The Tahoe Knight Monsters continue strengthening their blueline as they’ve signed defenseman Elijah Vilio for the team’s inaugural season. Vilio, 27, joins the Knight Monsters after beginning last season with the Savannah Ghost Pirates, playing in 10 games, putting up one goal and five assists before heading overseas. The Abbotsford, BC native played in 30 games with the Dundee Stars of the EIHL, where he scored one goal and added 13 assists for 14 points. Vilio has three years of ECHL experience under his belt, playing in 129 games and putting up 17 goals and 28 assists for 45 points with the Atlanta Gladiators, Rapid City Rush, Norfolk Admirals, and Savannah Ghost Pirates. Despite bouncing around throughout his career, Vilio should be a solid piece to the Knight Monsters blueline as he’s shown that he can be a force offensively. This is the second former Ghost Pirate that Head Coach Alex Loh has signed to join him in Tahoe after Anthony Collins became the first-ever signing for the Knight Monsters.
Prior to going pro, Vilio played three seasons with Trinity Western University, where he scored 20 goals and added 36 assists for 56 points in 66 games with the Spartans. The Spartans won two BCIHL Championships while Vilio was a member of their team, and Vilo led the league in points by a defenseman in 2019 (27) and was named to the BCIHL Second All-Star Team. The left-handed shooting defenseman was also named the PIJHL best defenseman in 2017 and won a PIJHL Championship with the Aldergrove Kodiaks.
