NORTH CHARLESTON, SC- South Carolina Stingrays’ President Rob Concannon expressed his pleasure as the local ECHL team and the National Hockey League Washington Capitals announced that the two organizations will be affiliated for the 2011-12 season Thursday.
“We are very excited to continue our affiliation with the Washington Capitals,” said South Carolina Stingrays President Rob Concannon in the press release issued by the Capitals. “Throughout the past seven seasons, we have seen many great prospects join our organization and develop into NHL-caliber players.”
Currently six Capitals prospects who skated for South Carolina are under contract with Washington. Three of the six have NHL level experience including goaltenders Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby and defenseman Sean Collins. Twenty two former Stingrays have gone on to play in the National Hockey League including Rich Peverley who skated with the Stanley Cup Champions the Boston Bruins this past season.
The partnership is actually a three way agreement as the arrangement includes the American Hockey League Hershey Bears the top farm club for the Capitals. Last season six players under contract to the Capitals skated on the 2010-11 edition of the Stingrays.
Washington Capitals Vice President and general manager George McPhee said in his organization’s press release that “We are very pleased to extend our affiliation with South Carolina. The Stingrays are a first-class organization who gives our prospects a great place to develop as professionals.” The teams have been affiliated since 2004.
The Rays will open their quest for their fourth Kelly Cup season on October 14, 2011. South Carolina has been skating in the ECHL since 1993 and have missed the ECHL playoffs only once in team history. They last won the ECHL Kelly Cup in 2009.
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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