The Rapid City Rush have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Billy Constantinou for the 2024-25 ECHL season.
Junior Career
Billy Constantinou started his junior career in the 2017-18 season with the Niagara IceDogs in the OHL. In his four OHL seasons, Constantinou spent time with the Niagara IceDogs, Kingston Frontenacs, and Soo Greyhounds. In 171 games, Constantinou had 22 goals and 76 assists for 98 points. He had 105 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -66. Constantinou got to play in six playoff games in the 2017-18 season with the IceDogs where he did not register a point and had four penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1.
Professional Career
Billy Constantinou started his professional career in the 2021-22 season, after completing his junior career. In the 2021-22 season, Constantinou spent time in the ECHL with the Iowa Heartlanders, Atlanta Gladiators, and Wichita Thunder where he played in a total of 63 games, registering seven goals and 26 assists for 33 points. He had 44 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -11. He also played in one game in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves where he did not have any points or penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0.
In the 2022-23 season, Constantinou spent time with the Wichita Thunder, Norfolk Admirals, and Atlanta Gladiators. He played in a total of 47 games where he had six goals and 22 assists for 28 points. He had 26 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -27. Constantinou also played in three games in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda where he did not have any points and had four penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -2.
In the 2023-24 season, Constantinou played with the Cincinnati Cyclones, Maine Mariners, and Rapid City Rush. He played in a total of 57 games where he had three goals and 21 assists for 24 points. He had 14 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -18. With Rapid City, he had two goals and ten assists for 12 points in 24 games. He had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -6.
Impact on the 2024-25 Rapid City Rush (Opinion)
Billy Constantinou joined the Rush at the end of January so he was not with the Rush for the majority of the season. But in the little time he was with the Rush, Constantinou showed that he could have a promising future with the Rush. He was able to defend pretty well and had some grit to his game as well. Constantinou has yet to spend an entire season with a singular team. Being able to have some consistency and possibly staying with the Rush for an entire season could be what Constantinou needs to elevate his game, and to help him excel on the ice even more. Constantinou brings an incredible energy to the team and ice, and also helps to add some more young blood to the team as Constantinou is only 23 years old.
The 2024-25 season will be Constantinou’s fourth professional season and second season with the Rapid City Rush.
