TRENTON , N.J. – The South Carolina Stingrays took the last game of a three game road trip in Trenton to end up with two wins on their most recent trip. Sunday’s win came in a shootout, by a score of 3-2, after the ‘Rays overcame a two-goal Trenton lead in the ECHL contest. Earlier on the trip, South Carolina had beaten Reading 4-0 on Thursday night and then dropped a rare Saturday afternoon matinee game, also against Reading 4-3, in the second game, of a two set match. After a scoreless first period on Sunday, at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, defenseman Brad Miller staked the Devils to a 1-0 lead, beating ‘Rays’ goalie Jared DeMichiel, with a power play goal at 8:12 into the second period. Ryan Ginand and Ryan Hayes were credited with assists on the play. A little more than three minutes later, at 11:36, Trenton extended the lead to 2-0, as Ginand got his second point on the evening, beating DeMichiel on his glove side, with a quick wrist shot from in close. Defenseman Dave Leaderer provided the setup on Ginand’s tenth goal of the season. Stingrays’ defenseman, Johann Kroll, answered at 14:59 with the visitor’s only power play goal in three attempts in the contest. Kroll got helpers from Justin Milo and David de Kastrozza. The Toms River, New Jersy, native de Kastrozza has been on a scoring streak. He scored three goals and picked up two assists, during this road trip. He now has seven goals and 14 points for the season. Milo, an interesting late addition to the ‘Rays, played baseball this past summer with the Charleston Riverdogs, a Yankee’s Class “A” affiliate in Charleston. The Edina, Minnesota native, played junior hockey in the United States Hockey League before going on to play collegiate hockey and baseball at the University of Vermont. The N.Y. Yankees drafted him in 2009. He played in 16 games with the Riverdogs this past season. Next up, Stingrays’ rookie Jordan Pietrus out of Vermilion, Alberta picked a great time to get his first professional goal at the 19:24 mark. Another USHL product who went on to play at Brown University, Pietrus tied the score at the 19:24 mark of the second stanza. Defenseman Bryan Schmidt and center Luke Popko picked up assists. A scoreless third period sent the game into overtime and Trenton immediately had an opportunity to win the game when Rob Ricci picked up a minor penalty for goaltender interference on goalie Dave Caruso. The Devils failed to capitalize on their eighth power play opportunity of the game, and a shootout ensued. The shootout went seven rounds with Ricci and Milo scoring first for South Carolina, before Popko blasted home the game winner with a screaming wrist shot in the five hole on goaltender Caruso. Winning goaltender DeMichiel, stopped 37 of 39 shots for his sixth win of the season. Caruso faced 30 shots on goal. The ‘Rays now have a record of 11-13-1 (23 points) and are tied for eighth place in the ECHL Eastern Conference with Kalamazoo. The K-Wings however have two games in hand on South Carolina. The Rays return home Friday, December 17, to face the Florida EverBlades, travel to Gwinnet Saturday and then return home to host the EverBlades again next Sunday in a busy weekend schedule of games. Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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