Fox back for third season with Mariners

PORTLAND, Maine – The Maine Mariners announced their first player signing for 2020-21, bringing back forward Dillan Fox for his third season in Maine. Fox had a breakout season in 2019-20, tying for the team lead in goals and reaching the American Hockey League for the first time in his career.

Fox, who recently turned 29, is a native of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. After playing collegiately at the Division III level for SUNY-Plattsburgh, he began his pro career in the Southern Professional Hockey League at the end of the 2015-16 season with the Mississippi RiverKings. Fox played another season-and-a-half in Mississippi before getting his first ECHL opportunity with the Reading Royals in 2017-18, which included 10 regular-season games and one playoff appearance.

To begin 2018-19, Fox returned to the SPHL, signing with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs. After posting 16 points in 24 games, the Mariners signed Fox on Jan. 3, 2019. He spent the remainder of the season in Maine, scoring 26 points (16g-10a) in 37 games. Despite playing just over half a season with the Mariners, he managed to finish second on the team in goals.

Fox came out of the gates red hot in 2019-20, putting up seven goals and seven assists in his first 10 games. As his success continued through the holidays, Fox was rewarded with his first career AHL opportunity, when he was loaned to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Dec. 28. Fox appeared in two games for the Wolf Pack before being returned to Maine. In total, Fox posted a career-high 40 points (23g-17a) in 59 games for the Mariners this past season and he was tied for the team lead in goals.