GREENVILLE, S.C. – A couple weeks ago, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits re-signed a pair of players from last year’s team. The recently signed duo bumped up the roster to thirteen players going into the 2023-24 season. Friday the Swamp Rabbits announced another signing, this time on the defensive side. Although, it is not a new face that they are bringing into the fold. It’s a former Swamp Rabbit coming back over from Europe. Plus, he will add some veteran presence to the blue line.

Sam Jardine is BACK in Greenville

That is right, the Swamp Rabbits bring back former alternate captain, Sam Jardine, to the defensive depth for the upcoming season. The Lacombe, AB native returns for another season in the Upstate after his first stint in 2020-21. Jardine was part of the Greenville team that reached the Eastern Conference Final that season.

In ’20-21, Jardine accumulated three goals and 41 assists for 44 points in 67 games. During the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs, he scored one goal in six games. Jardine does have some playoff experience outside of that season and some championship pedigree as well. He was a part of the Newfoundland Growlers team that won the 2019 Kelly Cup, where he had one goal and seven assists for eight points during the playoffs.

Last season, Jardine played with the Cardiff Devils of the EIHL, tallying four goals and eight assists for 12 points in 33 games. In the playoffs, he dressed for four games but came away pointless. That wasn’t his first time in Cardiff, as he played for the Devils in the 2019-20 season, the year before coming to play in Greenville. After playing in Greenville back in 2020-21, Jardine spent the year before last with the Bratislava Capitals (Slovakia) of the ICEHL and HIFK in Liiga. After two years in Europe, Jardine is back in North America and Greenville.

A former ECHL/AHL journeyman since 2015-16, the Ohio State alum is looking to bring some hardware with Greenville. His second stint with the club is something he and the team are hoping to see turn into a title run. The Swamp Rabbits look at the addition of Jardine as a huge pickup for the backend as the team’s fourteenth signing.

When asked about getting Jardine back in the fold for Greenville, Swamp Rabbits General Manager and Head Coach Andrew Lord told Field Pass Hockey:

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Jards join us again for this upcoming season. He brings a lot to our organization on and off the ice.

This is a great signing for our organization. Sam is a good all-around d-man who defends well but can also produce offensively. The last time he was here he had a great presence in our room and I expect nothing less this time around. He is also great in the community and with our fan base, and I know he will show our young guys the right way to do things. Jards has also won a lot over his career and I know his experience will help us. I couldn’t be more excited to work together again.”

Greenville does not seem to be slowing down in terms of getting pen to paper with signees. As the team begins to get more names, there seems to be an identity that Lord and the Swamp Rabbits are looking to build for ’23-24. The addition of Jardine is a clear indicator. Will Jardine’s championship experience and veteran leadership, formally with Greenville, be one of the key pieces that the team needs? Only time will tell, but it is something to keep all eyes on the blue and orange in the Upstate.