ECHL: Cincinnati Cyclones Trade Depth Forward to Idaho Steelheads

On Monday, January 6, 2025, the Cincinnati Cyclones traded forward Mason McCarty to the Idaho Steelheads in exchange for future considerations. McCarty had limited playing time with Cincinnati, participating in only 14 games and scoring one goal after joining the Cyclones from Rapid City earlier in the season. He played in nine games with the Rapid City Rush earlier this season, also scoring one goal and one assist, resulting in a plus/minus rating of -5. In November, he was traded from the Rapid City Rush to the Cyclones in exchange for forward Patrick Bajkov, who is now with the Bloomington Bison and will face the Cyclones next on January 25.

Mason McCarty began his professional career in the 2018-19 season with the Rapid City Rush, where he played 15 games, recording six goals and four assists for a total of ten points. After spending a few seasons in USports, he returned to the ECHL. Over his three ECHL seasons, McCarty has played in 83 games, scoring 23 goals and providing 21 assists for 44 points. He accumulated 60 penalty minutes and holds a plus/minus rating of -7 during this time.

Typically assigned to the third and fourth lines (the bottom six), McCarty did not receive much ice time. While on the ice, he recorded a plus/minus rating of -3; however, given the small sample size, it’s difficult to use this statistic as a measure of his abilities. The Cyclones are unlikely to feel the loss of McCarty, as he did not receive significant playing time, and the team has plenty of forwards available on the back end moving forward.