Passaretti is in his first season in the EHL, and to date, he's tallied 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) through 20 games.

"Matt has been an outstanding addition to our organization,” said Knights head coach Josh Fusco. "He brings a lot to the table, from his work ethic, to his veteran leadership on the ice and in the locker room. He came here to elevate his game, improve his skill, and most importantly, have success and move on to NCAA hockey. I have a good relationship with Vincent Pietrangelo [Assistant Coach for SUNY Canton]. We played college hockey together at Finlandia University. It was a perfect match for both parties once I got Vincent to come see Matt play.”

As Fusco mentioned, Passaretti has been a welcomed addition to the Knights' lineup, as the '98 native of New York works his way through his final season of junior hockey. While the decision was tough, Passaretti had to leave his local junior team that he played for last season. Overall he knew the move to the EHL was one that he simply had to make.

“Not just this team, but this league; the EHL. I know a lot of guys who left other places to come here so I followed in their footsteps," said Passaretti. "I heard a lot of great things about Coach Fusco and this organization, so it was a no-brainer that I was going to come here and it definitely helped. I’m glad I came here.”

Passaretti went on to talk about his visit to SUNY Canton, and how that time helped influence his choice. 

“When I went down for my visit I had great conversations with both coaches. They were at our showcase and I talked to them a couple days before I finally made my decision. They really wanted me and that’s a great feeling.”

Learn more about the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights on the team's official website, and check out the full 2018-19 NCAA commitment list.