Leach Earns AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performer of the Year Award

April 11, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - The ECHL announced today that South Carolina defenseman Joey Leach has been named the AMI Graphics Plus Performer of the Year after finishing the regular season with a league-best plus-minus rating of +40.

Leach, who was the AMI Graphics Plus Performer in March, skated in 58 games for South Carolina this season, posting 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) to go along with 122 penalty minutes. He served as an alternate captain for the Stingrays for portions of the season, and helped the club to a 44-18-7-3 record and the South Division title. Leach was a +22 in the final 20 games of the season, and posted an even or better rating in 50 games this season.

The Wadena, Saskatchewan native finished fifth in the ECHL last season with a +37 mark as a member of the Fort Wayne Komets. Leach has tallied 44 points (8 goals, 36 assists) in 169 career ECHL games with South Carolina, Fort Wayne and Bakersfield. He has also appeared in 23 career AHL games, including six this season with the Hershey Bears.

South Carolina's Bobby Shea, Leach's partner on the blue line, finished fifth in the league with a rating of +29.

Leach is the second Stingray to finish the regular season with the ECHL's top plus-minus rating. South Carolina forward Travis Morin was the league-leader with a +37 rating during the 2008-09 season.

Leach and the #2 Stingrays open the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series this week versus the #7 Kalamazoo Wings. Game 1 of the best-of-seven series is Friday, April 15 at 7 p.m. at the Wings Events Center. The first game of the playoffs on home ice will be Game 4 on Thursday, April 21 at 7:05 p.m. A complete series schedule is available HERE!

Stingrays regular season Ticket Plan Holders have the first chance to lock in their seats for the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs by contacting the Stingrays' office at 843-744-2248 through TODAY, April 11 to guarantee seat location. Fans who do not currently have a ticket plan, but have caught the playoff fever, may lock in seats for the entire playoff run while saving money off walk-up pricing by contacting our office.

Fans who have purchased playoff tickets may pick them up at the Stingrays office at 3300 W. Montague Ave, Suite A-200 starting Wednesday, April 13.

ECHL Stories from April 11, 2016

• Radio Recon's Ready to Prepare for Playoffs with a Real Coach's Show - Reading Royals
• Mavs to Host Tailgate Party Prior to Game 1 and Game 2 - Kansas City Mavericks
• Defenseman Logan Roe Returns from AHL - Florida Everblades
• Mallards Playoff Update - Quad City Mallards
• Series Preview: Grizzlies and Colorado Meet in Playoffs for First Time - Utah Grizzlies
• Royals Sign Forward Austin Farley - Reading Royals
• Arnold and Sauve back to Monarchs for start of playoffs - Manchester Monarchs
• Willows Named CCM ECHL Rookie of the Year - Florida Everblades
• Michael Kirkpatrick Named Runner up for ECHL Rookie of the Year - Adirondack Thunder
• Four Recalled from Solar Bears to Marlies - Orlando Solar Bears
• Florida's Willows Named CCM ECHL Rookie of the Year - ECHL
• Three Returned to Adirondack in Advance of Kelly Cup Playoffs - Adirondack Thunder
• Americans Chad Costello Wins the ECHL Scoring Title for Second Straight Year - Allen Americans
• Ross Johnston First Former Mavericks Player to Make NHL Debut - Kansas City Mavericks
• Walleye Weekly: Playoff Bound - Toledo Walleye
• Allen's Costello Wins ECHL Scoring Title - ECHL
• Leach Earns AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performer of the Year Award - South Carolina Stingrays
• K-Wings to Face South Carolina in Eastern Conference Quarterfinals - Kalamazoo Wings
• South Carolina's Leach is AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performer of the Year - ECHL

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent South Carolina Stingrays Stories

• 2025-26 Promotional Schedule Set
• Stingrays Extend Qualifying Offers to Five Players
• Stingrays Receive Inclusive Spirit Award
• Stingrays Announce Season Ending Roster
• Stingrays Name Warsofsky Head Coach