OHA grad Jacob Panettta signs with ECHL's Jacksonville Icemen
Photo: Jacob Panetta during his time with the Wellington Dukes (OJHL) in 2016. (Ed McPherson/OJHL Images).
- With files from Colgate University
JACKSONSVILLE, Fla. - Another Ontario Hockey Association graduate has signed a contract to play professional hockey.
Belleville, Ont. native Jacob Panetta played four seasons in the OHA and recently signed with the ECHL's Jacksonville Icemen.
Panetta's singing with the Icemen follows his 2020 graduation from Colgate University (NCAA D1) where he played four seasons and accumulated nine goals, 16 assists and 25 points in 136 games with the school's men's ice hockey team. The 24-year-old defenceman had three goals and eight points in his final season of NCAA D1 hockey, which was a career-best.
As per the Colgate University press release, Panetta was voted to the Dan Coley "Barrell" Awards as the team's best defenseman following the 2019-20 season, to the Rob Ries Award for his leadership and inspiration, and was presented with the Terry Slater Award for his lasting impact on the Colgate Hockey program. Off the ice, Panetta was a three-time ECAC Hockey All-Academic honoree and Raider Academic Honor Roll recipient.
Prior to playing NCAA hockey, Panetta played Junior C hockey with the Provincial Junior Hockey League's (PJHL) Picton Pirates in 2012-13, and then three seasons with Ontario Junior Hockey League's (OJHL) Wellington Dukes from 2013-2016. In the PJHL, Panetta tallied eight goals and 21 points and added 15 goals and 72 points at the OJHL level.
In 2012, Panetta was drafted 292nd overall by the Belleville Bulls in the OHL Priority Selection Draft.
Panetta's brothers Matthew and Daniel have also spent time in the OHA. Daniel, 19, played three seasons in Wellington (OJHL) before moving onto the BCHL for the 2020-21 season. He's also committed to play for Colgate University in 2021-22. Matthew, 21, has played five seasons in the OHA and most recently played for the Napanee Raiders (PJHL) and Dukes in 2019-20. Matthew also suited up for two seasons with the Picton Pirates from 2015-2017.
Congratulations to OHA graduate Jacob Panetta on singing a professional contract with the ECHL's Jacksonville Icemen.
