Defenseman Joey Leach Returns to Stingrays

February 10, 2016

DEFENSEMAN JOEY LEACH RETURNED TO STINGRAYS

HERSHEY, Pa. – The Hershey Bears announced today that defenseman Joey Leach has been returned on loan to the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays.  The announcement was made by Bears president/general manager Doug Yingst.

Leach, 24, provided a solid presence on the Bears’ blue line during his recent tenure.  Dressing in six games, he posted three assists, seven penalty minutes and a plus-six efficiency rating.  He was even or better in all six games played.

Leach returns to the Stingrays, where he has appeared in 32 games and recorded nine points (four goals, five assists).  He is still tied for the team plus-minus lead at plus-18. 

A 6-4, 200-pound native of Wadena, Saskatchewan, Leach spent the majority of last season with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets.  He recorded 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 52 regular-season games and notched a plus-minus efficiency rating of plus-37, which ranked second on the team and fifth in the ECHL.

Leach also played 10 games with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters in 2014-15.  He has a total of 23 AHL games to his credit with Oklahoma City, Lake Erie and Hershey. 

Leach spent the majority of the 2013-14 season with the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors, playing under Bears head coach Troy Mann and producing eight assists in 59 regular-season games.

Prior to turning pro, Leach played five seasons of junior hockey with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice, and posted 134 points (27 goals, 107 assists) in 274 career games.  He was a member of Kootenay’s 2011 WHL championship team.  Leach was originally selected by the Calgary Flames in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.