KUHNS: CHAD DUCHESNE RETURNS TO GREENVILLE
Fan-favorite returns for the third season
BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Chad Duchesne to a pro contract for the upcoming 2018–19 season. The 23-year old is a veteran of over 100 ECHL games and will suit up for his third season in Greenville.
“It’s my third year in Greenville so it’s exciting. I love the city, and with the new coaching staff put in place and the new direction of the organization, it’s exciting to be a part of,” said Duchesne. “It’s my third year of being pro, so I want to build on my last two seasons and continue to develop and learn. I want to take what I’ve learned in the last two years and bring it to the team this year.”
In those 109 prior games with the Swamp Rabbits, Duchesne scored 2 goals and added 9 assists. The steady defenseman, just 23 years of age, played in three different junior leagues before entering the professional ranks, including as a member of the Kingston Voyageurs of the OJHL, the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL, and most recently, the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL.
“After conversations with Chad, he sees the path and the direction we want to go in, and he wants to go in that direction,” said Swamp Rabbits head coach Kevin Kerr. “He’s a guy who never stops working hard, and never stops competing. He’s a guy you want to have on your team because when the team goes through tough stretches, you want a character guy who can help dig you out of those situations.”
“Chad is really excited to be here, and we’re really excited to have him. He competes and battles every day.”
The native of Inverary, Ontario, before turning pro, turned in a strong junior career. He was drafted 14thoverall in Phase II of the 2013 USHL Draft, finished tops in points among Herd defensemen with 25, and was among the top defensive scorers in the USHL. Duchesne capped off his junior career in Kingston with a 32-point season in 2015–16 and finished a +17.
Catch Duchesne and the rest of the Swamp Rabbits, as preseason gets underway on Thursday, October 4 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena against the Atlanta Gladiators, and the regular season kicks off with Opening Night on Friday, October 12 against the Toledo Walleye.
The current Swamp Rabbits have signed 19 players for the upcoming season. The full list of players can be found below, or on the offseason player tracker at SwampRabbits.com.
Forwards (11): Jarrid Privitera, Dylan Vander Esch, Stephen Pierog, Austen Brassard, Mike Pelech, Travis Howe, Alex Globke, Timmy Moore, Will Merchant, J.T. Henke, and Johno May.
Defensemen (7): Chad Duchesne, Luke Ripley, Kyle Chatham, Jake Bolton, J.C. Brassard, Trevor Owens, and Sean Flanagan.
Goaltenders (2): Garrett Bartus and Devin Buffalo.
Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages!
Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2018–19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at SwampRabbits.com/shop to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties!
