NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – Newly hired South Carolina Stingrays’ Head Coach Cail MacLean and Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee, announced the renewal of the affiliation between the NHL Capitals and the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. The agreement, which covers the 2009-10 season, also includes an agreement with the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears. The three way agreement between the Stingrays, Bears, and Capitals which began with the 2004-05 season, has proved productive for all three organizations. Except for the Capitals’ disappointment in their own playoff quest, the Washington Capitals organization was arguably the most successful organization from top to bottom last season, from an on ice perspective, since both the Stingrays and Bears won their respective league championships. McPhee, in his comments on the extension, lauded the Stingrays’ organization as “an outstanding proving ground for our prospects.” The ECHL Kelly Cup Championship run by the Stingrays’ featured outstanding contributions from current Capitals’ prospects forward Michael Dubuc and defenseman Josh Godfrey. Additionally, goaltender Michal Neuvirth, the Calder Cup MVP with the Hershey Bears, began last season in South Carolina and also appeared in five games with the NHL parent club. Some of the other former Stingrays who have moved up to Hershey include Steve Pinizzotto, Sean Collins and Andrew Gordon. Both Collins and Gordon have seen some NHL playing time. Pinizzotto has developed rapidly and was recently signed to a new two-way contract with the Capitals and appears to be part of their longer term plans. MacLean, who retired as a player after the 2007-08 season, served as the Rays Assistant Coach this past season. MacLean was then promoted to Head Coach when Jared Bednar accepted a position as an Assistant Coach with the expansion Abbotsford Heat of the AHL. “We are very excited to be affiliated with the Capitals again next season” said MacLean in his news release statement. Affiliation renewal with the Capitals was one of the teams first priorities this off-season. Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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