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ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Stingrays Sign Forward Matt Pohlkamp

June 20, 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 and AHL's Hershey Bears, have agreed to terms with forward Matt Pohlkamp for the 2018-19 season. The native of Baxter, Minn. led the Quad City Mallards in scoring last year during his rookie professional season with 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 70 games.

"South Carolina is proven to be successful every year," Pohlkamp said. "I'm really happy for this opportunity to go to a place that is known to have a winning atmosphere, which is very important to me."

Pohlkamp, 25, began his pro career in the spring of 2017 when he recorded three points in nine games with the Toledo Walleye after concluding his collegiate career at Bowling Green State University. While at school, Pohlkamp produced a total of 88 points (38 goals, 50 assists) in 160 games while helping the Falcons to four consecutive winning seasons.

"We've been interested in Matt since his college days at Bowling Green", said Stingrays Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Ryan Warsofsky. "He was one of the better players on his team last year and we believe his game can really grow in his second full season. He also has leadership qualities and is a great person both on and off the ice. We're really looking forward to having Matt join us this fall."

The six-foot, 200-pound attacker was named BGSU's Most Improved Player after his sophomore season when he scored a collegiate career-high 25 points (8 goals, 17 assists) and was named to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) All-Academic team for three consecutive years from 2014-17.

"With Quad City folding it allowed me a great opportunity to go somewhere else and play," Pohlkamp said. "I talked to a lot of other players and found out what places are better than others and even before Coach Warsofsky contacted me I heard how great of a place South Carolina was and how guys love playing there. Then I dug a little deeper and everyone had great things to say. They talked about how Coach is all about having good guys in the locker room and that's a huge part of the environment I want to be around."

Pohlkamp also got some advice from one of his former Bowling Green teammates who is very familiar with the Stingrays organization, Marcus Perrier.

"I played with [Marcus] my freshman year of college; he was one of the best guys in that room and was really well respected, Pohlkamp said. "I reached out to him and he said nothing but good things and really I trust him. When he says something's good, it's usually true."

Before heading to college, Pohlkamp spent the 2012-13 season in junior hockey with the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The forward also played four years of high school hockey in Minnesota with Brainerd High School.

The 26th season of South Carolina Stingrays hockey begins in Jacksonville against the Icemen on October 13. The Stingrays will open their home schedule vs. Greenville on Saturday, October 20.

Season tickets are on sale now! For more information or to purchase, contact the Stingrays by phone at 843-744-2248 or visit 3300 W. Montague Ave. Suite A-200 during business hours.

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