Herndon native Joe Snively to make NHL debut tonight

The Washington Capitals woke up to more bad news as T.J. Oshie entered COVID protocols. There is a silver lining however as another rookie is making his NHL debut tonight. Meet Joe Snively who hails from Herndon, VA.

Snively took rushes on the second line at morning skate alongside Aliaksei Protas and Conor Sheary. He worked hard and earned this opportunity to live out a childhood dream of suiting up for the Capitals and Coach Peter Laviolette expressed that:

"“He’s worked hard. He put himself in a position to have his name called.”"

Snively was called up from the Hershey Bears of the AHL. During his youth he trained at MedStar Capitals Iceplex and participated in the “Little Caps” program. The 25 year old has recorded 22 points in 21 games with the Bears with eight goals and 14 assists. He leads the team in points while tied for first in goals.

During the 2020-21 season the five foot nine, 176 pound forward recorded 17 points in 30 games for Hershey with six goals and 11 assists. In 105 career games with the Bears, Snively has recorded 70 points with 28 goals and 42 assists.

Prior to joining Hershey, Snively recorded 36 points with 15 goals and 21 assists in 33 games with Yale University in the 2018-19 season and set a collegiate career high with five power play goals. Snively led Yale in points in all four years recording a total of 139 points with 58 goals and 81 assists in 129 career NCAA games.

Snively was named as a Hobey Baker Award nominee in the 2018-19 season. In 2017-18 following a 36 point season with 19 goals and 17 assists, Snively was named to the NCAA All Ivy League First Team and the NCAA (New England) All Stars. Additionally, during his freshman year in 2015-16 Snively was named the NCAA Ivy League Rookie of the Year, to the NCAA (ECAC) All Rookie Team and was an NCAA All Ivy League Team honorable mention following a 28 point (10 goals and 18 assists) season.

Prior to Yale, Snively was drafted by the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) at 57th overall in the 2012 USHL Futures Draft. Snively played three seasons at the USHL and recorded 125 points with 50 goals and 75 assists in 159 games with Sioux City.

Snively has twice represented Team USA winning a silver medal in the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Tournament at the U18 level and a gold medal at the 2014 World Junior A Championship. He was signed by the Caps as an undrafted free agent in March 2019.

He talked about how he hopes to have an impact on the kids playing hockey in the DMV, which has included an uptick in participation thanks to guys like Alex Ovechkin.

"“I came from this area and I made it, so [kids from the DMV] can too. Just try to set an example for them.”"

The Caps take on the Los Angeles Kings tonight at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington. Congrats to Joe Snively on achieving his NHL dream!