Joe Devin doing what he does best – score game winners (via the Stingrays)
The South Carolina Stingrays’ Mr. Game 7 will have a new title when the season opens tomorrow against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits: team captain. The fourth-year forward is joined by alternates Patrick Gaul and Trevor Gillies.
“Joe plays the game the right way and it’s the way we want to play,” Stingrays’ head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “He’s a guy that players will look to all year and see a guy who cares deeply about winning and the organization on and off the ice.”
Devin is the leading returning scorer from last season, garnering 18 goals and 23 assists in a regular season split with the Lake Erie Monsters. In the playoffs, he earned 10 goals and six assists, including the double-overtime winner against Adirondack in Game 7.
Gaul, 26, returns in the same role he held last year as alternate captain. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native is now in his fifth season in South Carolina. Last season was cut short due to injury, but he managed 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 52 games played.
Gillies returns to the Lowcountry for his second stint as a Stingray and 18th professional season. He remains the only skater on the roster with NHL experience, playing 57 total games between the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and New York Islanders. In parts of seven years in the ECHL, Gillies has 1,175 penalty minutes entering this season.
“They’re good men of character and are always doing things the right way. I’m excited to have all three of them as captains this year,” Warsofsky said.
As part of Opening Night festivities, fans will get free parking in any of the North Charleston Coliseum’s parking lots. At 2 p.m., the team hosts the annual Alumni Game in support of Adam Calder. All players participating will wear Calder’s No. 25 jersey.
The regular season will open with a 7:05 p.m. start time. All fans in attendance will receive a free schedule magnet.
