/* NORTH CHARLESTON , SC- Defending championships is a very difficult task and it is even harder in developmental leagues such as the ECHL when there is frequently major turnover on a team’s roster. The South Carolina Stingrays, even with a fair number of returnees, looked like a team in transition from last season’s Kelly Cup winners as they struggled through a win and a loss in the opening weekend. They posted a 5-4 win over the Wheeling Nailers in a sloppily played game Friday evening and then were thoroughly out-skated, dropping a 3-1 decision to what looked like a very good Charlotte Checkers team Saturday night. Both games were at the North Charleston Coliseum. There were bright spots this weekend, including the ceremony during which the organization displayed the Kelley Cup and raised the 2008-09 Championship banner to the rafters of the Coliseum. Secondly, the combined attendance of 11,257 which included a sellout on opening night helped create a noisier atmosphere in the newly reconfigured arena, which now has a capacity of just over 6,800. One of the most noticeable areas of transition was the power play; an area the Stingrays thrived in last season. In the two games this weekend, they scored only once in 15 opportunities and except for the lone power play goal and two other power plays opportunities, when they had excellent pressure they couldn’t get the power play untracked. The power play was especially problematic Saturday night when they went 0 for ten in the loss to the Checkers. While the Friday night win was another bright spot, the game became too close for comfort for local fans before it ended. The Stingray’s simply lost their edge after scoring four goals in the first period. Period two saw the Nailers outscore the locals two goals to one and then add a late goal with just over four minutes to play in the game to creep within 5-4, a margin that barely stood up.
Todd Ford in Action: Photo courtesy SC Stingrays
It wasn’t just the score that changed after period one, but also the momentum, especially in period three, when South Carolina was out shot nine to three. The game ended with the Nailers buzzing around ‘Ray’s goalie Todd Ford who struggled himself in his first start especially when he was required to handle the puck. Two of the Nailers goals came from misplays around the net. Still, it was a win and as one long-term observer said after the game “the first two weeks of the season are almost like extended training camp.” Friday night’s scorers for the ‘Rays included Rob Ricci who scored twice with Michael Dubuc, Keith Johnson and Nikita Kashirsky adding single tallies. Wheeling’s goals were scored by Andrew Lord, Joey Haddad, Jordan Fox and Thomas Beauregard (with a name like Beauregard shouldn’t he be playing for South Carolina?). Casey Pierro-Zabotel had two assists for the Nailers on the night. Jordan Parise took the loss in goal turning aside 26 of the 31 shots he faced while Ford stopped 24 of the 28 shots on goal he faced in the win. Someone forgot to tell the Charlotte Checkers that “camp is still on” as they skated into town looking in mid season form out-shooting the ‘Rays 20 to 4 in period one and as importantly dominating the ‘Rays territorially most of the night. Not only did the Ray’s fail to score on the power play but they spent most of the night trying to get the puck out of their own zone although they played somewhat better as the game wore on. In contrast to Friday night, the home team got strong goal tending from Ford who was the primary reason the 3-1 score was closer than the play on the ice. He stopped 37 of 40 shots and was especially effective in period one against the 20 shot Checkers’ barrage and almost total play in his zone. The Ray’s led briefly when they scored 25 seconds into the game. Matt Scherer launched a shot from just inside the blue line that caught starting Charlotte goalie Ryan Munce by surprise for the quick score. The goal and Ford’s play were the only highlights for the ‘Rays. Aaron Slattengern tied the score at the 14:17 mark of the period and Charlotte went on to grab the lead at 7:44 in the next period. Tyler Doig got an even handed goal in period two and the Checkers sealed the game with their lone power play goal at 13:34 of period thee when a Stingrays’ nemesis from last season defenseman Ethan Graham hit the back of the net. Ryan Munce, who played so well against the Stingray’s while a member of the now defunct Mississippi Sea Wolves last season got the win even though he was forced out of the game with what appeared to be an upper body injury early on in the last period. Before he left, Munce stopped 22 of 23 shots. Backup goalie rookie Billy Sauer finished up stopping all nine shots he faced including a couple of sparkling saves. He also had to withstand a six on three Stingrays’ power play in the last minute of the game when the Checkers were down two men and the Stingrays’ pulled Ford for an extra attacker. South Carolina continues the opening home stand when the Gwinnett Gladiators come to town off their weekend series with the Wheeling Nailers. They won their opening game against Wheeling Saturday night. Notes: Stingrays’ rookie forward Jake Hauswirth signed out of the United States Hockey League was a scratch Saturday night after suffering back spasms in Friday night’s game. Defenseman Zach Jones was in the lineup Saturday despite getting a cut near his eye in the last few seconds of Friday night’s game which required him to be helped off the ice. Joe Finley a first round pick of the Washington Capitals in 2005 played both defense and forward during the weekend. The Capitals have considered moving the 6’5” Finley to forward to eventually give them a big body up front and in view of the depth of defensemen in their system. Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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