Jason DeSantis

Jason DeSantis (born March 9, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who was most recently with Esbjerg Energy in Denmark's Metal Ligaen. He previously played with Nottingham Panthers of the British Elite Ice Hockey League and EC VSV of the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL).

Jason DeSantis
Born	(1986-03-09) March 9, 1986 (age 39) Oxford, Michigan, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Right
Metal Ligaen team Former teams	Esbjerg Energy Philadelphia Phantoms HC Bílí Tygři Liberec Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins St. John's IceCaps San Antonio Rampage Hamilton Bulldogs HIFK EC KAC HC TWK Innsbruck EC VSV Nottingham Panthers
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2008–present

Playing career

Prior to turning professional, DeSantis went undrafted playing collegiate hockey at Ohio State University of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.^[1] After a breakout 2011–12 season in the AHL scoring 43 points in 66 games with the St. John's IceCaps, he was signed as a free agent to his first NHL contract on a one-year, two-way deal with the Florida Panthers on June 14, 2012.^[2]

Assigned directly to the San Antonio Rampage due to the ongoing lockout, DeSantis appeared in 28 games to start the 2012–13 season with the Rampagage before he was reassigned by the Panthers in an AHL trade to the Hamilton Bulldogs in exchange for Brendon Nash on January 3, 2013.^[3] Upon the agreement of a new NHL CBA, the trade was formalized between the Panthers and Montreal Canadiens on January 14, 2013.^[4]

On June 17, 2013, after three seasons in the AHL without NHL exposure, DeSantis left to sign a one-year contract with Finnish club, HIFK of the Liiga.^[5] After one season with HIFK, DeSantis turned to the Austrian Hockey League agreeing to a two-year deal with EC KAC.

In his two seasons in Klagenfurt, DeSantis in a top pairing role, contributed with 43 points in 84 games before opting to return to North America after three seasons abroad as a free agent.^[6] On September 27, 2016, DeSantis opted to continue his playing career in the ECHL, joining the Orlando Solar Bears on a one-year deal.^[7] Prior to training camp, DeSantis opted for a release from his contract with the Solar Bears and returned to the EBEL, signing a one-year deal with HC TWK Innsbruck on October 10, 2016.

On 9 August 2019, DeSantis moved to UK EIHL side Nottingham Panthers.^[8]

In February 2020, DeSantis moved to Denmark to sign for Esbjerg Energy.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002–03	U.S. National Development Team	NAHL		43	4	5	9	42		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	U.S. National Development Team	NAHL		10	1	1	2	4		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Ohio State University	CCHA		42	4	5	9	32		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Ohio State University	CCHA		24	2	4	6	30		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Ohio State University	CCHA		37	5	20	25	50		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Ohio State University	CCHA		41	5	15	20	38		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		10	0	5	5	6		10	0	1	1	6
2008–09	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		56	1	16	17	12		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	HC Bílí Tygři Liberec	CZE		14	2	3	5	10		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Wheeling Nailers	ECHL		45	6	21	27	38		15	1	2	3	18
2010–11	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		19	1	4	5	8		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	St. John's IceCaps	AHL		66	11	32	43	58		10	0	3	3	8
2012–13	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		28	2	7	9	22		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Hamilton Bulldogs	AHL		27	2	3	5	18		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	HIFK	Liiga		50	5	9	14	16		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	EC KAC	EBEL		37	4	15	19	20		9	0	5	5	10
2015–16	EC KAC	EBEL		47	8	16	24	49		7	1	2	3	8
2016–17	HC TWK Innsbruck	EBEL		43	5	13	18	16		4	0	1	1	2
2017–18	EHC Lustenau	AlpsHL		34	10	30	40	43		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	EC VSV	EBEL		48	5	9	14	20		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Nottingham Panthers	EIHL		30	2	9	11	6		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Esbjerg Energy	Denmark		6	1	3	4	2		—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				206	17	67	84	124		20	0	4	4	14

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
IIHF U18 Championships
	2004 Minsk

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2004	United States	WJC18			6	1	0	1	4
Junior totals					6	1	0	1	4