Playing pro in South Carolina, Austin Saint continues chasing the dream

Austin Saint with a puck he’ll keep forever on his mantel, his first goal scored in pro hockey. Image: Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

Greenville, South Carolina is not known as a hockey hotbed to those in the Lakeland area, but it is the home of the East Coast Hockey League’s (ECHL) Swamp Rabbits. 

It’s now Austin Saint’s home for the remainder of the hockey season, as the Bonnyville hockey product made his pro debut in style on Saturday night. 

Affiliated with the Los Angeles Kings and the AHL’s Ontario Reign (California, not Canada), Saint decided to move on from the Royal Military College Paladins,  where he played for the past two years. 

Conversations then started with the organization’s Head Coach and Director of Hockey Ops, Andrew Lord, and the news became official last Friday. 

“I was hoping to kind of turn a new page and start my pro career, I felt like the work I had been doing to get here was enough to move on,” Saint told Lakeland Connect. 

“I think it’s a spot where I can continue to develop and keep reaching that next level.” 

After a hectic travel day to make it to the sixth largest city in South Carolina, Saint didn’t take long to strike. 

In the first period, he took two strides into the offensive zone and released a howler pinned for the top corner. 

It’ll be a puck, one is sure, he’ll keep forever. 

“I was a bit weary, just curious about how I was going to be. I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t going to be sticking out like a sore thumb in a bad way,” he said. 

“I was glad to get that first one out of the way just to kind of feel like I was meant to be here right now.” 

Saint’s physical tools have never lacked. He is a strong and lean 190lbs, but his offensive skills have blossomed in recent years. 

His last year of Junior A in 2021-22, he scored 23 goals. Then graduating to U Sports competition, he scored 12 goals and 19 points in his rookie season, and 18 goals and 32 points in his sophomore year that was just finished. Each time he led his team in goals. 

I think being responsible in the D zone and just not take any shortcuts. Over those years, just kind of put in the work in the offseason, and during the season, whether it was being first on the ice or last off, or both. I think that’s kind of really what’s helped me get here. – Austin Saint 

The ECHL is a mixture of talent heading in opposite directions. 

Some are grey hairs who have played pro hockey for a long time, some are on contracts through the Ontario Reign and are developing with aspirations of playing in the NHL. 

The hodgepodge of players at different stages of their careers makes the ECHL a challenging place to play. 

For the 22 year old local, he’s hoping it’s the start of a long hockey career. 

But for now, one singular goal is in mind, helping a team currently 2nd in their division win a championship. 

“It’s been great. I couldn’t be happier honestly. And obviously playing against some older guys, to just adjusting to the pace a little bit. Obviously, the defense just got better sticks, that sort of thing. So just getting my timing down and stuff just kind of readjusting a bit

“We just want to keep winning and keep doing what we can once the playoffs come up, obviously those are huge. We’re looking to win a Kelly Cup with this group so it’s pretty exciting times right now and you can kind of feel it around the rink – everyone’s gearing up for the playoffs.”