What started in the infancy of the “Rock the Red” era 11 years ago, has seemed to come full circle. More and more youth hockey players have participated in the game each season here in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia area (DMV). the Washington Capitals welcomed Joseph Snively to the family on Monday. He’s from local Herndon, VA.
The Washington Capitals signed Joe Snively to a two-year entry-level deal on Monday. While it is unclear what the financial terms of his contract are, his signing has made a good number of Capitals fans excited that one local talent has come home. The Yale University senior was born in Herndon, Virginia and even practiced and played hockey at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, his future home. Before attending Yale, Snively participated in the “Little Caps” program.
Snively had 36 points in 33 games with Yale, with 15 goals and 21 assists during his senior year. He also set a career-high with five power play goals. In four seasons with the Bulldogs, Snievely posted 139 points (58 goals, 81 assists) in 129 games. Last season, Snively made NCAA All-Ivy League First Team honors as well as the NCAA (New England) All-Stars. His major is political science. You can learn more about Snively in the Capitals’ press release that came after the signing announcement.
What’s even more interesting besides the fact over 20 NHL teams were interested in Snively was his attachment to the Capitals growing up. Snively’s dentist in Northern Virginia is the same dentist who Alex Ovechkin sees. The two also met one time in the waiting room and Ovechkin signed Snively’s hockey gloves. He also expressed that his favorite player is Nicklas Backstrom.
While all of the above is quite interesting, we found some fun facts about Snively that you probably didn’t know about him.
FIVE THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT JOSEPH SNIVELY
- Snivey is just the second Virginia native to play on a Yale hockey roster. In fact, he’s the first VA native to play for the Bulldogs since the early 1960’s.
- His best game came in his senior year when Snively had a four-point night on Feb. 10 vs. Princeton. In that game, Snively had a hat trick along with an assist.
- Snively was not only named a Hobey Baker nominee this season. He was nominated last season as well. Hobey Baker is “college hockey’s most prestigious award” that is bestowed on the top college hockey player.
- Snively grew up playing hockey with kids older than him. It helped raise his competitiveness to make him an even better player.
- Prior to joining the Little Caps program, Snively played for the Reston Raiders before moving up to the Tier I level. Aside from the Little Caps, Snively also played for the Virginia Statesman growing up.
As far as his future is concerned, while his senior hockey season has wrapped up he still has school to finish! He may join the Bears on an Amateur tryout (ATO) with the likelihood of Washington’s AHL affiliate making the playoffs. It all depends on his class schedule later this spring semester.