On Tuesday September 15th, the Maine Mariners announced the signing of Canadian defensemen Ryan Jackson. The two sides have agreed to terms on a standard player contract for the upcoming season. Jackson becomes the team’s 11th signing while also adding to the club’s defensive ranks.
Ryan Jackson signs with the Mariners from Manhattanville College in Harrison, New York. There, he served as team captain in 2019-20. Manhattanville is a Division III program and mostly plays in the UCHC. Jackson spent four years with the Valiants and served as team captain in his senior season.
In a statement from Riley Armstrong, Mariners head coach and assistant GM, he said of the team’s latest addition, “I’m always looking for DIII players that have developed over their college careers that might have been overlooked by DI teams. I feel the way Ryan skates and how well he defends, he will be a good pro. Being a right shot defenseman also always helps the cause. I have met Ryan over the summer and I’m excited to see what he brings to the table once training camp starts.”
Jackson previously spent time in Portland, ME in 2014-15. It was then he spent time skating with the Portland Jr. Pirates in the USPHL. Jackson played 44 games at the Premier level, while finishing off with another two at the Elite level. At the end of Manhattanville’s season, Jackson would play in five games with the Fayetteville Marksmen in the SPHL.
Jackson is the third defensemen to sign on with the Mariners for the upcoming season. The 2020-21 season is scheduled to begin on the fourth of December. Stay safe and stay healthy.