K-Wings sign Masonius

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets, announced the signing of defenseman Joe Masonius for the 2022-23 season.

Masonius comes to Kalamazoo, after playing last season under contrat to Utica of the American Hockey League. In addition to skating in three games wiht the Comets, he spent time with the Adirondack Thunder and Fort Wayne Komets, and was Adirondack's representative in the 2022 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic in Jacksonville.

The 25-year-old totaled 28 points (6g-22a) in 56 regular-season games with Adirondack and Fort Wayne while also appearing in two postseason contests with the Komets.

A sixth-round selection (181st overall) of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft is a product of the Team USA National Team Development Program. During his time with the USA National team, he won a World Under-17 Men's Gold Medal (2014), a World Under-18 Men's Gold Medal (2015), and took part in the 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Dubuque, Iowa.

Kalamazoo is Masonius’ ninth professional stop. He has also skated in the ECHL with Greenville, Manchester, Norfolk and South Carolina along with Macon of the Southern Professional Hockey League. In 121 games as a pro, Masonius has posted 40 points (9g-31a) and added 293 penalty minutes.

A native of Spring Lake, New Jersey, Masonius played his collegiate hockey at the University of Connecticut, totaling 50 points (10g-40a) in 96 games.