HERSHEY, PA — Minutes after the Charlotte Checkers secured a sweep over the Hershey Bears to advance to the AHL Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday, Ryan Leonard, along with teammates Dylan McIlrath and Ethen Frank of the Washington Capitals’ 2024-25 roster, made their way from suite-level seats to the arena’s lower level. Ryan’s presence held special significance as he came to support his older brother John Leonard, a standout player for the Checkers in this postseason.
While McIlrath and Frank visited the Bears’ locker room to console their former teammates following their failed bid for a three-peat, Ryan headed to greet John and celebrate the Checkers’ victory.
John Leonard’s Breakout Season Propels Charlotte Checkers
John Leonard, drafted in the sixth round by the San Jose Sharks in 2018, is currently experiencing a career year playing for the Florida Panthers’ AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. At 26 years old, Leonard was selected for the 2025 AHL All-Star Game after achieving a personal best of 36 goals and accumulating 61 points during the regular season.
His strong performance has carried into the playoffs, where he registered 3 goals and 3 assists in 8 games. John’s contributions were pivotal in the Atlantic Division Finals against the Hershey Bears, scoring a game-winning shorthanded goal late in Game 1 and notching points in all three games of the series.
His Game 3 goal, witnessed by Ryan at Giant Center, helped solidify the Checkers’ sweep of the Bears, moving the team forward in the playoffs.
“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. And me and him are super close, talk every day. That was the first game he’s seen me play in a while, so it was awesome,”
John reflected on having Ryan in the stands. —John Leonard, Charlotte Checkers forward
Ryan Leonard’s Recent NHL Debut and Family Ties
Ryan Leonard made his NHL debut on April 1 against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden after Boston College’s early exit from the NCAA tournament. The Leonard family from Amherst, Massachusetts, was in attendance to support Ryan’s first game.
Just three days after his debut, Ryan scored his first NHL goal—an empty-net goal against the Chicago Blackhawks. This achievement coincided with an historic night for Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who tied Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal record with 894 goals during the same game.
Wayne Gretzky, attending the game to support Ovechkin, personally congratulated Ryan in the Capitals’ locker room:
“The kid who scored in the empty net, where is he? Congratulations on your first goal. 895 more and you can pass him.”
—Wayne Gretzky, NHL legend
“It’s awesome,” John said, proud of his brother’s milestone.
“Obviously, I’m super proud of him. He’s going to have a heck of an NHL career.”
—John Leonard
Ryan’s Loyalty Lies with John During Hershey-Charlotte Playoffs
Before the Bears-Checkers playoff series began, Ryan was clear about his allegiance.
“I got to go big bro. Have to.”
he told RMNB’s Katie Adler during the Capitals’ postseason run. He also shared,
“I actually haven’t talked to [John] since they won [the Semifinals], so yeah, it’ll be interesting to see. Definitely be watching, for sure, always watching his games, and I’m sure it’ll be a fun series.”
Ryan’s connection to Hershey was complicated, as he shared a Capitals dressing room with several former Bears players, including Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael, members of recent championship teams. “Oh, they got the Bears,” Ryan remarked.
“They got the Bears. They’re rooting for them. I just have to go big bro, but two winners on both sides (for me), I guess.”
Maintaining Composure Among Hershey Fans During Game 3
During Game 3, Ryan’s support for John had to stay quiet because of his seating location—right beside Hershey Bears faithful including Frank, McIlrath, and Joe Snively.
“You know, it was kind of funny for him,”
John said.
“He was sitting in the Hershey box today, so he said he wasn’t allowed to clap or anything for us, so he was laughing at that, but it’s all good fun. And yeah, I was obviously fired up to see him afterwards.”
Ryan showed no visible reaction when his brother scored in the second period or when the Checkers secured the sweep, but John revealed Ryan found ways to express his support discreetly.
“He said he threw in a couple of silent claps when the Checkers scored. So it was good.”
Brotherly Bond and Future Plans in Professional Hockey
Ryan has often credited John for guiding him through his journey in hockey, seeking his advice especially when deciding to return to Boston College for his sophomore year. When discussing future conversations, Ryan shared:
“Probably this summer we’ll talk a lot more. He’s trying to win a championship… We’ll definitely talk about it more and more. More of the pro lifestyle in the summer when we’re really close, hanging out every day.”
After parting ways in the arena, Ryan was seen connecting with former Hershey Bears players outside the locker room, exchanging congratulations and good wishes. He also spent several minutes with Hershey’s black ace Ilya Protas, a friend he made at the Capitals’ 2024 Development Camp.
Significance and What Lies Ahead for the Leonard Brothers
The playoff series underscored the strong bond between Ryan and John Leonard, as both continue to make their marks in professional hockey—Ryan launching his NHL career with the Capitals and John excelling in the AHL playoffs with the Checkers. Their mutual support speaks to the emotional depth behind family ties in competitive sports. As John’s team advances to the Eastern Conference Finals, Ryan’s steady presence symbolizes the encouragement that fuels athletes beyond the game itself.
Looking forward, Ryan’s NHL journey and John’s AHL playoff run promise to remain intertwined stories of determination and passion, with both brothers motivated by success and the shared dream of championship glory.