Dubuc scores 30th goal in Stingrays’ win

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC—The South Carolina Stingrays and Michael Dubuc delighted a kid’s day crowd of 5,398 with a 3-2 overtime win Sunday against the Mississippi Sea Wolves that was played at the North Charleston Coliseum. Dubuc, in his first year of pro hockey, scored his 30^th goal of the season in the Sunday afternoon matinee.

The winning goal came at the 3:59 mark of overtime shortly after Sea Wolves defenseman Bill Leclerc was called for a hooking penalty on a semi breakaway by the Rays. Dubuc, who played last year in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) scored 17 seconds later taking a pass from Travis Morin and blasted a one timer past losing goaltender Ryan Munce.Josh Godfrey was also credited with an assist on the game winning goal. It was Dubuc’s eighth goal in the seven games the Stingrays have played in February. South Carolina’s first goal came while the Sea Wolves enjoyed a man advantage. Travis Morin and Keith Johnson were able to break around the defense to create a two on one situation. Johnson took a beautiful pass from Morin and swept the puck into the net to score the Rays 12^th shorthanded goal this season. The goal came at 11:25 of period one while Jeff Corey was in the box serving a minor penalty for hooking. The goal was Johnson’s 13^th of the season. The Rays struck again at 19:21 of the first period as Josh Godfrey blistered a slap shot from the point to score a power play goal, his second tally of the season. Godfrey, who was extremely active all evening despite playing in a four man defensive rotation, hammered seven shots on goal in the game. Pierre-Luc O’Brien and Trent Campbell assisted on Godfrey’s power play goal. Despite being outshot overall in the game 43-25, and trailing by two goals, Mississippi didn’t quit. The Sea Wolves climbed back in the game and eventually forced overtime. Their comeback started at the 8:38 mark of period two when Jason Tejchma’s scored his 15th goal of the season when he put in a rebound off of a shot by Jeremy Hall. Mississippi then tied the game at 2-2 when Hall took a pass from Jeff Kyrzakos and beat South Carolina goalie Jonathan Boutin at 11:22 of the third period. It was Hall’s sixth goal of the campaign. Sunsequently, Boutin, playing in goal for the fifth straight game for the Rays, was called on to make several tough saves in the final few minutes to prevent a total Mississippi comeback. Boutin is now 4-2 as a Stingray. Boutin who joined the Stingrays from the Victoria Salmon Kings in February improved his overall record this season to 14-6-1-1 The win gave the Stingrays a miniscule three point lead over the Charlotte Checkers as they prepare to depart for a four game road trip that will see the team play teams in the North Division of the ECHL’s American Conference. The Rays next four games are at Dayton, Johnstown, Trenton and Reading before they return to North Charleston on February 24^th to face the Charlotte Checkers. Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com