ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Pee Dee 6- South Carolina 4

October 4, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release


Florence, SC The South Carolina Stingrays began their preseason with a 6-4 loss to the Pee Dee Pride in an exhibition contest at the Florence City County Civic Center.

The Pride scored two goals in each period and held of the Rays three goal rally in the final period for the win.

Pee Dee grabbed and early lead in the game when Ryan Knox potted a power play goal at 6:59 from Alain Sirois. After falling behind 2-0 on a BJ Adams goal, the Stingrays cut into the lead when Peter Armbrust scored an even strength goal at 16:44. Jeff Boulanger picked up the assist on the play when he chipped the puck past the Pride defense at the Stingrays line. Armbrust did the rest slipping the puck through the legs of Pride netminder Ron Vogel on a two on one. Armbrust punctuated his first period as a Stingray with a center ice fight against Pee Dee defenseman Jason Robinson.

"You are always going to have trouble getting your legs under you in the first game of the season," noted Head Coach Jason Fitzsimmons. "Give the Pride credit, they got going quicker than us in this one and it was tough to climb back."

The Pride stretched its lead to 4-1 in the second stanza on goals by Wes Goldie, on the power play, and an even strength goal off the stick of Tim Green. The Rays penalty kill managed to stifle a 5 minute major penalty to Brent Henley midway through the frame. South Carolina netminder Kirk Daubenspeck gave way to rookie Dean Weasler at the just past the ten minute mark having allowed four goals on 18 shots.

In the third frame, the Rays got to within one goal of the Pride when Joel Irving, Curtis Huppe and Marty Clapton all scored. Both Irving and Huppe scored goals while South Carolina was on the power play.

"We showed some good character coming back to within one in the third, but just fell short," added Fitzsimmons.

The Stingrays will play at home tonight against the Pee Dee Pride in front of a packed house. Face off for the game is at 7:30. The team plays its final preseason tune up on Monday evening in Columbia against the Inferno. The Rays will return to Florence on October 11th to begin the regular season against the Pride. The Stingrays home opener will take place on October 19th when they host the Columbus Cottonmouths.

Notes: The Stingrays played last night without the services of Ryan Brindley, Brett Marietti, Rob Concannon and Scott Newell. Kirk Daubenspeck and Dean Weasler split time between the pipes in last nights game. Kirk Daubenspeck is expected to get the start in front of the home crowd this evening. Robin Gomez is still in camp with the Portland Pirates. The Stingrays will release their final roster on Wednesday, October 9th.

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