ECHL: Stingrays Bring Back Leibold and Mackey to Front Line

The Stingrays continue to impress fans with their signings this year, with the announcement of Ian Mackey and Ryan Leibold returning to the roster for the upcoming season.  

Mackey will be rejoining the roster after playing eight games for the Stingrays last season, later joining Atlanta. The 6’3” forward scored in his final games in the CHS sweater, both having South Carolina end on top. Prior to joining the Rays, the 26-year-old forward took an untraditional route to the ECHL as he spent two seasons in the BCIHL with Simor Fraser University, where he put up six goals and eight assists in 40 games.

Ryan Leibold returns for his first full season of professional hockey, as he joined the Stingrays last season last March. He spent the majority of last season leading Merrimack College to reach the Hockey East Championship and earn a bid to the NCAA tournament, which would only be the second time ever for the program. Before becoming a Warrior for his graduate year of eligibility, he spent four years with the Holy Cross Crusaders, dressing for 119 games and tallying 58 points and 106 PIMS.  

Adding the size of Mackey and the experience and Leibold with the physicality of both, the Rays are shaping up to have a decently rounded front line with the addition of these signings. Who will Coach Kotyk add next?  


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

ECHL Game Recap: Adirondack Thunder vs Maine Mariners | 03/23/2025

The Adirondack Thunder would finish off their final road three-in-three of the season as they took on the Maine Mariners on Sunday afternoon in Portland, Maine. Before the game started, things would go South for the Thunder as Jeremy Brodeur, who was expected to get the start, got hurt in pre-game warm-ups, which forced Henry […]

Read More

PHOTOS: South Carolina Stingrays vs. Jacksonville Icemen – 03/22/2025

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Icemen held their Hockey is For Everyone Night on Saturday and faced the visiting South Carolina Stingrays. In a tightly contested game, the Stingrays took a 3-2 victory for their tenth consecutive win, moving them back into the top spot in the South Division. Former Jacksonville player Ben Hawerchuk dropped […]

Read More

ECHL Game Recap: South Carolina Stingrays vs Jacksonville Icemen | 03/22/2025

The South Carolina Stingrays extended their winning streak to ten games with a 3–2 victory over the Jacksonville Icemen on Saturday night. Powered by goals from Erik Middendorf, Austin Magera, and Charlie Combs, and a steady 25-save performance by Mitchell Gibson, the Stingrays added another key divisional win to their regular season resume. South Carolina […]

Read More