Rookie Talk: Dustin Geregach

Geregach returned to his junior playing days stomping grounds, and played in the diamond classic game on Saturday, October 11th, 2025, for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Geregach sat down with Olde City Sports Network after the morning skate on Saturday morning. At the time of this writing, it was announced that Geregach was traded to the Norfolk Admirals

Before college and the professional levels, Geregach played in the NAHL for the Johnstown Tomahawks. He dressed in a total of 77 games and notched six goals and 30 assists. Development takes place at every level along the way, and for Geregach, the development started in Johnstown. “The league was really, really competitive the first year that I came into it with COVID, and Canada being shut down. 
So all the top players, it was kind of a trickle-down effect. So the knowledge is that much better that year. It was my first year being on my own, and kind of other than the hour that you have on the ice every day, dedicated to practice, you're on your own to get better, so you learn a lot how to be independent away from the rink, how to take care of your body, work out on your own. Everyone has their own way of kind of developing and making sure they're prepared for the game. So I think it teaches you what you need to do to get prepared and get ready for each game.”

In the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons, Geregach played for the Johnstown Tomahawks. He returned with Greenville this past weekend and spoke with some of the players of the current team, and it brought back core memories for his hockey career. “It's awesome to see everyone who's had a part in my hockey journey. I think it's so fun. 
I'm gonna be playing in front of everyone that the same people that I played in front of four or five years ago for the first time, and I'm just coming back to the rink, the locker room, and the city. So it's surreal. I mean, the welcome we have had has been awesome so far. 
I can't wait to see how the fans treat us during the game. It'll be one of the coolest experiences we have this season, and it's an exhibition game, so I can't wait to get on the ice for the game.“

Photo Credit: Stacey Gramlich/Olde City Sports Network

Before turning to the professional ranks, Geregach played at Mercyhurst University for four years. He dressed in 117 games and tallied 14 goals and 41 assists. He also played alongside Savannah Ghost Pirates defenseman Phip Waugh and Atlanta Gladiators forward Mickey Burns. “There are really no words to describe those two. They’re good people. 
They're so funny. I'm still really good friends with them. Being in school with them made it a blast, regardless of whether we were winning or losing. It was cool to be around those two. They are characters, is a way to put it.”

Signing the first professional contract for any player is a step in a lifelong dream being fulfilled. Geregach signed with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits shortly after Mercyhurst’s season came to a close. He speaks on the transition into pro and what it felt like for him to step into the professional light. “It was cool. I mean, it was it all happened really quickly after the college season ended, and I didn't really know what I was getting myself into. I mean, the guys did an awesome job of kind of bringing me in and making me feel comfortable right away, which I think made it made it a little easier to go on the ice and kind of play my game right from the start. 
I'm excited to come back and know a lot of the guys off the bat. I feel a little more comfortable, a little more confident, right from the start. “

Every player has a summer training regimen to keep the body active after a long season. The summer is also meant for relaxation and to take a break away from the rink and ice and reset the mind. “After the season, I think after taking a few weeks off, really let your body kind of relax and get some extra sleep. Golf, a lot of golf, it's a signature workout, and a staple for the summer. After the first couple of weeks off, your body, you kind of start itching again to get back on the ice and get back in the gym. So kind of take it easy to start a few days on the gym, maybe one or two days on the ice, and then as you get later in the summer, closer to season, four days in the gym, maybe five days in the gym, you get back on the ice three, four times a week, scrimmage in, skill skates, trying to get back in game shape to come to camp ready to go.”

Being a defenseman, players see most of the ice in that position, but it can also be played physically. Geregach speaks on what type of defense style he plays. “I'd say physical. It was a little easier to play physically in college when you have a cage on and you can kind of get away with a lot. 
I'm going to go out there and hit people and be physical, but I think there's a time to pull back and kind of stay away from some guys a little bit. There are some big guys in this league, and there are people on my team who'll deal with that more than I will. When I'm on the ice, I kind of don't think about it, and you're going to go out there and be physical regardless of what type of game you play. “

Having strengths in every position is vital in connecting with teammates and the team as a whole. For a defenseman, the biggest strengths should be skating, positioning, and passing ability. “I think puck moving, I think I'm really good at breaking the puck out and making good first passes, transitioning defense into offense really quickly. I think the best defense is offense. 
If you have the puck on your stick or you can get the puck to one of your teammates and into the offensive zone, you can sustain possession. You're never going to get scored on when you have the puck.”

Geregach stated that his dream defense partner would be his dream defense partner “Give Quinn the puck and get out of the way.”

During the 18 games played for Greenville last season, Geregach tallied two goals with 11 assists. He was traded to the Norfolk Admirals on October 13th, along with teammate David Drake, for the rights to Hank Crone.

- Samantha Wismer/Olde City Sports Network

- Photo Credit/ Stacey Gramlich/Olde City Sports Network