The South Carolina Stingrays finally returned to the North Charleston Coliseum after a 27-day, 10-game road trip. Head coach Spencer Carbery received an early Christmas present from the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) when they loaned him Derek DeBlois. DeBlois led the team in goals, 21, and added 24 assists in his first pro season last year after an NCAA career at the University of Michigan. The club released Louis Belisle, two PIM in six games, to make room for DeBlois on the roster.
DeBlois jumped seamlessly into the lineup in his first game back, a 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Gladiators. After Mike Merrifield beat Mark Dekanich, the Stingrays earned a power play. DeBlois shot at Atlanta goalie Kent Patterson was stopped, but the rebound came right to Brett Cameron, who did not miss over the downed goaltender to tie the game. Max Everson and DeBlois traded tallies for their teams in the second, but Derek Nesbitt scored the lone goal of the third to complete the win. Dekanich ended the game with 18 saves on 21 shots while Patterson saved 29 of the Stingrays’ 31 shots on goal.
The Stingrays announced their return home in resounding fashion, defeating the Greenville Swamp Rabbits 5-1 on the strength of Joe Devin’s hat trick. Despite only leading the shot counter by two after the first 20 minutes (15-13), South Carolina lead the game 3-0 with two goals from Devin and one from Joey Leach. Greenville rebounded in the second frame when Jordan Knackstedt scored six minutes in. Devin completed the hat trick after the nine minute mark to chase starter Jeff Malcolm and Evan Rodrigues added his third of the year late in the final period to wrap up a dominant effort by the Stingrays. Malcolm and P.J. Musico combined for 27 saves on 32 shots while Dekanich made 30 stops en route to the win.
On Saturday night, the Stingrays wore specail Hockey Heroes for Epilepsy jersyes and auctioned them off after the game. Andrew Rowe, the captain, had his jersey sold for a team-best $1,200.
In the annual Teddy Bear Toss, 3,077 stuffed animals were sent to the ice by Bobby Shea‘s equalizing goal in the first period of Sunday’s contest with the Gladiators. Right after Tyler Murovich‘s goal to regain the Gladiators advantage, Eric Neiley and Shea mixed it up. Both men got two minutes for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct for continuing the altercation while Matt Register of Atlanta also recieved a 10-minute misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct. Nick Jones tied the game again while falling to ice in front of the net trying to clean up Devin’s rebound. Rowe scored the same way off of Colin Mulvey’s shot to win South Carolina the game. Branden Komm earned his third win as a Stingray in his 25 save effort.
NEXT WEEK
The South Division-leading Florida Everblades come to town for a Friday and Saturday night series against the Stingrays.
CURRENT STANDING
2nd in South Division, 15-9-1-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL), 32 points
