Rays Sign Leo Fitzgerald, Jakaitis Joins Hartford
March 9, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - The South Carolina Stingrays, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Washington Capitals, have announced Friday the signing of forward Leo Fitzgerald while goaltender Jeff Jakaitis has agreed to a professional tryout with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack.
Fitzgerald, a native of Port Alberni, B.C., recently finished his collegiate hockey career at Bemidji State University in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) with four points in 23 games during his senior season. The 24-year-old winger totaled 43 points over four seasons with the Beavers in 126 games and helped his team to a 2016-17 WCHA regular season title.
Measuring 5-foot-8, 182 pounds, Fitzgerald racked up 118 points during four junior hockey seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Victoria Grizzlies, Prince George Spruce Kings and Nanaimo Clippers. His best campaign came in 2012-13 when Fitzgerald had 50 points (26 goals, 24 assists) in 52 contests. The forward is expected to make his pro debut on Friday night for South Carolina while wearing No. 17.
Jakaitis returned to South Carolina for the 2017-18 year after spending two seasons in Norway with Lorenskog. The Rochester, Minn. native's decorated professional career recently saw him tie the record for most career ECHL shutouts with his 25th clean slate against Brampton on Feb. 23. The netminder has been having another outstanding season with the Stingrays, currently fifth among all ECHL goaltenders with a goals-against average of 2.17 and a save percentage at 0.920 that ranks seventh.
The ECHL CCM Most Valuable Player from the 2014-15 season, Jakaitis previously played for South Carolina during three seasons from 2012-15 and helped lead the Stingrays to a Kelly Cup Finals appearance in 2015. He has suited up for 11 career AHL games during his 11 professional seasons with the Portland Pirates, Worcester Sharks and Providence Bruins, posting a 5-4-1 record.
South Carolina is home for three games this weekend beginning Friday night against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at 7:05 p.m.
Ticket packages and Groups of 10 or more are on sale now featuring discounted pricing and great benefits. Saturday night is Pink In The Rink Night with SC wearing specialty pink jerseys while the game gets played on pink ice! For more information or to place an order call the Stingrays front office at 843-744-2248 or stop by 3300 W. Montague Ave. Suite A-200 during business hours.
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