NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – The South Carolina Stingrays open the 2011-12 ECHL season tonight against the Reading Royals with a new coach and the loss of a familiar face from the team’s lineup. Rookie coach Spencer Carbery will make his regular season debut behind the bench and former defenseman Nate Kiser will be inducted into the Post and Courier Stingrays Hall of Fame. Carbery, 29 was named to succeed Cail Maclean earlier this year as head coach and director of hockey operations for the 2011-12 season. MacLean moved to the American Hockey League where he is serving as an assistant coach for the Abbottsford Heat. The Stingrays will be skating in their 19 season in the ECHL. They have back-to-back games this Friday and Saturday. After playing Reading on Friday night the ‘Rays’ entertain the Wheeling Nailers Saturday evening. Wheeling eliminated the ‘Rays in last season’s playoffs. The ‘Rays have qualified for the ECHL playoffs in 17 of their previous 18 seasons in the league and have won three Kelly Cups. Based on the organization’s long-term success they are expected to compete for the team’s fourth Kelly Cup. Carbery was a member of the team’s’ last cup win in the 2009 playoffs. In addition to the change behind the bench, one of the most obvious changes will be the absence of one of the all-time fan favorites defenseman Nate Kiser. The veteran was not offered a contract by the ‘Rays this season and chose to retire. He patrolled the blue line here for seven seasons. A native of Southgate, Michigan, Kiser is the team’s all-time leader in penalty minutes (1,131). He skated in 412 games, recording 21 goals and 94 points for South Carolina. He also appeared in 53 playoff contests and saw his name engraved on the Kelly Cup with the 2009 the ‘Rays’ seven game series win over the Alaska Aces. He will be inducted into the Post and Courier Stingrays Hall of Fame tonight. Kiser has made his home in the area joining a large cadre of former Stingrays in the low country. Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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