Cincinnati 2025-26 Season in Review

Team analytics, player leaders, offensive production, and goaltending performance from the 2025–26 ECHL season.

Team Performance Snapshot

Ryan Kirwan was Cincinnati’s primary offensive catalyst. Kirwan led the Cyclones in both assists and goals, combining elite playmaking with strong finishing ability. His position well above the diagonal line highlights a highly balanced offensive profile with heavy overall involvement in scoring chances.
Gunnarwolfe Fontaine and Sam Stevens provided major secondary offensive support. Fontaine contributed heavily as both a scorer and facilitator, while Stevens leaned more toward playmaking with one of the team’s highest assist totals.
Luke Grainger stood out as a goal-first scorer. Grainger recorded a high goal total relative to his assist production, placing him well above the diagonal line and indicating a more pure-finisher offensive role within the lineup.
Jake Johnson emerged as the most offensively productive defenseman. Johnson posted one of the highest assist totals among Cincinnati defensemen while also contributing offensively from the blue line. Elijah Vilio also provided notable scoring support from defense.
Cincinnati’s offense relied heavily on a small core of high-end forwards. Several of the team’s leading forwards clustered near the top-right area of the chart, while much of the remaining roster fell well below them offensively. This suggests the Cyclones leaned significantly on their top offensive group for scoring production.

Cincinnati struggled defensively despite respectable offensive production. The Team Identity Map places the Cyclones below league average defensively, with one of the higher goals-against rates in the ECHL. Their offense remained competitive, but defensive suppression was a major challenge throughout the season.
Ryan Kirwan clearly emerged as the team’s offensive centerpiece. Kirwan led the Cyclones with 59 points while also posting one of the strongest plus/minus ratings on the roster. His combination of production and positive on-ice impact made him the driving force behind Cincinnati’s offense.
The Cyclones received strong secondary scoring support from multiple forwards. Ben King, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Sam Stevens, John Jaworski, and Nick Rhéaume all contributed meaningful offensive production, giving Cincinnati several reliable contributors beyond its top scorer.
Jake Johnson and Elijah Vilio provided offensive value from the blue line. Both defensemen ranked among the team’s point leaders, with Johnson especially standing out for his offensive production despite a negative plus/minus environment overall for the club.
Ken Appleby handled a massive goaltending workload. Appleby faced more than 1,200 shots while carrying the overwhelming majority of Cincinnati’s starts and wins. Although his save percentage hovered near league average, the workload volume highlights how heavily the Cyclones relied on him throughout the season.