Mason Jobst Bio
Mason Kane Jobst is an American professional ice hockey left winger who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 185 pounds, Jobst has built his career on speed, skill, and steady offensive production.
Jobst developed into one of the most decorated players in Ohio State Buckeyes program history before turning professional. Going undrafted, he earned his opportunities through perseverance, captaining teams at multiple levels and producing at a high rate in every league he has played.
Early Life and Background
Mason Kane Jobst was born on February 17, 1994, in Speedway, Indiana, to parents John and Amy. Both of his parents were athletes growing up, which helped shape his early interest in sports. According to family accounts, Jobst began playing ice hockey after receiving a hockey stick from his aunt, an unexpected gift that sparked a lifelong passion for the game.
He learned how to skate at his grandfather’s pond in Illinois and during trips to Pan Am Plaza in Indianapolis. By the age of five, Jobst was enrolled in organized hockey leagues, beginning a structured path that would eventually lead to the professional ranks. He attended and graduated from Speedway Senior High School, the same town where he was born.
During his youth, Jobst attended USA Hockey’s annual player development camp in Rochester, New York, where he led the camp in scoring during his second year. Growing up, he was also a fan of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, a connection that reflected his admiration for high-level collegiate hockey.
Path to Hockey
Jobst’s junior hockey journey began in earnest when he was drafted by the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League in 2011. After a brief reassignment to his AAA team, he began the 2011–12 season with the Indiana Jr. Ice U-18 team before joining the Lumberjacks, where he skated in 32 games. He went on to play four seasons with Muskegon, serving as team captain in each of his final two years, a clear sign of his leadership qualities.
His development was not without setbacks. A shoulder injury in October of his second full USHL season required surgery in May 2013, delaying his start to the 2013–14 campaign. After committing to play NCAA Division I ice hockey for the Ohio State Buckeyes in October 2014, choosing them over Penn State, Nebraska-Omaha, and Western Michigan, Jobst suffered another shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of that season. He used the time to enroll at Muskegon Community College and complete a physical rehabilitation program, an experience that tested and ultimately strengthened his resolve.
Mason Jobst Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Jobst joined the Ohio State Buckeyes for his freshman year during the 2015–16 season while majoring in real estate and urban analysis. By January, he was the second-leading freshman scorer with six goals and 14 assists across the Big Ten, and he was named the Big Ten Third Star of the Week ending January 19, 2016, after leading the league with seven points. The Buckeyes advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament that year, and Jobst was selected for the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
As a sophomore, Jobst led the Big Ten with 55 points in 39 games and ranked seventh in the NCAA in points while tying for second in assists. He earned Second Team All-America and First Team All-Big Ten accolades, along with Academic All-Big Ten and Ohio State Scholar-Athlete honors. Prior to the 2017–18 season, he was named team captain and was invited to development camps for both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins.
Collegiate Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Entering his senior season, Jobst recorded a team-leading 17 goals in 35 games and ranked second with 19 assists. In Big Ten play, he posted 13 goals and 28 points, tying for fourth in points and leading the league in goals among skaters. As a second-year captain, he scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to lead Ohio State to the program’s first Big Ten regular season hockey championship, a career-defining moment.
Nearing the end of his senior season, Jobst was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top player in NCAA Division I men’s hockey. He was also a Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Player of the Year finalist and earned First Team All-Big Ten accolades for the second time. He became a CCM/AHCA Second Team West All-American for the second time, the first Buckeyes player to accomplish that feat since 1999, and he also received the B1G Medal of Honor for proficiency in athletics and scholastic work.
Professional Era (2019–Present)
Jobst officially concluded his collegiate career on April 2, 2019, by signing a two-year entry-level contract with the New York Islanders. Prior to the 2020–21 season, he was placed on waivers and later traded to the New Jersey Devils alongside A.J. Greer, a first-round pick, and a conditional fourth-rounder in exchange for Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac. Jobst and Greer joined the Devils’ AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Devils, to begin the next chapter of his professional career.
At the conclusion of that season, Jobst signed a one-year AHL contract with the Rochester Americans, the primary affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. During the 2021–22 campaign, he appeared in 26 regular season games with the Americans, posting 4 goals and 13 points, before being traded on March 28, 2022, to the San Jose Barracuda in exchange for Mark Alt. As a free agent after his brief time with the Barracuda, Jobst returned to Rochester on a one-year AHL contract on July 14, 2022, and on July 7, 2023, he signed a one-year extension for the 2023–24 season.
That 2023–24 season marked Jobst’s career best offensively, as he co-led the Americans in scoring with 22 goals and 50 points through 64 regular season games. On July 1, 2024, he secured his first NHL contract, signing a one-year, two-way deal to remain with the Sabres organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jobst is widely regarded as a cerebral, playmaking forward whose hockey IQ allows him to thrive in tight spaces. His compact frame and quick release make him a dangerous shooter in close, while his vision and passing ability have consistently produced offensive chances for linemates. Across every level, he has shown an ability to lead in scoring while also embracing the defensive responsibilities that come with wearing a letter.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Jobst’s career is his double-overtime game-winning goal that delivered Ohio State’s first Big Ten regular season hockey championship. His Hobey Baker Award finalist recognition, his repeat CCM/AHCA Second Team West All-American honors, and his B1G Medal of Honor collectively stand as defining milestones in both his collegiate and personal journey.
Mason Jobst Career Wins
Mason Kane Jobst’s career has been defined by consistent offensive production and leadership rather than headline trophies. While his professional résumé continues to grow at the AHL level, his collegiate achievements remain the centerpiece of his decorated path.
Collegiate Highlights
Jobst led the Big Ten with 55 points in 39 games during his sophomore season at Ohio State and ranked seventh in the NCAA in points that year. As a senior, he recorded 17 goals and 19 assists in 35 games, tying for fourth in Big Ten points and leading the league in goals among skaters. His Hobey Baker Award finalist season capped a career that also included First Team All-Big Ten honors twice and a CCM/AHCA Second Team West All-American selection twice.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his college accolades, Jobst’s 2023–24 season with the Rochester Americans stands out, when he co-led the team in scoring with 22 goals and 50 points through 64 regular season games. He also contributed 4 goals and 13 points in 26 games during the 2021–22 season with the Americans, and he served as captain of the Muskegon Lumberjacks for two seasons.
Mason Jobst Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Mason Kane Jobst was raised by his parents, John and Amy, both of whom were athletes during their own youth. The family lived in Speedway, Indiana, where Jobst attended Speedway Senior High School, and his extended family, particularly his aunt and grandfather, played a meaningful role in introducing him to hockey.
Personal Life
Jobst continues to maintain strong ties to his hometown of Speedway, Indiana, and to the communities that shaped his development as a hockey player. His personal life remains largely private, with no publicly verified information regarding a spouse or children at this time.
2025 Season Performance
On July 1, 2025, Mason Kane Jobst’s contract with the Buffalo Sabres expired, and he was not tendered a new deal by the organization. He subsequently became an unrestricted free agent, ending a tenure that included time with both the Rochester Americans and the parent Sabres. The transition marked a turning point after his most productive professional offensive season in 2023–24.
Throughout the 2024–25 cycle, Jobst had been working under a one-year, two-way deal signed on July 1, 2024, that bridged AHL and NHL duties. His standing within the Sabres system reflected the steady production he had delivered the previous year in Rochester, where he co-led the team in scoring.
As an unrestricted free agent heading into the remainder of 2025, Jobst’s outlook centers on securing a new professional opportunity, whether in the AHL or NHL. His track record of leadership, special-teams value, and consistent point production positions him as a proven contributor capable of helping a franchise in need of depth and scoring touch.