Pair of rookie forwards return, hoping to make ECHL debuts
BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners
PORTLAND, ME – August 17, 2021 – Andrew Romano and Jonathan Desbiens were hoping to make their professional debuts for the Mariners in 2020-21. Unfortunately for both forwards, the pandemic didn’t give them a chance, but the Mariners announced on Tuesday that Romano and Desbiens have again signed in Maine for the 2021-22 season.
Romano, 26, led all NCAA DIII players in scoring during his junior and senior seasons at SUNY Geneseo (Geneseo, NY). During his junior year in 2018-19, he posted 52 points (10 goals, 42 assists) in 29 games. Amazingly, he outdid himself as a senior in 2019-20, registering 56 points (14 goals, 42 assists) in 27 games. He was also the nation’s top assist producer both years.
In total, Romano registered 171 points in 112 career games at Geneseo, averaging more than 1.5 points per game. He racked up accolades in his time there. He was twice named an AHCA (American Hockey Coaches Association) All-American, making the second team as a junior and first-team as a senior. The Ice Knights had an 84-18-10 record in Romano’s four seasons, as he suited up in every game and helped lead them to three consecutive conference titles from 2018-2020. The Drexel Hill, a PA native, is the 2nd all-time leading scorer in program history.
Last fall, Romano played for two different teams Southern Professional Hockey League, following the Mariners pandemic-related season cancellation. He suited up in 11 games for the Huntsville Havoc, scoring three goals with two assists. He then joined the Macon Mayhem and scored four goals, and added seven assists in 26 games. With Macon, Romano also appeared in two playoff games and was a teammate of defenseman Nate Kallen, who re-signed with the Mariners last week.
Jonathan Desbiens
Jonathan Desbiens is a 25-year-old forward from Montreal, QC, who played NCAA DI hockey at Bentley University (Waltham, MA). He was a steady point producer for the Falcons, putting up at least 20 points all four seasons, and reaching 30 as both a junior and a senior. Desbiens racked up 102 points (49 goals, 53 assists) in 139 career college games. In 2018-19 as a junior, he was an Atlantic Hockey Third Team All-Conference selection.
Desbiens was a star in the British Columbia Hockey League, where he played two seasons for the West Kelowna Warriors. The 2015-16 season was his breakout campaign, as he put up 83 points in 58 games (44 goals, 39 assists), leading the Warriors and finishing sixth in the league scoring race. West Kelowna went on to win the BCHL Championship and the RBC Cup (Canadian Junior A National Championship). Desbiens led all BCHL players in playoff goals, with 15.
The Mariners have now announced seven players on the 2021-22 roster. Romano and Desbiens join the forward group with Greg Chase and Nick Master. Defenseman that has been announced so far include Brycen Martin, Connor Doherty, and Nate Kallen. Click here to view the current roster.
MARINERS TICKETS
The Mariners are now proud affiliates of the Boston Bruins and begin their 2021-22 season, presented by Hannaford To Go on October 22nd, with the home opener against the Worcester Railers, sponsored by Skowhegan Savings. The full schedule can be found here. Full season, half-season, 12-game mini-plans, and 10-ticket flex plans, as well as group tickets, are available now. Single-game tickets will go on sale on September 29th. More information on current ticketing options is available by calling 833-GO-MAINE, emailing mariners-sales@comcastspectacor.com, or visiting MarinersOfMaine.com.
