Where are They Now: Men’s Ice Hockey Pios in the Pros
9/30/2024 4:54:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nearly 20 with SHU connections involved in game in professional ranks
FAIRFIED, Conn. (September 30, 2024) – With the hockey season about to begin at both the collegiate and professional levels, it seems like an opportune time to check in on the former members of the Sacred Heart University ice hockey program who are continuing to ply their trade in the professional ranks. Between the three levels of affiliated hockey stateside (NHL, AHL, ECHL) and a few alums overseas, nearly 20 former Pioneers will suit up at the professional level this winter.
"It's a testament to the type of young men that our staff has been able to attract to our school; having guys that have that drive and compete to get to the pro level has helped our program rise," said head coach C.J. Marottolo. "What's nice about Sacred Heart is you can get a top-notch diploma without giving up the opportunity to pursue a pro hockey career. Having guys in the pro game has certainly given our recruiting a boost."
In a new highwater mark for the program, three Pios were active in NHL training camps this preseason. Justin Danforth heads into his fourth season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, as the program's most prominent on-ice alum. Marc Johnstone, who made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, is among the final 52 players in NHL camp as of press time. Neil Shea impressed in his first full professional season last winter and earned an invite to Colorado Avalanche camp as well.
"It's very exciting to have three Sacred Heart alums in NHL camps this fall," continued Marottolo. "Danforth is obviously an established guy who has earned it every inch of the way. Johnstone and Shea are guys who are pushing as hard as they can to get to the NHL on a regular basis. We are proud of them and it's fun to watch them all chase their dreams."
Here's a look at where those with SHU connections will be spending their time this winter:
National Hockey League
Justin Danforth
Columbus Blue Jackets
A member of the Pios from 2013-17, Danforth has now played in 122 NHL games, all with the Blue Jackets, over the last three seasons. He enjoyed a career year last winter, setting new career highs in games played (71) and points (10-16-26). It was the second double-digit goal campaign of his NHL career.
Ryan Warsofsky
San Jose Sharks (Head Coach)
Warsofsky played two seasons for the Pios in 2008-10, before finishing his collegiate career at Curry College, and has since risen through the professional ranks as a coach. After three years as an AHL head coach, including leading the Chicago Wolves to the Calder Cup in 2022, he spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Sharks at the NHL level. This summer, he was named as the franchise's 12th head coach and heads into his debut season as the bench boss this fall.
American Hockey League
Marc Johnstone
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins affiliate)
A Pio from 2017-21, Johnstone is still in NHL camp with the big club as of press time and contributed an assist in a preseason game against Buffalo on Sept. 24. He made his NHL debut with a one-game stint in Pittsburgh last year, but is likely headed to his third full AHL season, and second with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In 114 career AHL games, he has put together a 12-19-31 scoring line. Johnstone's contract is a two-way deal, so he could potentially be in line for more NHL time this year.
Kevin Lombardi
Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks affiliate)
Lombardi closed out a five-year SHU career last winter and immediately jumped into the ECHL, where he contributed 0-1-1 in seven games down the stretch with the Orlando Solar Bears, plus 1-1-2 in six playoff appearances. He steps up to the AHL to start his first full professional season in 2024-25.
Austin Magera
Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals affiliate)
A five-year Pio from 2018-23, Magera hit the ground running in his first full professional season last winter. He piled up 29-45-74 for the South Carolina Stingrays to earn ECHL Rookie of the Year accolades. Magera makes a step up to start 2024-25 and has an AHL deal with the Hershey Bears.
Neil Shea
Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche affiliate)
A Northeastern transfer, Shea spent his final two collegiate seasons with SHU from 2021-23. Last season was his first full professional season, and it was a bit of an adventure. Shea put together a respectable 18-19-37 line in 64 games with the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers, but then the team folded in early April. He has logged seven AHL games in his career thus far and is poised to get a shot at a full season at that level with Colorado this winter, after a brief stint with the parent club Avalanche in NHL training camp.
ECHL
Logan Britt
Reading Royals (Philadelphia Flyers affiliate)
Britt closed out his collegiate career at North Dakota last year after spending the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons at Sacred Heart. He made his professional debut at the end of last season with the ECHL's Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he tallied 0-1-1 across four games. He heads into his first full professional season in the Flyers organization this winter.
Alec Butcher
Tulsa Oilers (Anaheim Ducks affiliate)
A member of the Pios from 2014-17, before concluding his college career at Alaska-Anchorage, Butcher heads into his sixth professional season, and second with Tulsa, in 2024-25. Across 301 professional games, all at the ECHL level, Butcher has totaled 93-102-195.
Connor Doherty
Florida Everblades (St. Louis Blues affiliate)
Also at SHU from 2014-17, Doherty has been in the ECHL ever since he finished his collegiate career. He heads into his eighth professional season this winter, and his first with the Everblades, following three campaigns with the Maine Mariners. He has played in 345 career ECHL games and tallied 10-65-75.
Dante Fantauzzi
Bloomington Bison (New York Rangers affiliate)
Fantauzzi is set to make his professional debut this winter after wrapping up a three-season stint with SHU last year. He finished with 4-15-19 across 83 career games with the Pios.
Jordan Kaplan
Worcester Railers (New York Islanders affiliate)
A three-year member of the Pios from 2017-20, Kaplan then spent one season at Vermont to round out his collegiate career. Since, he has logged three seasons in the ECHL, where he has spent time with six different teams. He returns to Worcester for the 2024-25 campaign after suiting up for the Railers in two games two winters ago. He is coming off a 14-14-28 season in 51 games with Savannah last year.
Dakota Raabe
Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild affiliate)
Raabe played for SHU in 2021-22, after four seasons at Michigan, and is headed into his third full season at the ECHL level in 2024-25. He was traded to Iowa during the stretch run last season and contributed 4-4-8 across 12 games at the end of the campaign. Raabe has tallied 21-43-64 over 110 career ECHL contests.
TJ Walsh
Wichita Thunder (San Jose Sharks affiliate)
After two seasons apiece at Northeastern and RPI, Walsh wrapped up his college days at SHU with a 13-13-26 campaign last winter. He jumped to the pros immediately and logged a pair of games, with one assist, for the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears. Walsh is headed back to the ECHL this winter with Wichita, for his first full professional season.
Overseas
Michael Crocock
Guildford Flames (EIHL)
Crocock wore the red and white for SHU from 2015-19 and then played two seasons in the ECHL before heading overseas. He has been with Guildford since 2021-22 and is heading into his fourth EIHL season this winter. Over three previous campaigns with the Flames, he has totaled 9-24-33 in 137 games.
Evan Jasper
Vienna Capitals (Austria)
Jasper played for Sacred Heart from 2013-17 and followed up his time in college with two ECHL seasons, plus a cup of coffee in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He has been overseas since the 2018-19 season, with stops in Denmark, Russia, France, Germany and Czechia. This winter, Jasper heads to Austria for the first time, to play in the capital city of Vienna.
Ben Lake
Belfast Giants (EIHL)
Lake spent two seasons in the ECHL after his 2011-15 stint with SHU and has been overseas in the EIHL ever since. He heads into his eighth season in the United Kingdom, and fourth with Belfast this winter. Lake's career best came in 2018-19, when he tallied 34-43-77 for the Coventry Blaze and he has recorded more than 250 career points in the EIHL.
Mike Lee
Belfast Giants (EIHL)
Lee rounded out his collegiate career at SHU from 2018-20, after two seasons at Vermont. After finishing up with the Pios, he spent two seasons in the ECHL, plus a brief stint in the AHL in Hartford, and has spent the previous two seasons in Slovakia, where he totaled 16-48-64. He joins Lake, a fellow Pioneer, in Belfast for 2024-25.
Zach Tsekos
Dundee Stars (EIHL)
Tsekos spent two years at SHU in 2016-18, before rounding out his college days with three years at Clarkson. He spent parts of three seasons in the ECHL, but has moved overseas in 2024-25, joining several other former Pios in the United Kingdom's EIHL.
Matt Tugnutt
Chamonix-Morzine (France)
A three-year Pio from 2017-20, Tugnutt moved on to Providence for his final collegiate season and has spent parts of two seasons in the ECHL. Last year, he also logged 32 games in the EIHL with the Guildford Flames. This winter, Tugnutt returns to Chamonix-Morzine in France, where he tallied 13-16-29 across 37 games in 2022-23.
"It's a testament to the type of young men that our staff has been able to attract to our school; having guys that have that drive and compete to get to the pro level has helped our program rise," said head coach C.J. Marottolo. "What's nice about Sacred Heart is you can get a top-notch diploma without giving up the opportunity to pursue a pro hockey career. Having guys in the pro game has certainly given our recruiting a boost."
In a new highwater mark for the program, three Pios were active in NHL training camps this preseason. Justin Danforth heads into his fourth season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, as the program's most prominent on-ice alum. Marc Johnstone, who made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, is among the final 52 players in NHL camp as of press time. Neil Shea impressed in his first full professional season last winter and earned an invite to Colorado Avalanche camp as well.
"It's very exciting to have three Sacred Heart alums in NHL camps this fall," continued Marottolo. "Danforth is obviously an established guy who has earned it every inch of the way. Johnstone and Shea are guys who are pushing as hard as they can to get to the NHL on a regular basis. We are proud of them and it's fun to watch them all chase their dreams."
Here's a look at where those with SHU connections will be spending their time this winter:
National Hockey League
Justin Danforth
Columbus Blue Jackets
A member of the Pios from 2013-17, Danforth has now played in 122 NHL games, all with the Blue Jackets, over the last three seasons. He enjoyed a career year last winter, setting new career highs in games played (71) and points (10-16-26). It was the second double-digit goal campaign of his NHL career.
Ryan Warsofsky
San Jose Sharks (Head Coach)
Warsofsky played two seasons for the Pios in 2008-10, before finishing his collegiate career at Curry College, and has since risen through the professional ranks as a coach. After three years as an AHL head coach, including leading the Chicago Wolves to the Calder Cup in 2022, he spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Sharks at the NHL level. This summer, he was named as the franchise's 12th head coach and heads into his debut season as the bench boss this fall.
American Hockey League
Marc Johnstone
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins affiliate)
A Pio from 2017-21, Johnstone is still in NHL camp with the big club as of press time and contributed an assist in a preseason game against Buffalo on Sept. 24. He made his NHL debut with a one-game stint in Pittsburgh last year, but is likely headed to his third full AHL season, and second with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In 114 career AHL games, he has put together a 12-19-31 scoring line. Johnstone's contract is a two-way deal, so he could potentially be in line for more NHL time this year.
Kevin Lombardi
Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks affiliate)
Lombardi closed out a five-year SHU career last winter and immediately jumped into the ECHL, where he contributed 0-1-1 in seven games down the stretch with the Orlando Solar Bears, plus 1-1-2 in six playoff appearances. He steps up to the AHL to start his first full professional season in 2024-25.
Austin Magera
Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals affiliate)
A five-year Pio from 2018-23, Magera hit the ground running in his first full professional season last winter. He piled up 29-45-74 for the South Carolina Stingrays to earn ECHL Rookie of the Year accolades. Magera makes a step up to start 2024-25 and has an AHL deal with the Hershey Bears.
Neil Shea
Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche affiliate)
A Northeastern transfer, Shea spent his final two collegiate seasons with SHU from 2021-23. Last season was his first full professional season, and it was a bit of an adventure. Shea put together a respectable 18-19-37 line in 64 games with the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers, but then the team folded in early April. He has logged seven AHL games in his career thus far and is poised to get a shot at a full season at that level with Colorado this winter, after a brief stint with the parent club Avalanche in NHL training camp.
ECHL
Logan Britt
Reading Royals (Philadelphia Flyers affiliate)
Britt closed out his collegiate career at North Dakota last year after spending the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons at Sacred Heart. He made his professional debut at the end of last season with the ECHL's Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he tallied 0-1-1 across four games. He heads into his first full professional season in the Flyers organization this winter.
Alec Butcher
Tulsa Oilers (Anaheim Ducks affiliate)
A member of the Pios from 2014-17, before concluding his college career at Alaska-Anchorage, Butcher heads into his sixth professional season, and second with Tulsa, in 2024-25. Across 301 professional games, all at the ECHL level, Butcher has totaled 93-102-195.
Connor Doherty
Florida Everblades (St. Louis Blues affiliate)
Also at SHU from 2014-17, Doherty has been in the ECHL ever since he finished his collegiate career. He heads into his eighth professional season this winter, and his first with the Everblades, following three campaigns with the Maine Mariners. He has played in 345 career ECHL games and tallied 10-65-75.
Dante Fantauzzi
Bloomington Bison (New York Rangers affiliate)
Fantauzzi is set to make his professional debut this winter after wrapping up a three-season stint with SHU last year. He finished with 4-15-19 across 83 career games with the Pios.
Jordan Kaplan
Worcester Railers (New York Islanders affiliate)
A three-year member of the Pios from 2017-20, Kaplan then spent one season at Vermont to round out his collegiate career. Since, he has logged three seasons in the ECHL, where he has spent time with six different teams. He returns to Worcester for the 2024-25 campaign after suiting up for the Railers in two games two winters ago. He is coming off a 14-14-28 season in 51 games with Savannah last year.
Dakota Raabe
Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild affiliate)
Raabe played for SHU in 2021-22, after four seasons at Michigan, and is headed into his third full season at the ECHL level in 2024-25. He was traded to Iowa during the stretch run last season and contributed 4-4-8 across 12 games at the end of the campaign. Raabe has tallied 21-43-64 over 110 career ECHL contests.
TJ Walsh
Wichita Thunder (San Jose Sharks affiliate)
After two seasons apiece at Northeastern and RPI, Walsh wrapped up his college days at SHU with a 13-13-26 campaign last winter. He jumped to the pros immediately and logged a pair of games, with one assist, for the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears. Walsh is headed back to the ECHL this winter with Wichita, for his first full professional season.
Overseas
Michael Crocock
Guildford Flames (EIHL)
Crocock wore the red and white for SHU from 2015-19 and then played two seasons in the ECHL before heading overseas. He has been with Guildford since 2021-22 and is heading into his fourth EIHL season this winter. Over three previous campaigns with the Flames, he has totaled 9-24-33 in 137 games.
Evan Jasper
Vienna Capitals (Austria)
Jasper played for Sacred Heart from 2013-17 and followed up his time in college with two ECHL seasons, plus a cup of coffee in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He has been overseas since the 2018-19 season, with stops in Denmark, Russia, France, Germany and Czechia. This winter, Jasper heads to Austria for the first time, to play in the capital city of Vienna.
Ben Lake
Belfast Giants (EIHL)
Lake spent two seasons in the ECHL after his 2011-15 stint with SHU and has been overseas in the EIHL ever since. He heads into his eighth season in the United Kingdom, and fourth with Belfast this winter. Lake's career best came in 2018-19, when he tallied 34-43-77 for the Coventry Blaze and he has recorded more than 250 career points in the EIHL.
Mike Lee
Belfast Giants (EIHL)
Lee rounded out his collegiate career at SHU from 2018-20, after two seasons at Vermont. After finishing up with the Pios, he spent two seasons in the ECHL, plus a brief stint in the AHL in Hartford, and has spent the previous two seasons in Slovakia, where he totaled 16-48-64. He joins Lake, a fellow Pioneer, in Belfast for 2024-25.
Zach Tsekos
Dundee Stars (EIHL)
Tsekos spent two years at SHU in 2016-18, before rounding out his college days with three years at Clarkson. He spent parts of three seasons in the ECHL, but has moved overseas in 2024-25, joining several other former Pios in the United Kingdom's EIHL.
Matt Tugnutt
Chamonix-Morzine (France)
A three-year Pio from 2017-20, Tugnutt moved on to Providence for his final collegiate season and has spent parts of two seasons in the ECHL. Last year, he also logged 32 games in the EIHL with the Guildford Flames. This winter, Tugnutt returns to Chamonix-Morzine in France, where he tallied 13-16-29 across 37 games in 2022-23.
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
Thanksgiving Baking
Thursday, November 27
Mini Movie: Hockey Fights Cancer
Tuesday, November 26
Saige Harper Paris 2024
Tuesday, April 16
Behind the Boards (MIH): Season 2, Episode 13
Friday, March 08
