Mason Lohrei

Mason Lohrei Bio

Mason Lohrei is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played college ice hockey for Ohio State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Lohrei is notable for being the first player in NHL history to have been born in the state of Louisiana.

Early Life and Background

Mason Lohrei was born on January 17, 2001, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His father, David Lohrei, was the head coach of the East Coast Hockey League’s Baton Rouge Kingfish at the time of his birth. As a child, Lohrei moved with his family to Pennsylvania and later to Wisconsin, where he grew up. He attended Middleton High School in Middleton, Wisconsin, but transferred after his freshman year to Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana. During his sophomore year at Culver, Lohrei made the decision to switch from forward to defense to gain more playing time on the ice.

Path to Hockey

Lohrei committed to playing college ice hockey for Ohio State University during the 2021–22 season. He had an impressive first season with the Buckeyes, leading the team with 25 assists, which earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. Lohrei returned to the Buckeyes for the 2022–23 season, finishing second on the team in assists and third in total points with 28 assists and 32 points overall. Ohio State made it to the NCAA tournament but lost in the second round to the eventual champion Quinnipiac Bobcats.

Mason Lohrei Career

Early Career (2023)

On March 31, 2023, the Providence Bruins announced that they had signed Mason Lohrei to an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of the 2022–23 season, marking the end of his collegiate career. He played in five regular season games with the club, registering one assist. Lohrei also participated in three playoff games before the Bruins were eliminated by the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Breakthrough (2023)

Lohrei started the 2023–24 season with the Providence Bruins but quickly received a call-up to the NHL due to injuries within the Bruins’ defense corps. He made his NHL debut on November 2, 2023, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he recorded his first NHL point, an assist on a goal by Pavel Zacha. With this debut, Lohrei became the first NHL player born in Louisiana. He scored his first NHL goal a few games later against the Dallas Stars on November 6, 2023. Lohrei impressed during his initial stint in the NHL but was sent back down to Providence on November 25, 2023, following the recovery of Matt Grzelcyk. He returned to the NHL on December 7, 2023, and continued to make an impact, scoring three assists against the Edmonton Oilers on February 21, 2024.

Notable Works and Milestones

Lohrei’s signature work includes his debut season with the Boston Bruins, where he made history as the first player from Louisiana in the NHL. He finished his rookie season with five goals and 33 assists in 77 games.

Mason Lohrei Award Nominations

Throughout his career, Mason Lohrei has received recognition for his performance, particularly during his time at Ohio State University and his early NHL career.

Mason Lohrei Awards Won

Mason Lohrei has yet to receive major awards in the NHL, but his accomplishments in college hockey and his impressive rookie season have set the stage for future accolades.