The Stingrays rung in the new year against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Jacksonville Icemen. Let’s see how they fared up against the competition.
Pesky Rabbits Outlast Stingrays On New Year’s Day
On Friday January 1st, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits played as host to the South Carolina Stingrays at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The Swamp Rabbits took an early lead during the first period and never trailed on their way to handing the South Carolina Stingrays their first loss of the season. Doing so in regulation, the final score was 3-1. Goalie Hunter Shepard made 24 saves despite taking the loss.
Greenville got things started with three minutes left in the first, as forward Brendan Connolly put a rebound on net, banking it right by Shepard for the early 1-0 lead.
The Stingrays would tie things up in the second period, as forward Cole Ully took a wrist shot from the high slot with 8:48 left to play in the seconds. Greenville would respond just moments later, as winger Max Zimmer fired a skipper past Shepard, this putting the Swamp Rabbits ahead entering intermission.
During the game’s third period, Brendan Connolly would once again find the back of the net with a shorthanded goal at the 5:29 mark. This would end up being the insurance goal, putting an end to the night for the South Carolina Stingrays. The Swamp Rabbits outshot South Carolina 27-25 while also beating the Stingrays.
Stingrays Pick Up First Win Of 2021
On Saturday January 2nd, the South Carolina Stingrays picked up a 3-2 win over the Jacksonville Icemen at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Goalie Alex Dubeau, who was given the nod following an early injury to Hunter Shepard, turned aside 18 shots to pick up the first victory of his career with South Carolina.
The Rays would take a 1-0 lead in the first when Brett Supinski fired a turnaround shot attempt from the left-side circle, just creeping it in past Icemen goaltender Kyle Keyser. Forward Dan DeSalvo picked up the lone assist on the opening goal.
Jacksonville would even things up at one with a power play marker from Andrew Peski with just nine minutes left in the game’s second period. The Stingrays would steal the momentum right back with a goal from Cole Ully just a few minutes. This would put them up 2-1 just two minutes later at the 13:12 mark. Assists on the goal were rewarded to winger Mx Novak and defender Doyle Somerby.
Caleb Herbert would get in on the action late in the period after putting a loose puck on the side of the net to increase the advantage for the Stingrays, 3-1. The goal was scored with 9.8 seconds left and was assisted by Cole Ully and Max Novak.
Jacksonville would get within one in the third period with a power play goal off the stick of Jason Binkley, but would be shutout the rest of the way by backstop Alex Dubeau and the Stingrays defence. South Carolina would finishing the night outshooting the Icemen by a margin of five, 31-26.
The Stingrays return home on Friday for a two-game set against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Puck drop at North Charleston Coliseum is scheduled to fall at 7:05pmET. The two teams will square off again Saturday with puck drop scheduled for 6:05pmET.