The Rapid City Rush have announced that they have re-signed 6’2″ forward Jonathan Yantsis for the 2025-26 season.
Jonathan Yantsis Junior and Collegiate Career
Jonathan Yantsis started his junior career in the 2016-17 season with the Newmarket Hurricanes of the OJHL, where he played one game.
Yantsis then went to the OHL, where he spent four seasons with the Kitchener Rangers. In 214 games, Yantsis had 97 goals and 52 assists for 149 points with 197 penalty minutes and a -3. Yantsis played in 28 playoff games with the Rangers, registering eight goals and two assists for ten points.
When his time in the OHL came to an end, Yantsis attended Queen’s University, where he played three seasons. During his time at Queen’s, Yantsis played in 61 games, putting up 33 goals and 39 assists with 145 penalty minutes. Yantsis was named to the USports OUA East First All-Star Team in the 2021-22 season and was named to the USports OUA East Second All-Star Team in the 2023-24 season.
Professional Career
After completing his time in USports in the 2023-24 season, Yantsis started his professional career with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. After being placed on waivers by the Swamp Rabbits, Yantsis was picked up by the Trois-Rivières Lions, where he spent the remainder of the 2023-24 season and started his 2024-25 season. During the 2024-25 season, Yantsis was placed on waivers by the Lions and ended up signing with the Rush. Thus far, Yantsis has played in 60 ECHL games, where he has 11 goals and five assists for 16 points. During his time with Rapid City, Yantsis has played nine games, putting up two goals and an assist.
Yantsis is a great player for Rapid City Rush to bring back, as he was starting to find his offensive game with the Rush. Yantsis is also a very physical player, helping to add some grit to a Rush team that needs to be gritty to compete in the Mountain Division. Whether it is laying a hit or dropping the gloves, Yantsis is willing to do just about anything for his team.
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