The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have announced the addition of veteran forward Mike O’Leary ahead of the 2026‑27 campaign, cementing a strategic move that aligns the ECHL franchise with the Los Angeles Kings and Ontario Reign.
A Proven Scoring Threat
O’Leary arrives after a standout season with the Tahoe Knight Monsters, where he posted a career‑best 33 points, including 12 goals and 21 assists, across 65 games and helped the club reach the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
The Nova Scotia native brings more than 290 professional appearances and 91 points to the lineup, having previously skated for the Hartford Wolf Pack, Iowa Wild and Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League.
AHL pedigree and playoff experience
His extensive AHL résumé includes 44 points in 188 games with the Milwaukee Admirals and stints with the Iowa Wild, where he contributed to a competitive roster that regularly contested the playoff picture.
International experience and collegiate roots
Before turning professional, O’Leary enjoyed a decorated collegiate career at Notre Dame, capturing two Big Ten championships and guiding the Fighting Irish to the 2018 Frozen Four.
He also gained international exposure with a bronze‑medal performance for Ilves in Finland’s Liiga during the 2025 season, and earlier represented the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL, finishing runner‑up in the 2016 Clark Cup Finals.
Now 28, O’Leary is entering his seventh professional season and will look to translate his veteran presence and scoring depth into a Swamp Rabbits team that aims to contend for a playoff berth.
Looking ahead
The organization views the signing as a calculated step to blend youthful energy with seasoned reliability, a formula that could prove decisive as the club navigates a competitive ECHL landscape.