They say goalies are a different breed—and with good reason. They play the game from a unique perspective, often under immense pressure, and carry one of the most important roles on the ice. The Stingrays in South Carolina have seen their fair share of netminders come and go, with some making names for themselves at the NHL level—such as former Stingray Logan Thompson with the Washington Capitals. Others have stayed closer to home, like Mitchell Gibson, who continues his development with the Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears on a one-year deal.
Path to the Pros
Mitchell Gibson, originally selected 124th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft by Washington, took an alternate path to pro hockey by choosing to attend Harvard University. During his four years with the Crimson, he played 79 games, posting an impressive 2.32 goals-against average (GAA) and a .918 save percentage (SV%).
After graduating, Gibson signed a one-year contract with the Capitals and joined the Hershey Bears organization in 2024. In his first pro season, Gibson split time between the AHL and ECHL, seeing action in two games for Hershey and logging 42 appearances with the South Carolina Stingrays. His time in Charleston was memorable—not only was he a contributor to the Stingrays’ 2025 Brabham Cup win, but he also scored a rare goalie goal in 2024, further proving that he’s not your average backstop.
Though he has re-signed with Hershey for the upcoming season, that doesn’t rule out a return to South Carolina. In 2024–25, he played just one game in the AHL, where he recorded a 2.00 GAA and a .929 SV%. Meanwhile, in his final 14 regular-season games in the ECHL, Gibson posted an eye-popping 1.75 GAA and an incredible .993 SV%. His playoff numbers dipped slightly—four games with a 3.40 GAA and .870 SV%—but his overall trajectory shows strong growth and reliability in net.
What’s Ahead?
Looking ahead, it will be exciting to see how the Capitals’ affiliates stack their goaltending depth. Earlier this month, Garin Bjorklund signed a one-year, two-way contract with Washington, setting the stage for a potential tandem with Gibson. Seth Eisele was listed on South Carolina’s Protected list, but has yet to sign a contract. Whether they end up in Hershey, South Carolina, or both, fans can look forward to another season of strong goaltending between the pipes.
ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing – Inside The Rink
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