It was ‘one in, one out’ on the blueline for the Fife Flyers on Friday [15 August].
The Elite League outfit completed the signing of towering defenceman Jeremy Masella just hours after work permit complications blocked Alexander Stensson’s move to the Kingdom.
Masella arrives in Fife with four seasons of professional experience, spanning the ECHL, Southern Professional Hockey League, and Hungary’s Erste Liga.
“Jeremy is a big man that makes playing in our end a difficult task,” Flyers head coach Jamie Russell said of the 6-foot-5 defender.
“He has good mobility and makes a great first pass.”
Who is Fife Flyers defenceman Jeremy Masella?
Masella played in the Western Hockey League and USports before entering the professional ranks.
The American spent four seasons in the WHL, tallying 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists) and 290 penalty minutes in 228 appearances for the Victoria Royals and Prince Albert Raiders.
He played a starring role in Prince Albert’s run to the WHL title in 2018-19 and was named alternate captain for the following season, his final year of junior eligibility.
Masella’s collegiate career was derailed by the pandemic, scoring once in eight appearances for Carleton University during a two-year stint in Ottawa.
The Arizona-born defender inked his full-time contract with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings in 2022, kickstarting a three-year career in North America’s third tier.
Masella tallied 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) and 193 penalty minutes in 129 games for the Wings, Savannah Ghost Pirates and Wichita Thunder, before taking his talents to Europe.
He spent last season in Hungary, recording 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 36 DVTK Jegesmedvek appearances.
How will Jeremy Masella boost the Fife Flyers’ blueline?
Another day, another on-brand signing by the Flyers.
Masella is a back-end behemoth — and he isn’t afraid to drop the gloves.
“We welcome Jeremy on board and are very pleased we could make it happen,” said Flyers GM Max Birbraer.
“Simply put, Jeremy fits the picture we all agreed to put together from the start. He is a big, mobile, hard nosed, hard to play against defender who can pitch in with some offence. I’m really pleased he has decided to join us for the upcoming season.”
Jeremy Masella, Fife Flyers (Image: Western Hockey League)
Perhaps the most revealing part of Birbraer’s statement is that he expects Masella to contribute offensively.
And he is right to expect that from the Phoenix native.
While Masella’s standout quality is his physical edge, he has shown flashes of creative spark.
Last term, he played at a half-a-point-per-game pace while playing for the Erste Liga’s fourth-bottom side.
Before pivoting his game in a more rough-and-tumble direction, he scored in a quarter of his ECHL outings.
Don’t be mistaken: Masella can play.
In addition to his heavy shot from the point, he plays simple defensive style.
The 26-year-old is a net-front battle specialist, moving bodies to create space for his goaltenders.
In short, dropping the gloves is only one part of his game.
Masella is a solid add for Fife.
Is Jeremy Masella a direct replacement for Alexander Stensson?
The Flyers announced Alexander Stensson’s signing on 1 August, with the deal falling through two weeks later.
The 28-year-old spent the first six seasons of his professional career playing third division hockey in his homeland, Sweden.
Last term, he played at a point-per-game pace in Hungary’s Erste Liga.
Unfortunately for Stensson and the Flyers, he didn’t qualify for a visa.
But Masella isn’t the Swede’s direct replacement.
Firstly, the deal to bring Masella to Fife has been in the works for weeks — and before Stensson’s move fell through.
Secondly, the two players have little in common.
Stensson is a puck-handling defenceman, with powerplay quarterback potential. He fights — but in a different weight class at 5-foot-11 and 176lbs.
With Stensson out of the picture, Masella is the sixth defenceman named to Fife’s roster.
But he won’t be the last — more help is coming.
Read More:
