Washington Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Washington Capitals, NHL or NHLPA
Ryan Leonard cheers for brother John at Hershey Bears vs Charlotte checkers game
Photo credit: RMNB
Ryan Leonard was in attendance at the Giant Center, secretly cheering for his brother John, as the Hershey Bears lost to the Charlotte Checkers in game 3 of the AHL's Eastern Conference Finals.
For the other Capitals' players also in attendance, Dylan Mcilrath and Ethan Frank, it was not easy to watch the Bears get swept by the Checkers, and attended the Bears' locker room to show their support following the game.
Ryan Leonard, on the other hand, hurried over to congratulate brother John in the Charlotte Checker's room.
John Leonard, a 2018, 6th round pick of the San Jose Sharks, is having a career year with Charlotte, the Florida Panthers' AHL affiliate.
John, who is 26 years old, was named to the 2025 AHL All Star game, and scored a career-high 36 goals and 61 points in the regular season, and 3 goals and 3 assists in 8 playoff games, including a shorthanded game winner in game 1.
"Yeah, it was cool, obviously," John about brother Ryan's support during the game. "I haven't seen him in a little bit. Last time I saw him, I was able to fly down for his debut in Boston. So that was awesome for myself and my family to experience."
Ryan's debut was April 1st against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden, after his college team, Boston College, was eliminated from the NCAA tournament, with all of his family in attendance.
Ryan Leonard scored his 1st NHL goal versus Chicago Blackhawks on the same night Alex Ovechkin scored twice, to tie Wayne Gretzky's all-time, NHL goals record at 894, another reason not to forget his own debut goal.
Wayne Gretzky personally congratulated Ryan inside the Capitals' locker room.
"The kid who scored in the empty net, where is he?" Wayne commanded. "Congratulations on your first goal, 895 more and you can pass him."
Those are some tall marching orders from The Great One.
| POLL | ||
MAI 26 | 42 ANSWERS Ryan Leonard cheers for brother John at Hershey Bears vs Charlotte checkers game Do you think the Heshey Bears will be make the AHL playoffs next season? | ||
| Yes | 40 | 95.2 % |
| No | 2 | 4.8 % |
| List of polls | ||