BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
GREENVILLE, S.C. — While his introduction to Greenville was short during the 2019–20 season, defenseman Joe Masonius is staying in the Upstate. The 23-year-old signed a Standard Player Contract with the Swamp Rabbits, good for the 2020–21 season.
“I’m thankful and grateful for the opportunity to play in Greenville, and I’m excited to play with teammates that I got to know last season and get the ball rolling as soon as we can,” Masonius said. “I have a lot of energy, and I get to do what I love, which is play hockey.”
Out of Spring Lake, New Jersey, Masonius has suited up for 50 pro games in two pro seasons. Just three of them were with Greenville, all on the road, prior to the cancellation of the 2019–20 season due to the Coronavirus pandemic. He posted a goal and an assist in those three road games and nine points overall for the season in 37 games.
Masonius was acquired in a trade from the Norfolk Admirals on March 2, 2020.
“I’m happy to have Joe signed up for this upcoming season, and I believe he has tremendous upside,” said head coach Andrew Lord. “He is still only 23 years of age, has a good overall skill set, and the ability to play a very solid, all-around game with an edge. I believe if Joe has a great offseason and comes in playing the way he can, he could be a huge help for our organization, which is very exciting.”
Masonius, a sixth-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, finished his second professional season out of UConn, where he spent three years. Masonius led all Huskies defensemen in scoring in his first two seasons and ranked second among defensemen in his junior year. All told, he scored 50 points in 96 collegiate games.
Masonius comes from a strong pedigree, as a member of the U.S. National Team Development Program. He was a participant in the 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Dubuque, Iowa, the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, the World Under-18 Championship for Team USA, and twice took part in the Five Nations and Four Nations Tournaments. The Americans captured gold in the 2015 iteration of the tournament, of which Masonius was a part of.
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