Ryan Sandelin, a 27‑year‑old forward from Minnesota, has officially joined the South Carolina Stingrays for the 2026‑27 ECHL season, marking the latest step in a career that has already spanned multiple professional leagues.
A Familiar Path to the East Coast
After two seasons with the Iowa Wild in the AHL, where he recorded 15 points in 2023‑24 and nine points in 2024‑25, Sandelin logged 34 points in 149 AHL appearances across stints with the Colorado Eagles and earlier brief call‑ups that yielded a single goal in four games during the 2022‑23 campaign.
His collegiate years at Minnesota State‑Mankato were highlighted by back‑to‑back CCHA championships, a 76‑point output in 128 games, and a career‑high 34 points in 2021‑22, achievements that positioned him as a reliable offensive contributor at the higher levels.
The son of former NHL player Scott Sandelin, who appeared in 25 NHL games for the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Dallas Stars before turning to coaching, Sandelin has benefited from a hockey pedigree that includes a long‑standing role as head coach of the University of Minnesota‑Duluth since 2000.
The Stingrays, an ECHL affiliate of both the Washington Capitals and the Hershey Bears, hope the Minnesota native’s blend of AHL experience and college‑level success will translate into increased offensive production and depth for a team looking to remain competitive in the league’s Eastern Conference.