South Carolina Stingrays: Difference between revisions
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==References== |
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*[http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/roster.php?step=&sub=&season_id=13&team_id=18 ECHL.com|LeagueStat] |
*[http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/roster.php?step=&sub=&season_id=13&team_id=18 ECHL.com|LeagueStat] |
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*[http://stingrayshockey.com/team/players/ Team Roster] at [http://www.stingrayshockey.com stingrayshockey.com] |
*[http://stingrayshockey.com/team/players/ Team Roster] at [http://www.stingrayshockey.com stingrayshockey.com] |
Revision as of 19:21, 4 November 2010
South Carolina Stingrays | |
---|---|
City | North Charleston, South Carolina |
League | ECHL |
Conference | Eastern Conference |
Division | South Division |
Founded | 1993 |
Home arena | North Charleston Coliseum |
Colors | Navy blue, red, white, silver |
Owner(s) | Anita Zucker Greenwald Family |
General manager | Cail MacLean |
Head coach | Cail MacLean |
Captain | Matt Scherer |
Media | The Post and Courier WTMZ 910 AM (ESPN Radio) WJKB 950 AM WQSC 1340 AM WQNT 1450 AM (Fox Sports Radio) America One |
Affiliates | Washington Capitals (NHL) Hershey Bears (AHL) |
Championships | |
Regular season titles | 1996–97 |
Division titles | 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2000–01 |
Conference titles | 1996–97, 2000–01, 2008–09 |
Kelly Cups | 1996–97, 2000–01, 2008–09 |
The South Carolina Stingrays are an ice hockey team in the ECHL. They are based in the city of North Charleston, South Carolina. Since 2004, the team has been affiliated with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. The Stingrays found success early. During their first season (1993-94) the team boasted an average of 9,151 fans a game - one of the largest crowds in minor leagues.[1] Currently, the Stingrays average approximately 5,000 per game.
The Stingrays play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum.
Team history
The early years
The ECHL team began in 1993 with a management team which included retired NHL players Marcel Dionne as president/CEO and Rick Vaive as head coach.
In 1995, the ECHL Board of Governors approved the sale of the franchise from its Canadian ownership group to a local investment group led by Edwin Pearlstine, owner of Pearlstine Distribution, the local Budweiser distributor. The group also included Jerry and Anita Zucker, Harvey Nathan and Lynn Bernstein (owners of local restaurant Nathan's Deli), and the Greenwald family of Seabrook Island. Dionne remained as the franchise's president and CEO.
In early 1995, the team was offered an expansion spot by the AHL, along with Charlotte, Greensboro, and Hamptons Roads. However, team management decided at that time to remain in the ECHL, citing a desire to retain the level of affordability for the team's fans. The other three franchises have since accepted AHL offers, becoming the Charlotte Checkers, Carolina Monarchs, and Norfolk Admirals, respectively.
Later that year, Dionne left the Stingrays organization, stating that he wished to attend to personal matters. In addition to his coaching duties, Vaive was named Director of Hockey Operations, giving him more control over personnel decisions.
Success and scandal
The Stingrays flirted with playoff success from 1993 to 1996, but it was not until 1997 that they won not only the ECHL championship Kelly Cup (defeating the Louisiana IceGators), but were also awarded the Brabham Cup for being the regular season points leader, becoming the first ECHL team and one of three overall to win both a regular season and postseason championship in the same year. The Alaska Aces (2006) and the Cincinnati Cyclones (2008) later accomplished this feat.
This early success, however, was marred by allegations from ECHL management that the Stingrays, in collusion with the city of North Charleston, violated the ECHL's salary cap by funneling money through a city-run youth hockey program to provide payouts to players. Following two months of investigation by the league, the Stingrays were assessed a $50,000 fine, and head coach and general manager Rick Vaive was handed down a six-game suspension for the start of the 1997-98 season. Further review by the IRS determined that no state or federal tax laws were broken. The incident sparked a re-evaluation by the ECHL of the teams' salary caps.
New management
In 1998, Vaive accepted the head coaching position with the AHL's Saint John Flames. His assistant coach, Rick Adduono, was tapped to take over as Vaive's replacement as head coach and general manager. Former Stingrays goaltender Jason Fitzsimmons was named assistant coach in Adduono's place. After three seasons of disappointing early playoff defeats, the Stingrays took the league championship again in 2001, defeating the then-Trenton Titans in five games.
After failing to advance to the first round of the ECHL playoffs the next season by losing a "play-in" game in the 2001-02 season to the Florida Everblades in their practice facility (a concert at the Coliseum forced the move), Adduono resigned and was replaced by Fitzsimmons. Jared Bednar, another longtime Stingray, was made assistant coach later.
After many years of association with the Buffalo Sabres, the Stingrays broke away after the 2002-03 season, and played a year as an independent team. For the 2004-05 season, the team agreed to an affiliation with the Washington Capitals, beginning a period of success in the entire system.
After failing to qualify for the ECHL playoffs for the only time in franchise history during the 2006-07 season, Fitzsimmons resigned, and was assigned by their parent Capitals as a scout. Bednar took over as head coach, with Cail MacLean, who had been the captain for the Stingrays, as a part-time assistant while completing his studies at The Citadel. Bednar's two seasons were highly successful. In the 2007-08 season, the Stingrays advanced to the American Conference finals, losing to the Cincinnati Cyclones. In the 2008-09 season, the Stingrays won the Kelly Cup, and almost instantly, Bednar became a hot coaching prospect. He resigned shortly thereafter, joining the Calgary Flames' system in Abbotsford as assistant coach, and later earned his first AHL head coaching assignment with the St. Louis Blues' farm club in Peoria for 2010-11. MacLean was named head coach, with the assistant coach position becoming vacant.
Present day
The Stingrays are three-time ECHL Kelly Cup Champions. The 2009 championship, won following a seven-game final against the Alaska Aces, along with championships in 1997 and 2001, tie them with the Hampton Roads Admirals for the most Kelly/Riley Cup wins in league history. Alongside the Idaho Steelheads, Cincinnati Cyclones and the Toledo Walleye (then the Toledo Storm), they are one of only four active ECHL teams to win multiple league championships.
The Stingrays management and ownership have been known for their loyalty. Since Rick Adduono (1998), each Stingrays head coach has been the team's previous assistant (and a former Stingrays player) -- initially Jason Fitzsimmons, then Jared Bednar, and currently Cail MacLean. Rob Concannon (named team president in 2010) played on the 1997 and 2001 Kelly Cup teams.
Members of the 2009 Kelly Cup championship team have gone on to achieve success. Many players on the 2009 Kelly Cup team were called up to the American Hockey League, with 7 players from the 2009 team playing in the 2010 Calder Cup Championship.
In August 2010, the Stingrays announced that former forward Spencer Carbery had been named the team's assistant coach.
Logos
-
Stingrays secondary, Has a reference to the state flag, which appeared on the original jersey.
-
Stingrays tertiary, Has a reflection of the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge.
-
Stingrays former, 2000–2008
-
Stingrays original logo, 1993–2000
Mascot
Their current mascot is Cool Ray, a stingray that resembles the previous Stingrays logo used from 2000–2008.
Retired numbers
12 - Mark Bavis, who played from 1994–96 when the Stingrays were an affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. Bavis, by then a Los Angeles Kings scout, was killed along with Kings Director of Professional Scouting Garnet Bailey on United Airlines Flight 175 when Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked the airliner, and steered it towards the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The Stingrays retired his jersey before the start of the 2001–02 season.
- Regular season statistics: 87 GP, 30 G, 38 A, 68 PTS, 186 PIM.
- Playoff statistics: 17 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 PTS, 34 PIM.
14 - David Seitz, who played from 1996–2004 and was a popular forward on the franchise with team records in goals, assists, and points, including over 200 goals and 500 points overall, fifth on the ECHL's all-time assists list, and two ECHL Kelly Cups. Seitz's retirement, caused by an ECHL restriction on experienced players on a roster after the Stingrays signed players for a road trip, sent shockwaves through the community.
- Regular season statistics: 489 GP, 217 G, 370 A, 587 PTS, 503 PIM.
- Playoff Statistics: 58 GP, 29 G, 44 A, 73 PTS, 85 PIM.
24 - Brett Marietti, a popular player and former captain, retired after the 2002–03 season. Team management promptly retired his jersey in 2003. Marietti's tenure as captain ranks among the longest in ECHL history for a player to captain a single team.
- Regular season statistics: 550 GP, 194 G, 287 A, 481 PTS, 1127 PIM.
- Playoff statistics: 69 GP, 30 G, 32 A, 62 PTS, 129 PIM.
ECHL Hall of Famers
- Tom Nemeth: D, 1994–95, Inducted 2008
ECHL team records
Regular season
- Longest home winning streak, one season (18) 1994-95
- Most players with a point in one game (15) (tied ECHL record) 2009-10
Postseason
- Most Kelly Cup/Riley Cup championships (3) (tied with Hampton Roads)
- Most final series appearances (3) (tied with Greensboro, Hampton Roads, Wheeling)
- Most years in playoffs (15)
- Most playoff games (139)
- Most playoff wins (77)
- Most playoff losses (62)
- Most power-play goals in a playoff series (36) 1997
Season-by-season record
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Stingrays. For the full season-by-season history, see List of South Carolina Stingrays seasons
Regular season
Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005–06 | 72 | 32 | 25 | — | 7 | 8 | 79 | 230 | 237 | 4th, South |
2006–07 | 72 | 36 | 27 | — | 4 | 5 | 81 | 250 | 251 | 6th, South |
2007–08 | 72 | 47 | 22 | — | 2 | 1 | 97 | 256 | 192 | 2nd, South |
2008–09 | 71 | 42 | 23 | — | 2 | 4 | 90 | 249 | 187 | 2nd, South |
2009–10 | 72 | 41 | 19 | — | 6 | 6 | 94 | 248 | 216 | 2nd, South |
Playoffs
Season | Prelim | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | Finals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005–06 | — | W, 2–1, CHR | L, 0–3, GWT | — | — |
2006–07 | Out of playoffs | ||||
2007–08 | — | W, 3–2, AUG | W, 3–2, GWT | W, 3–2, COL | L, 1–4, CIN |
2008–09 | — | W, 4–2, CHR | W, 4–2, FLA | W, 4–0, CIN | W, 4–3, AK |
2009–10 | — | L, 2–3, CIN | — | — | — |
Current season roster
As of October 29, 2010. Data taken from ECHL and Stingrays websites.
# | Player | Catches | Date of birth | Place of birth | Status | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33 | Jared DeMichiel | L | April 16, 1985 | Avon, CT, USA | Active | ||
34 | Todd Ford | R | May 5, 1984 | Calgary, AB, Canada | Hershey Bears |
# | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Status | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Josh Godfrey | R | January 15, 1988 | Collingwood, ON, Canada | Active | ||
3 | Patrick Cullity | L | January 26, 1987 | Tewksbury, MA, USA | Active | ||
4 | Bryan Schmidt | R | July 27, 1981 | Bloomington, MN, USA | Active | ||
5 | Nate Kiser | R | May 4, 1982 | Southgate, MI, USA | Active | ||
6 | Zach Jones | L | January 14, 1987 | Lisle, IL, USA | Active | ||
8 | Dylan Yeo | L | July 16, 1986 | Prince Albert, SK, Canada | Hershey Bears | ||
9 | Dustin Stevenson | L | August 12, 1989 | Gull Lake, SK, Canada | Active | ||
36 | Grant Farrell | R | October 11, 1983 | Calgary, AB, Canada | Active | ||
44 | Jeff Caister | L | January 17, 1985 | Mississauga, ON, Canada | Active |
# | Player | Position | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | Jordan Pietrus | F | R | September 20, 1985 | Vermilion, AB, Canada | Active | |
11 | Trent Campbell | LW | L | December 24, 1982 | Beauval, SK, Canada | Active | |
16 | Tommy Goebel | F | R | November 20, 1984 | Parma, OH, USA | Active | |
17 | Nikita Kashirsky | F | L | January 25, 1985 | Moscow, Russia | Active | |
18 | Pierre-Luc O'Brien | C | R | July 22, 1982 | Nicolet, QC, Canada | Active | |
20 | Jake Hauswirth | F | R | February 16, 1988 | Merrill, WI, USA | Active | |
22 | Maxime Lacroix | LW | L | June 5, 1987 | Quebec, QC, Canada | Active | |
23 | Dan Eves | F | L | April 5, 1986 | Lake Orion, MI, USA | Active | |
27 | Rob Ricci | F | L | December 12, 1984 | Brampton, ON, Canada | Active | |
28 | David de Kastrozza | F | R | October 20, 1986 | Toms River, NJ, USA | Active | |
42 | Matt Scherer | RW | R | April 19, 1982 | Seattle, WA, USA | Active |
Title | Staff member | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President | Rob Concannon | |||||
Head coach | Cail MacLean | |||||
Assistant coach | Spencer Carbery | |||||
Athletic trainer | D.J. Church | |||||
Equipment manager | John Williams | |||||
Head scout | James Sorrentino |
Notes
- ^ Scott, Jon C. (2006). Hockey Night in Dixie: Minor Pro Hockey in the American South. Heritage House Publishing Company Ltd. p. 70. ISBN 1894974212.
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References
- ECHL.com|LeagueStat
- Team Roster at stingrayshockey.com
- History of the Stingrays at stingrayshockey.com
- ECHL Regular Season Team Records at echl.com
- ECHL Postseason Team Records at echl.com
- Stingrays Tie ECHL Record for Most Players with Point at echl.com
- Local group approved to buy 'Rays at archives.postandcourier.com
- AHL has eye on Stingrays at archives.postandcourier.com
- Stingrays will stay in ECHL at archives.postandcourier.com
- 'Rays Dionne gone VAIVE TAKES OVER at archives.postandcourier.com
- Brabham Cup just first step for Stingrays at archives.postandcourier.com
- Stingrays fined $50,000, ECHL executive feel $50,000 fine too lenient at archives.postandcourier.com
- Rays name coach at archives.postandcourier.com
- Fitzsimmons named assistant at archives.postandcourier.com
- ICE PRINCES Stingrays claim 2nd ECHL title at archives.postandcourier.com