Last Updated on November 12, 2026 by Janet Asprin
Matthew Knies is an American professional ice hockey player who plays as a left winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on October 17, 2002, in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, Knies grew up in a close-knit family with strong Slovakian roots.
His family includes his girlfriend, Ella Huber, his father, Miroslav Knies, his mother, Michaela Knies, and his older brother, Phillip Knies, who also pursued a professional hockey career.
Although Matthew was born and raised in the United States, his parents immigrated from Slovakia, and their cultural background has remained an important part of his upbringing.
Matthew Knies’ Girlfriend: Is He Dating Anyone?
Matthew Knies is in a relationship with Ella Huber, an American professional ice hockey player who plays for the Boston Fleet in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
The couple first became publicly associated with each other during their time at the University of Minnesota, where both played college hockey.
In August 2024, The Hockey News reported that Knies and Huber had appeared together in photographs taken during a European vacation.
The pictures showed the couple visiting destinations including Rome, Italy, and Paris, France.
Their relationship later received additional media attention as both athletes progressed in their professional hockey careers.
Who Is Ella Huber?
Ella Huber is an American professional ice hockey forward born on December 18, 2002, in Northfield, Illinois.
She grew up playing competitive hockey and represented the Chicago Mission youth hockey organization.
Huber later joined the University of Minnesota women’s ice hockey program, where she became an important offensive contributor for the Golden Gophers.
During the 2023–24 season, she recorded 42 points in 39 games, including 18 goals and 24 assists.
She also represented the United States at the 2020 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship, helping the American team win a gold medal.
Following her college hockey career, Huber was selected in the second round, 10th overall, of the 2025 PWHL Draft by the Boston Fleet.
She subsequently began her professional career with Boston during the 2025–26 season.
In June 2026, the Fleet reacquired Huber in a trade involving the PWHL’s Detroit expansion franchise.
Matthew Knies and Ella Huber’s Relationship
Knies and Huber developed their relationship while attending the University of Minnesota.
Their connection became publicly visible in 2024 when Ella shared photographs of the two traveling together in Europe.
During the summer of 2025, Knies attended the PWHL Draft in Ottawa to support Huber as she began her professional career.
According to a September 2025 report published by The Athletic and reproduced by O2K Sports Management, Knies spent much of his offseason in Minnesota and traveled to Ottawa for the draft.
The article specifically identified Ella as his girlfriend.
The couple continued supporting each other’s careers after Knies joined the Columbus Blue Jackets in September 2026.
Following his impressive Columbus debut on October 1, 2026, Huber publicly congratulated him through an Instagram story.
Her message, which read “So proud of you,” was reported by Sportskeeda and The Times of India in October 2026.
The supportive message attracted attention from hockey fans because Knies had recorded two goals and an assist in his first game for Columbus.
Is Matthew Knies Married?
There is no verified public information indicating that Matthew Knies is married.
His publicly documented romantic partner is Ella Huber, but neither has announced a wedding or engagement.
Consequently, Ella is identified as his girlfriend rather than his wife.
Does Matthew Knies Have Children?
There is no verified public information confirming that Matthew Knies has children.
The Columbus Blue Jackets forward has not publicly announced the birth of a son or daughter, and official NHL biographies do not identify him as a father.
Although his relationship with Ella Huber has attracted media attention, the couple have not publicly confirmed having children together.
Matthew Knies’ Parents
Matthew Knies was born to Miroslav Knies and Michaela Knies, who originally came from Bratislava, Slovakia.
Both parents emigrated to the United States before Matthew was born, eventually settling in Phoenix, Arizona.
They raised Matthew and his older brother, Phillip, in a household that combined American life with Slovakian cultural traditions.
According to the University of Minnesota’s official athletics biography and interviews published by USA Hockey, the brothers were introduced to hockey at an early age.
Matthew Knies’ Father: Miroslav Knies
Miroslav Knies, commonly known as Miro, is Matthew’s father and one of the most influential people in his hockey career.
Miroslav grew up in Bratislava, Slovakia, where he developed an interest in sports, particularly soccer.
Before moving to the United States, he worked as an engineer for an international company.
In a February 2022 interview with Slovakian news outlet Sportnet, Miroslav explained that he received an opportunity to transfer to the company’s headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.
The move allowed him to establish a new life in the United States while continuing his professional career.
His wife, Michaela, and their first son, Phillip, later joined him in Arizona.
The family initially expected to remain in the United States temporarily but eventually decided to settle there permanently.
In a 2025 interview on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Matthew explained that his father’s engineering job with Honeywell had provided the opportunity to relocate to America.
How Miroslav Knies Influenced Matthew’s Hockey Career
Miroslav helped introduce both of his sons to hockey while they were growing up in Arizona.
Although he had played soccer in Slovakia, he encouraged Phillip and Matthew to develop their own interests in sports.
In a March 2023 interview with the Star Tribune, Miroslav explained that Matthew became fascinated by hockey after watching his older brother play.
Matthew started showing an interest in skating almost as soon as he learned to walk.
His father recognized his competitive personality and encouraged him to continue developing his abilities.
Miroslav and Michaela also encouraged their sons to participate in other sports, including soccer and tennis, to improve their athletic development.
As Matthew became more serious about hockey, his father supported his participation in youth hockey programs and helped him pursue opportunities beyond Arizona.
The family also followed the Arizona Coyotes, allowing Matthew to watch professional players and develop his ambition to reach the NHL.
Matthew Knies’ Mother: Michaela Knies
Michaela Knies is Matthew’s mother and another important figure in his upbringing.
Like her husband, Michaela was born and raised in Bratislava, Slovakia.
She moved to the United States with Miroslav and their older son, Phillip, before Matthew was born.
Michaela helped raise the brothers in Phoenix while maintaining their Slovakian family traditions.
According to the University of Minnesota’s official biography, Michaela and Miroslav supported Matthew throughout his youth and college hockey development.
She was also involved in encouraging her sons to explore various sports and educational opportunities.
In interviews, Matthew has spoken about the importance of his parents’ sacrifices and their decision to build a new life in the United States.
Although Michaela has been publicly identified in hockey coverage, reliable information about her professional occupation and other personal details remains limited.
Matthew Knies’ Siblings
Matthew Knies has one publicly documented sibling, his older brother Phillip Knies, who is also known as Phil Knies.
Phillip was born in Bratislava, Slovakia, before his family moved to the United States.
Like Matthew, he grew up playing hockey in Arizona and eventually pursued competitive hockey at the collegiate and professional levels.
Phillip Knies: Matthew Knies’ Older Brother
Phillip Knies is Matthew’s older brother and one of his earliest hockey influences.
Born in 1998 in Bratislava, Slovakia, Phillip moved to the United States with his parents as an infant.
He grew up in Phoenix and developed his hockey skills through local youth programs.
Phillip later played junior hockey for the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League.
During the 2016–17 season, he helped Sioux City win the USHL’s Anderson Cup.
He subsequently attended Miami University in Ohio, where he played NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey.
During his time with the Miami RedHawks, Phillip became a team captain and developed a reputation for his leadership.
After four seasons at Miami, he transferred to Bentley University for the 2021–22 season.
Phillip later continued his hockey career in Slovakia, including playing for HK Nitra during the 2022–23 season.
How Phillip Knies Inspired His Younger Brother
Phillip played an important role in Matthew’s childhood and early hockey development.
According to a November 2021 Star Tribune feature, Matthew regularly watched his older brother play hockey when he was very young.
The brothers also practiced together at home, where their family created a hockey shooting area in the garage.
Matthew frequently competed against Phillip, who was approximately four years older.
These experiences helped the younger brother develop his puck-handling abilities, competitiveness, and confidence.
When Phillip left Arizona to play college hockey, Matthew continued practicing at home with friends and other family members.
In a July 2022 Sportsnet interview, Matthew explained that he consulted his older brother when deciding whether to leave the University of Minnesota and begin his NHL career immediately.
Phillip’s experience with college and professional hockey gave Matthew valuable advice about his development.
Does Matthew Knies Have a Sister?
There is no publicly verified information identifying a sister.
Official biographies from the University of Minnesota and Team USA identify Phillip as Matthew’s older brother without naming additional siblings.
Therefore, Phillip is the only sibling whose identity has been established through reliable public sources.
Matthew Knies’ Slovakian Family Heritage
Although Matthew Knies was born in Phoenix, Arizona, his family has strong connections to Slovakia.
Both parents were born and raised in Bratislava, and his older brother was also born in the Slovakian capital.
In a December 2021 article published by NHL.com in Slovak, Knies explained that Slovak was spoken regularly in his household.
His grandparents primarily communicated in Slovak, encouraging him to maintain a connection with the language.
Matthew has also visited Slovakia to spend time with extended family members.
During his childhood, he admired Slovakian NHL stars including Zdeno Chára, Marián Hossa, and Marián Gáborík.
His family heritage received additional attention when he represented the United States against Slovakia at international hockey tournaments.
Despite his Slovakian ancestry, Matthew was born in the United States and has represented the American national hockey program.
How Matthew Knies’ Family Supported His Hockey Career
Matthew Knies began playing hockey in Arizona, where he joined the Phoenix Junior Coyotes youth program.
His parents supported his development, while his older brother provided an example of what could be achieved through competitive hockey.
Knies eventually moved to Nebraska to play for the Tri-City Storm in the United States Hockey League.
In 2021, he was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round, 57th overall, of the NHL Entry Draft.
He subsequently attended the University of Minnesota and became one of the Golden Gophers’ most important players.
During the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Knies represented the United States men’s national ice hockey team.
He also helped Minnesota reach the NCAA championship game in 2023 and was named Big Ten Player of the Year.
Following the conclusion of his college season, Knies signed his first NHL contract with Toronto in April 2023.
He made his NHL debut on April 10, 2023, against the Florida Panthers.
After establishing himself as a regular player, he signed a six-year, $46.5 million contract with Toronto in 2025.
On September 28, 2026, Knies was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a deal involving several players, including Kirill Marchenko and Steven Lorentz.
He made an immediate impact in Columbus, recording two goals and one assist during a 6–3 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on October 1, 2026.
His girlfriend, Ella Huber, publicly celebrated the achievement, reflecting the support he continues to receive from the people closest to him.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew Knies’ Family
Who is Matthew Knies’ girlfriend?
Matthew Knies’ girlfriend is Ella Huber, an American professional ice hockey player who plays for the Boston Fleet in the PWHL. Their relationship became publicly known in 2024.
Is Matthew Knies married?
There is no verified public information confirming that Matthew Knies is married or has a wife.
Does Matthew Knies have children?
There are no reliable public reports confirming that Matthew Knies has children.
Who are Matthew Knies’ parents?
Matthew Knies’ parents are Miroslav Knies and Michaela Knies. Both originally came from Bratislava, Slovakia, before moving to Phoenix, Arizona.
Who is Matthew Knies’ father?
His father is Miroslav Knies, also known as Miro. He is originally from Bratislava, Slovakia, and previously worked as an engineer before relocating to the United States.
Who is Matthew Knies’ mother?
His mother is Michaela Knies, who was also born and raised in Bratislava, Slovakia. She helped raise Matthew and his brother Phillip in Phoenix, Arizona.
Does Matthew Knies have siblings?
Yes. Matthew Knies has an older brother named Phillip Knies, who also played competitive hockey, including college hockey at Miami University and Bentley University.
Is Phillip Knies related to Matthew Knies?
Yes. Phillip Knies is Matthew’s older biological brother. He was born in Slovakia and later moved to the United States with their parents.
Does Matthew Knies have a sister?
No sister has been publicly identified in reliable hockey biographies. His only publicly documented sibling is his older brother, Phillip.
Is Matthew Knies Slovakian?
Matthew Knies is American by birth and has Slovakian ancestry through both parents, who were born in Bratislava. He also has family connections to Slovakia through his grandparents and older brother.
Where is Matthew Knies’ family from?
His family originally comes from Bratislava, Slovakia, but his parents settled in Phoenix, Arizona, before Matthew was born.
What NHL team does Matthew Knies play for?
Matthew Knies plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He joined the organization in September 2026 after being traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
A dedicated ice hockey journalist, Janet Asprin delivers sharp, detailed coverage of the NHL season. From evaluating trade deadline moves and line combinations to analyzing power plays and postseason standings, Janet brings a fresh, structured perspective to every game. She focuses on translating high-speed rink strategy into compelling stories and actionable insights for hockey fans.
