Liam McLinskey Bio
Liam McLinskey (born February 20, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey winger for the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL). A right-handed shot who plays the right wing, McLinskey stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. He previously played collegiate hockey in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), most recently with the College of the Holy Cross. McLinskey began his professional career in 2025 after going undrafted.
Across four NCAA seasons, McLinskey built a reputation as one of the most productive scorers in Atlantic Hockey. He earned multiple conference awards and was twice a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top college hockey player in the United States. His college production led to his first professional opportunity with the Charlotte Checkers beginning in the 2025 season.
Early Life and Background
Liam McLinskey was born on February 20, 2001, in Pearl River, New York. He grew up in a close family alongside two siblings, a brother named Ryan and a sister named Grace. The family background included a tradition of college athletics, with McLinskey’s father, Terence McLinskey, having played soccer at Army West Point.
McLinskey’s brother, Ryan McLinskey, also became a college athlete, playing baseball at both Seton Hall and Notre Dame. His cousin, Drew Fortescue, has played college hockey for Boston College and was drafted by the New York Rangers, extending the family’s reach into the hockey world. This athletic environment helped shape McLinskey’s early interest in competitive sports and his eventual decision to pursue ice hockey at a high level.
Path to Hockey
McLinskey began his collegiate career at Quinnipiac University during the 2021–22 season. In his freshman year, he appeared in two games and did not record a point. Following that season, he transferred to the College of the Holy Cross to take on a larger role in the Crusaders’ program.
The move to Holy Cross quickly paid off. During the 2022–23 season, his sophomore year, McLinskey scored 21 goals and added four assists in 40 games, leading the team in goals and tying for second all-time in single-season goals at Holy Cross. He set a program record with six game-winning goals and scored nine times in the 2023 Atlantic Hockey tournament, setting a conference tournament record. His efforts helped the Crusaders reach the Atlantic Hockey championship game for the first time since 2006, and he was named to the Atlantic Hockey All-Tournament Team.
Liam McLinskey Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
McLinskey’s earliest college hockey at Quinnipiac was brief, with just two scoreless appearances during the 2021–22 season. Seeking more opportunity, he transferred to Holy Cross and immediately became a central figure in the Crusaders’ attack. His 21-goal sophomore season established him as a top forward in Atlantic Hockey and set the stage for sustained success.
By the end of his sophomore year, McLinskey had already left his name across the Holy Cross and Atlantic Hockey record books. His nine-goal performance in the 2023 Atlantic Hockey tournament stood as a single-tournament record, and his team’s run to the championship game marked one of the most significant postseason achievements in program history in nearly two decades.
Holy Cross Breakthrough (2023–2025)
During the 2023–24 season, his junior year, McLinskey recorded 19 goals and 28 assists in 39 games, leading Holy Cross and Atlantic Hockey in points, assists, and plus-minus. His 47 points tied for the second-most in a single season in program history, while his 19 goals and 28 assists each tied for fourth-most. He added four goals in the 2024 Atlantic Hockey tournament, tying the all-time Atlantic Hockey tournament career record with 14 postseason goals.
Following the season, McLinskey was named Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year, won the Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Scoring Trophy, and was named to the All-Atlantic Hockey First Team. He was also selected as an American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) East Second Team All-American and became a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, the first Holy Cross player ever to earn that distinction.
During the 2024–25 senior season, McLinskey delivered 24 goals and 30 assists in 40 games, leading Holy Cross and Atlantic Hockey America in scoring. He was again named Atlantic Hockey America Player of the Year, took home Atlantic Hockey America Forward of the Year honors, and won the conference scoring trophy. He was also named to the All-Atlantic Hockey America First Team and became a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award for the second consecutive year.
Charlotte Checkers Era (2025–Present)
Following the conclusion of his senior season at Holy Cross, McLinskey signed with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL and began his professional career in 2025. As an undrafted college free agent, his path to the professional ranks came through performance rather than the NHL Entry Draft. The Checkers, the top developmental affiliate in their system, offered McLinskey a chance to continue his offensive development at the professional level.
Driving Style and Strengths
McLinskey is recognized for his scoring touch, playmaking ability, and competitive two-way play. At Holy Cross, he led his conference in points, assists, and plus-minus during his junior year, demonstrating that his offensive production was paired with responsible defensive play. His ability to deliver in key moments, including record-setting performances in the Atlantic Hockey tournament, highlighted a clutch scoring profile suited to professional hockey.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among McLinskey’s signature accomplishments, his nine goals in the 2023 Atlantic Hockey tournament set a single-tournament record, and his eventual 14 career postseason goals tied the all-time Atlantic Hockey tournament record. He became the first Holy Cross player named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, a milestone for both him and the program. He followed that with a second consecutive Hobey Baker top-ten finalist appearance in his senior year.
Liam McLinskey Career Wins
Liam McLinskey’s competitive record is defined by his prolific college scoring rather than professional wins. Across his Holy Cross career, he led the team in goals in multiple seasons and set or tied several program and conference records. His college achievements formed the foundation for his professional opportunity with the Charlotte Checkers.
Holy Cross Highlights
McLinskey scored 21 goals in 2022–23, 19 goals and 28 assists in 2023–24, and 24 goals and 30 assists in 2024–25, finishing as one of the most decorated players in recent Holy Cross history. He earned Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year honors in 2024 and Atlantic Hockey America Player of the Year honors in 2025. He was a two-time Hobey Baker Award top-ten finalist, the first Holy Cross player ever recognized as a finalist.
Other Wins and Performances
McLinskey set a Holy Cross program record with six game-winning goals in 2022–23 and helped the Crusaders reach the 2023 Atlantic Hockey championship game, their first title-game appearance since 2006. He was named to the Atlantic Hockey All-Tournament Team that year and to multiple All-Conference First Teams across his junior and senior seasons.
Liam McLinskey Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Liam McLinskey was born to Terence and Laura McLinskey and has a brother, Ryan, and a sister, Grace. His father, Terence McLinskey, played soccer at Army West Point, while his brother, Ryan McLinskey, played college baseball at Seton Hall and Notre Dame. His cousin, Drew Fortescue, has played college hockey at Boston College and was drafted by the New York Rangers, giving the family a presence in organized hockey.
Personal Life
McLinskey grew up in Pearl River, New York, and has remained connected to his family throughout his athletic career. His relatives’ involvement in college sports across multiple disciplines reflects a family tradition of competitive athletics that has informed his approach to hockey.
2025 Season Performance
McLinskey’s 2025 season was highlighted by his senior year at Holy Cross, where he posted 24 goals and 30 assists in 40 games and led Atlantic Hockey America in scoring. He capped his college career by being named Atlantic Hockey America Player of the Year, Atlantic Hockey America Forward of the Year, and a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award for the second straight year. His production cemented his status as one of the top scorers in program and conference history.
Following the college season, McLinskey transitioned to the professional level with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. As a recent undrafted signing, his early professional focus is expected to be on adjusting to the pace and physicality of pro hockey while translating his college scoring into the American Hockey League.