Greenville, S.C. — As the Swamp Rabbits roster is growing larger by the weeks ahead of the 2024-25 season, the club just announced a significant player extension. Today, August 1, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced that they’ve extended captain Ben Freeman for next season. This comes after Freeman has played the last four seasons for Greenville.
About Freeman
Freeman, 28, 6’5 and 205 lbs, will enter his fifth season in the ECHL and professional hockey. The tall right-wing/center from Falmouth, Maine has had a solid career for the Greenville organization. First getting signed in the 2021-22 season, Freeman played roughly 62 games, earning a tally of 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points. In his first Kelly Cup Playoffs debut, Freeman earned the spot as top point maker with six points for two goals and four assists. In his second season with the Rabbits, Freeman assumed the leadership role of alternate captain from then Head Coach Andrew Lord, supporting captain Frank Hora and fellow alternates Tanner Eberle and Dallas Gerads. During that season, Freeman played 65 games, recording 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points. In the short first-round 2023 playoffs against Jacksonville, Freeman earned another six points from four goals and two assists, once again becoming the top point producer and tying with 2023 All-Star Alex Ierullo. A key element of Freeman’s play was the power of his shot and ability to win faceoffs as a right-handed player. That quality continued into the most recent 2023-24 season. Freeman played a near-full season of 70 games, earning a career-high 34 points with 14 goals and 20 assists. This was the season in which he was crowned captain of his team on January 19. I also had the privilege of interviewing the newly named captain.
Now during the 2024 playoffs against Orlando, which was another first round exit for them, the captain played six games, earning a goal and an assist.
Freeman’s Collegiate Career and Inaugural ECHL and SPHL season
Prior to signing with the Swamp Rabbits, Freeman began his professional career with the Wheeling Nailers, where he played only seven games with no points earned before being sent down to the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the SPHL. In his SPHL season with the Flyers, he played 15 games and tallied one goal and eight assists. During the SPHL playoffs, Freeman and his team won the 2021 SPHL President’s Trophy championship. Before turning professional, the center spent four seasons with the UConn Huskies of the NCAA. His last season, in 2019–20, was as captain, when he played 33 games (7G–21A). For the 2018-19 season, Freeman was an alternate captain and played 34 games (7G-9A). In total, for his collegiate career, he played 135 games, racking up 77 points from 25 goals and 52 assists. Capping off his finale in the NCAA and with the Huskies, Freeman was awarded the 2020 Len Celgarski Award.
For the previous season, Freeman was a skilled shooter and passer, along with being the defensive forward on the PK. He can win most of the faceoffs presented to him, while he can also tip the puck into the net in a close-to-crease situation and score from far distances in the O-zone. With his skill, comes obvious leadership. The past Greenville team had so many leaders from the players. Freeman stated in an interview back in December that “it’s pretty easy when the team is full of leaders – everyone is chipping in as far as leadership. But I think everyone in the locker room brings some sort of leadership and a lot of passion.” Freeman’s dedication and commitment to the Swamp Rabbits team, on and off the ice, can easily be seen during practice and games, and it’s clear why Andrew Lord selected him to be the captain last season. He led beside Anthony Beauchamp, Max Martin, Ethan Somoza, Mark Louis, and Tanner Eberle during the 2024 season. The last captain to lead for the Swamp Rabbits for almost a whole season, was Joey Haddad of the 2020-21 season.
The Swamp Rabbits will commence the 2024 season at home ice on October 18 against their division rivals, the Orlando Solar Bears.
