Stingrays Weekly Report

March 19, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL) - South Carolina Stingrays News Release

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - The South Carolina Stingrays hit the road for a busy week with four games beginning Monday night in Duluth, Ga. against the Atlanta Gladiators. The trip continues on to Orlando for three contests against the Solar Bears to on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The Rays have clinched a spot in the ECHL's postseason for the 24th time in 25 seasons and will be no lower than the No. 2 seed in the South Division. Despite two losses to Idaho last week, the team has continued to play well defensively, allowing just four total goals to the Steelheads. South Carolina allows just 2.18 goals per game, the lowest average in the ECHL.

The Stingrays have compiled a record of 7-2-2-0 in 11 games against the Gladiators during the 2017-18 year as well as a 3-3-0-1 mark when opposing Orlando, including winning the last three matchups with the Solar Bears. SC is one win away from matching last year's total of 40 victories during the 2016-17 regular season.

STINGRAYS RECORD: 39-15-6-1

LAST WEEK: 0-2-0-0

THURSDAY: IDAHO STEELHEADS 3, SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS 0

(North Charleston Coliseum - North Charleston, SC)

Idaho Steelheads goaltender Tomas Sholl made 32 saves and held the South Carolina Stingrays without a goal in a 3-0 decision at the North Charleston Coliseum on Thursday night. Steelheads' tallies came from Eric Sweetman, Connor Chatham and Jack Nevins, while SC netminder Parker Milner stopped 20 shots in the game in a losing effort.

FRIDAY: IDAHO STEELHEADS 1, SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS 0

(North Charleston Coliseum - North Charleston, SC)

For the second straight night Idaho Steelheads goaltender Tomas Sholl held the South Carolina Stingrays off the scoreboard with a shutout, making 28 saves in a 1-0 victory on Friday night at the North Charleston Coliseum. Jeff Jakaitis also had a big night for South Carolina, making 27 saves in a losing effort. Team captain Joe Devin finished the game with a team-high seven shots on goal.

THIS WEEK

Monday, March 19 - at Atlanta Gladiators, 7:05 p.m. (Infinite Energy Center)

Wednesday, March 21 - at Orlando Solar Bears, 7:00 p.m. (Amway Center)

Friday, March 23 - at Orlando Solar Bears, 7:00 p.m. (Amway Center)

Sunday, March 25 - at Orlando Solar Bears, 1:30 p.m. (Amway Center)

STINGRAYS LEADERS

Goals: 19 - Joe Devin, Kelly Zajac

Assists: 32 - Steven Whitney

Points: 49 - Steven Whitney

Plus/Minus: Plus-26 - Danny Federico

Penalty Minutes: 182 - Marcus Perrier

Shots On Goal: 176 - Joe Devin

Wins: 21 - Parker Milner

Goals Against Average: 1.94 - Parker Milner

Save Percentage: 0.929 - Parker Milner

DEFENSIVE IMPORTANCE

South Carolina has been a defensive-oriented team all season, led by their goaltending and defensive prowess. In addition to allowing fewer goals than any other ECHL squad (133), the Stingrays allow an average of just 27.5 shots on goal per contest, which is second-best in the league. In 61 games this season, SC has scored 49 more goals than they've allowed and put 149 more shots on goal than they have given up. The Rays are the only team in the ECHL to have not allowed a shorthanded goal on the road and have given up just two shorthanded tallies overall which is tied for least in the league.

MILNER TIME

Goaltender Parker Milner has been outstanding all season for South Carolina and has a record of 21-6-3-0 in 30 appearances for the Stingrays this year. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native's goals-against average of 1.94 leads the league among qualifying netminders, while his save percentage at 0.929 is third-best in the ECHL. Now in his fifth professional season, Milner has appeared in 167 career ECHL games.

COLLEGIATE NEWCOMERS GETTING FIRST PRO EXPERIENCE

Last week the Stingrays brought in a total of six new players who recently finished their collegiate hockey careers, adding to forward Tad Kozun who signed at the end of February. On Wednesday three signings were announced in forward Mike Panowyk and defensemen Tim Davison and Derek Pratt. Panowyk played four seasons at Colgate University, while Davison was enrolled at the University of Wisconsin and Pratt captained the University of Connecticut. Then on Thursday, Conor Lemirande joined the squad out of Miami University in the NCHC. Friday's signings brought defenseman J.C. Brassard out of Union College as well as forward Jake Kamrass from UMass-Lowell. The first four signings all made their pro debuts Thursday, while Brassard and Kamrass got into the team's lineup for the first time on Friday night.

Single-game tickets for the 2017-18 season are on sale now at the North Charleston Coliseum Box Office and ticketmaster.com.

Groups of 10 or more are on sale now featuring discounted pricing and great benefits! 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.




Images from this story

South Carolina Stingrays in action
South Carolina Stingrays in action
   

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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