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Washington signs VA native and former member of Little Capitals, Joe Snively, to entry-level contract

By Rachel Cohen

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March 18, 2019 11:35 am

The Washington Capitals announced on Monday morning that they have signed forward Joe Snively to a two year entry-level contract beginning in the 2019-20 season.

Snively is a native of Herndon, VA, and participated in the Washington Little Caps program as a youth player. He currently plays for Yale University, where he’s tallied 36 points, including 15 goals and 21 assists, in 33 games with the Bulldogs. He was also a Hobey Baker Award nominee for the NCAA MVP in the 2018-19 season.

Over his collegiate hockey career, Snively has been named NCAA Ivy-League 2015-16 Rookie of the Year, played with the NCAA All-Ivy League First Team, and has participated on the NCAA (New England) All-Stars and NCAA (ECAC) All-Rookie Team.

Before playing for Yale, Snively was drafted to the USHL and spent three seasons playing for the Sioux City Musketeers. While with Sioux City, Snively recorded 125 points in 159 games, comprising of 50 goals and 75 assists.

According to TSN’s Frank Seravalli, more than 20 teams expressed interest in Snively.

“It’s pretty cool for this area for fans and for kids. They see the sort the progress that hockey did in the United States, obviously in DC and it’s pretty cool,” said Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin when asked about the signing. “I think the whole organization have to be happy and be really proud of it. It’s a lot but it’s nice to hear it. I think you play to get recognized and to get love from people, from fans.”

Snively has a surprising connection to Ovechkin: they go to the same dentist. The two met at the dentist about ten years ago, where Ovechkin gave Snively a pair of signed gloves. Snively’s parents are both eye doctors in the area.

Snively is the first local player to sign with the Capitals since Potomac, MD native Jeff Halpern, who played with the Caps from 1999-2006 (and captained the team during the 2005-06 season) and 2011-12.

More from the Capitals:

The Washington Capitals have signed forward Joe Snively, a native of Herndon, Va., to a two-year entry-level contract beginning with the 2019-20 season, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Snively, 23, recorded 36 points (15g, 21a) in 33 games with Yale University and set a collegiate career high with five power play goals this season. The 5’9”, 180-pound forward has led Yale in points in all four years of his attendance and has recorded 139 points (58g, 81a) in 129 career NCAA games. Snively was named as a Hobey Baker Award nominee this season. Last year, following a 36 point season (19g, 17a), 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, a political science major, was named the NCAA Ivy-League Rookie of the Year, to the NCAA (ECAC) All-Rookie Team and was a NCAA All-Ivy League Team honorable mention following a 28 point (10g, 18a) season.

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

Snively has twice represented Team USA, winning a silver medal in the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Tournament at the U-18 level and a gold medal at the 2014 World Junior A Championship.

Snively trained at MedStar Capitals Iceplex during his youth and was a participant in the Washington Little Caps program.

Headline photo: @Capitals