 and 225-pound offensive force, leads all ECHL defensemen in scoring with 23 points.

The offensive defenseman leads all ECHL blueliners in assists with 19. He ranks third on the Walleye in points, and leads the team’s defensemen with four goals.

“I’m having fun here,” he said. “This team has the right mindset. To win a championship you need contributions from everybody. That is what these guys have shown so far.”

After helping lead the Colorado Eagles to back-to-back Kelly Cup titles, Register became the most coveted free agent in the ECHL.

Walleye coach Dan Watson made his pitch along with every other coach in the ECHL. Watson called it an “outstanding add” when Register signed.

“The proof [of Register’s value] is in the championship pedigree and skill set,” Watson said. “It is through hard work, talent, and dedication that a player gets honored with being the best at his position.”

Watson said Register “thinks the game at a high level.”

“His offensive instincts allow him the ability to get points at a high rate,” Watson said. “He’s certainly a risk taker, but most offensive D-men are. We brought him here to provide experience about winning championships. He’s an even-keel guy. He worries about himself and team success, the things he can control.”

Register has 296 points (78 G, 218 A) over 365 games in his ECHL career.

“Being a top guy in the league for a number of years, everyone knows who I am,” Register said. “My phone was ringing all day, every day in the summer. Toledo was on my short list. I wanted to play for an organization that had the best chance to continue to develop and to win a championship.”

But just 10 short years ago, earning awards and winning titles was just a pipe dream for the fledgling defenseman.

Born in Winnipeg, Register moved to Calgary when he was 14 and played four years in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. In his final two seasons for the Bonnyville Pontiacs, Register began putting up solid offensive numbers. He had 61 points in 58 games his final year of juniors.

Still, Register started his pro career in the lower level Central Hockey League. “I bounced around a bit,” he said. “I lost my confidence a bit.”

Register credited longtime ECHL coach Jason Christie with jump-starting his career. As coach of the Ontario Reign, Christie acquired Register in the 2011-12 season. Register had 13 points in 17 games to end the season — and new-found confidence.

“He let me do what I did best,” Register said. “That got my confidence back. I started playing in more games with older guys with different styles.”

Register earned his first defenseman of the year award while playing under Christie in 2013-14 when he had 44 points (14 G, 30 A) in 67 games.

“It started a whole new era for me. I got my confidence,” he said. “I knew I could play hockey. He let me be me. Confidence is a big part of my game. It just all went up for there.”

After starting the 2015-16 season in Atlanta, Register was traded to Allen. Then he began collecting Cups.

Register helped lead Allen to the Kelly Cup in 2016 before moving on to Colorado where he guided the Eagles to back-to-back championships in 2017 and last season.

“I met so many people that helped me out. I developed friendships. I figured it out,” he said.

Register said winning the Kelly Cup with Colorado in 2017, which included a series victory over the Walleye in the conference finals, was the sweetest.

“I’m proud of my whole resume,” he said. “I’ve accomplished way more than what I thought I would. If you asked me 10 years ago if I’d even be playing pro hockey for a living when I was 29, I would have said, ‘No way.’”

Register led all defensemen during the 2017 postseason with eight goals and 24 points and earned MVP honors. Last season, Register had 65 points with 17 goals and a career-high 48 assists in 72 games, and repeated as defenseman of the year award. Register then had 20 points (3 G, 17 A) in 24 playoff games, helping the Eagles capture their second straight Kelly Cup championship.

Despite all of the accolades, Register has only had the opportunity to play in six games at the higher level American Hockey League.

“That’s a hard question that I don’t really have an answer for,” Register said. “The time will come for me. I will eventually be able to get to the next level and stick there. I just need to keep putting my time in. It’s a little frustrating. But at the end of the day, I’m happy to play this sport for a living. I’m not about to give up on reaching my ultimate goal. I’m never satisfied. My goal is still to play in the National Hockey League.”

Register, who lives with his wife Jennifer in Minneapolis in the off-season, said he has no regrets about his career path.

“This game has given me a lot. Hockey is how I met my wife. I have to give her credit. She helped me so much along the way,” Register said. “There have been obstacles along the way. But at the end of the day, I’m in a great spot.”

Ultimately, Register said he prefers to focus on team success.

“Individual success is always great, but you don’t get anywhere without great teammates,” he said.

Register said this Walleye team, which sits in second place in the ECHL Central Division with a 17-5-2 record, has all the ingredients that his other championship teams possessed.

“We are pretty similar,” he said. “It’s an all-around, well-rounded team. It’s a brotherhood in there. We have guys that will stick up for each other. We have a bigger group. We have talent and the physicality to match it. We have the whole package.”

Toledo, which ranks second in the league in goals scored at 3.71, has three road games this week — all against division foes. The Walleye have righted the ship with two straight wins after dropping three of four.

“The expectations here is to win,” Register said. “We won’t settle for anything less than winning the whole thing. There’s no better feeling than when you lift that trophy.”