Leibinger returns to Rush

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Rush announced that forward/defenseman Chris Leibinger has signed with the team for the 2019-20 season.

Leibinger was originally acquired by the Rush off of waivers at the conclusion of the 2017-18 season. He played both forward and defense last season, registering career-highs with seven goals, 20 assists and 27 points in 60 games. Leibinger finished last season as the sixth leading scorer on the Rush, and held a share of third-best on the roster with 10 power-play points (1g-9a).

A native of Saginaw, Michigan, Leibinger enters his third season as a professional. He made his professional debut following his college career with the Quad City Mallards at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, and re-joined the Mallards before being traded to the Utah Grizzlies five games into his rookie season, where he earned 22 points (4g-18a) in his remaining 40 games that year. In total in his ECHL career, Leibinger has 50 points (11g-39a) in 110 games.

Prior to turning pro, he played four seasons of college hockey with Michigan Tech University, earning 2016 WCHA All-Academic Team Honors and the 2017 WCHA championship. He totaled 35 points (13g-22a) in 158 career collegiate games. He also made stops in the North American Hockey League with the Traverse City North Stars, and in the United States Hockey League with the Muskegon Lumberjacks and Waterloo Black Hawks.