TOSTI: SWAMP RABBITS LAND J.T. HENKE, SIGN BRAD BARONE
TOSTI: Swamp Rabbits Land J.T. Henke, Sign Brad Barone
Greenville inks leading scorer from Lake Superior State University and third-year netminder from Roanoke.
BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, announced today that the team has signed forward J.T. Henke and goaltender Brad Barone. Henke signs his first pro hockey contract after leading Lake Superior State University in scoring during two of the last three seasons. Barone joins the Swamp Rabbits for the second time this season. The goaltender was first called upon as an emergency backup goaltender on Oct. 20.
Henke, 23, played the last three seasons in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, logging 109 games with the Lakers. As a sophomore at Lake Superior State, Henke led the program with 22 points (10G, 12A) and posted 30 points (10G, 20A) the following year. The senior from Trenton, Michigan once again led his alma mater in scoring, netting nine goals and adding 18 assists this season. Henke recorded a hat-trick six games into his collegiate career and tied his career high three-point outing four other times.
The 5-foot-9 winger played one season at the University of Maine in 2013-14, earning eight points (1G, 7A). He left the program after one season and returned to his junior hockey team, the Jersey Hitmen for the 2014-15 campaign. Henke tallied 115 points (42G, 73A) in 84 games in two seasons with Jersey. Before taking the ice with the Hitmen, Swamp Rabbits newest forward played 41 games in the USHL for the Muskegon Lumberjacks and Tri-City Storm collecting 18 points (6G, 12A) in 2011-12.
Barone, 27, has played 100 pro games in his first three seasons spanning three leagues and five teams. The third-year pro was part of the Swamp Rabbits roster earlier this season, suiting up as an emergency backup goaltender on Oct. 20. The 6-foot netminder from Medfield, Massachusetts has won six of his last seven games in the SPHL and leads the league with a .920 save percentage. Barone has earned a 41-34-3-2 career record with four shutouts, 2.71 goals against average, and .919 save percentage. The Boston College alum began his career in the FHL and eventually made his ECHL debut with the Atlanta Gladiators on Mar. 5, 2016, facing Greenville in relief.
The Swamp Rabbits travel to Estero, Florida to face the Florida Everblades for two games this weekend at Germain Arena.
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