HERSHEY, Pa. – The Hershey Bears announced today that the club has signed defensemen Joey Leach and Bobby Shea to one-year contracts for the 2015-16 season. The announcement was made by Bears president/general manager Doug Yingst.
Leach, 23, joins the Bears after spending the majority of last season with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets. Leach 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.
A 6-4, 200-pound native of Wadena, Saskatchewan, Leach also played 10 games with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters in 2014-15. He has dressed in a total of 26 AHL games with Oklahoma City and Lake Erie. He 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.
Shea, 25, comes to Chocolatetown after dressing in 24 games with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs in 2014-15. He posted five points (one goal, four assists) in 24 games, and added 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 36 games with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers.
The 5-11, 195-pound native of Harrison Township, Michigan has appeared in 53 AHL games with Rockford and Hamilton, and has a total of 12 points (four goals, eight assists). In his ECHL career, Shea played in 59 games with Reading, Toledo and Wheeling, notching 15 points (four goals, 11 assists). He was a member of the Royals’ 2013 Kelly Cup championship squad.
Shea’s collegiate career spanned four years at Bowling Green State University (CCHA), where he recorded 36 points (nine goals, 27 assists) over 139 games. He was named to the All-CCHA Second Team in his senior season of 2012-13.