It's time for your weekly dose of Stingray as Joe Shetrom reports from the Lowcountry this Monday morning. Meanwhile, we're packing up the crates and bags and heading to Ontario in the morning for Wednesday's titanic struggle with the Bulldogs at Copps Coliseum. Don't forget a new "The Old Barn Hockey Show" airs tonight on WTKT.com with a big announcement coming about the show tonight too. I've added co-host Frank Schofield's blog link on my favorites as well, check it out.
"The South Carolina Stingrays put together a 1-1 mark this past week, suffering a 5-3 loss Friday against Florida before redeeming themselves with a 4-1 win over the Everblades Saturday night. After three games South Carolina sports a 2-1 record in the ECHL’s South Division.
Following the first period in Friday’s contest, which saw each team tally an even strength goal, the wheels fell off the wagon for the Stingrays in the 2nd, allowing a trio of markers. Florida would tack on a fourth unanswered goal in the 3rd stanza before Maxime Lacroix and Tom Maxwell struck for the visiting Rays. Josh Johnson suffered the loss while Anton Khudobin, the reigning ECHL Goaltender of the Year, earned the win for the ‘Blades.
Saturday evening, South Carolina looked to return the favor – and rookie Michael Dubuc almost did it single-handedly. The first-year pro out of the QMJHL registered a natural hat trick, collecting a power-play goal in the first before tallying a pair of five-on-five markers in the 2nd period. Along the way, he amassed an astounding 11 shots on net. Keith Johnson added an empty-net goal in the waning moments of regulation while rookie d-man Johann Kroll (a teammate of Bears blueliner Sean Collins for three years at Ohio State) and Travis Morin earned a pair of playmakers. Johnson regained his familiar form with a 27-save effort as the Rays captured their first road win of the 2008-09 campaign.
The Stingrays return to the North Charleston Coliseum this Friday and Saturday for a two-game set against the Everblades. Face-off for each contest is slated for 7:05 pm."
