GREENVILLE, S.C. – The dog days of summer are slowly coming to a close. The preseason is right around the corner and before fans know it, the 2023-24 season will be upon us. However, teams have been keeping themselves somewhat busy over the last couple of months with signing players to contracts, amongst other things, i.e. promo schedule releases, schedules, etc. That being said, last week the Greenville Swamp Rabbits brought in a new face for the upcoming season in forward/defenseman JD Greenway. This past Monday, the Swamp Rabbits added another fresh face to the ’23-24 squad that is looking to build off of last season. What makes it even more interesting, it is a former player who has connections to Greenville’s head coach.
From Wales to South Carolina
Courtesy of: James Assinder
On Monday afternoon, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits made the announcement that they signed defenseman Mark Louis to a deal for the upcoming ’23-24 season. The Ponoka, AB native has spent the last seven seasons overseas, with six of those playing for the Cardiff Devils of the EIHL. Last season, Louis tallied four assists in 43 games played and finished with a plus-11 on the regular season. In the playoffs, he didn’t record a point in four games played.
The lone season where he didn’t play for Cardiff was back in 2020-21, where he did a season stint with HK Dukla Michalovce.
Louis is no stranger to getting penalties, as he racked up over 100+ PIMS in two seasons with the Devils. His most was 127 back in ’21-22.
What makes the signing significant for the Swamp Rabbits is that Louis played for current Head Coach/General Manager Andrew Lord from 2016-17 to the 2019-20 season. This is a huge signing for the Swamp Rabbits as Lord knows how Louis plays and can find ways to add him to the team’s plans this season. Louis will provide veteran experience, especially with playing overseas hockey for the last seven seasons.
Being back in North America will be an adjustment period for Louis though. He hasn’t played in North America since the 2015-16 season when he played for the Orlando Solar Bears. That season he had three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 71 games played.
Louis and Lordo Reunited
When asked about coming to play for Lord and the Swamp Rabbits, Louis told Field Pass Hockey:
“I’m really looking forward to this upcoming season in Greenville! Lordo and the organization have built something special over the past few seasons and I’m excited to be a part of that”
FPH asked Lord about reuniting with Louis; Lord stated:
“Louis is a big signing for our organization. He brings veteran experience, size, toughness, and a great desire to compete/win. Louis and a I had a number of good years working together overseas and I’m thrilled to work alongside him again. I know he’s hungry to have a great season and he will bring an overall game that not many players can bring anymore in today’s modern game.”
Overall, this seems to be a great signing for the Swamp Rabbits going into the upcoming season. A veteran presence like Louis will go a long way for a team looking to take the next step. It will be worth keeping an eye on seeing Louis back on North American ice and bringing his style of hockey to the UpState.
