South Carolina Stingrays The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL . They are based in the city of North Charleston , South Carolina . Since 2004 , the team has been affiliated with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League . The team developed a large fan base rapidly following its inception . During its first season ( 1993 – 94 ) the team boasted an average of 9 , 151 fans a game - one of the largest crowds in minor league hockey . Currently , the Stingrays average approximately 5 , 000 fans per game . The Stingrays play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum . The Carolina Ice Palace , also located in North Charleston , serves as a practice facility and backup arena for the Stingrays . Team history . The early years . The ECHL team began in 1993 with a management team which included Joseph Scanlon as president / CEO and retired NHL player Rick Vaive as head coach . The team was originally to be designated the South Carolina Sharks , but eventually settled on the Stingrays name to avoid a copyright dispute with the NHL ' s San Jose Sharks . Late 1994 saw a power struggle for control of the team arise . Scanlon filed a lawsuit in a Canadian court in an attempt to wrest control of the team from its ownership group , and found himself replaced as president and CEO by retired NHL Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne in December of that year . Dionne was accused of assault by Lynn Bernstein , an ally of Scanlon , over a dispute regarding the removal of advertising signs at the Coliseum , but was later acquitted . In 1995 , following dismissal of Scanlon ' s lawsuit , the ECHL Board of Governors ended the power struggle when it approved the sale of the franchise from its Canadian ownership group to a local investment group led by Edwin Pearlstine , owner of Pearlstine Distribution , the local Budweiser distributor . The group also included Jerry and Anita Zucker , Harvey Nathan and Lynn Bernstein ( owners of local restaurant Nathan ' s Deli ) , and the Greenwald family of Seabrook Island . Dionne remained as the franchise ' s president and CEO . In early 1995 , the team was offered an expansion spot by the AHL , along with Charlotte , Greensboro , and Hamptons Roads . However , team management decided at that time to remain in the ECHL , citing a desire to retain the level of affordability for the team ' s fans . The other three franchises have since accepted AHL offers , becoming the Charlotte Checkers , Carolina Monarchs , and Norfolk Admirals , respectively . Later that year , Dionne left the Stingrays organization , stating that he wished to attend to personal matters . In addition to his coaching duties , Vaive was named Director of Hockey Operations , giving him more control over personnel decisions . Success and scandal . The Stingrays flirted with playoff success from 1993 to 1996 , but it was not until 1997 that they won not only the ECHL championship Kelly Cup ( defeating the Louisiana IceGators ) , but were also awarded the Brabham Cup for being the regular season points leader , becoming the first ECHL team and one of three overall to win both a regular season and postseason championship in the same year . The Alaska Aces ( 2006 ) and the Cincinnati Cyclones ( 2008 ) later accomplished this feat . This early success , however , was marred by allegations from ECHL management that the Stingrays , in collusion with the city of North Charleston , violated the ECHL ' s salary cap by funneling money through a city - run youth hockey program to provide payouts to players . Following two months of investigation by the league , the Stingrays were assessed a $ 50 , 000 fine , and head coach and general manager Rick Vaive was handed down a six - game suspension for the start of the 1997 – 98 season . Further review by the Internal Revenue Service determined that no state or federal tax laws were broken . The incident sparked a re - evaluation by the ECHL of the teams ' salary caps . New management . In 1998 , Vaive accepted the head coaching position with the AHL ' s Saint John Flames . His assistant coach , Rick Adduono , was tapped to take over as Vaive ' s replacement as head coach and general manager . Former Stingrays goaltender Jason Fitzsimmons was named assistant coach in Adduono ' s place . After three seasons of disappointing early playoff defeats , the Stingrays took the league championship again in 2001 , defeating the then - Trenton Titans in five games . After failing to advance to the first round of the ECHL playoffs the next season by losing a " play - in " game in the 2001 – 02 season to the Florida Everblades in their practice facility ( a concert at the Coliseum forced the move ) , Adduono was released from his contract and was replaced by Fitzsimmons . Jared Bednar , another longtime Stingray , was made assistant coach later . Despite a long - standing association with the Buffalo Sabres , the Stingrays broke away just before the 2001 – 02 season , and played three seasons as an independent team . For the 2004 – 05 season , the team agreed to an affiliation with the Washington Capitals , which they have maintained to present day . After failing to qualify for the ECHL playoffs for the only time in franchise history during the 2006 – 07 season , Fitzsimmons resigned , and was assigned by their parent Capitals as a scout . Bednar took over as head coach , with Cail MacLean , who had been the captain for the Stingrays , as a part - time assistant while completing his studies at The Citadel . Bednar ' s two seasons were highly successful . In the 2007 – 08 season , the Stingrays advanced to the American Conference finals , losing 4 – 1 to the Cincinnati Cyclones in a suspense - filled series that saw 3 games ( including the final ) decided in overtime . The Stingrays built on this momentum in the 2008 – 09 season , sweeping Cincinnati 4 – 0 in the conference finals and winning the Kelly Cup on the road in the culmination of a dramatic 4 – 3 series with the Alaska Aces . Bednar became a hot coaching prospect overnight . He resigned shortly thereafter , joining the Calgary Flames ' system in Abbotsford as assistant coach , and later earned his first AHL head coaching assignment with the St . Louis Blues ' farm club in Peoria for 2010 – 11 . MacLean was named head coach , with the assistant coach position becoming vacant . Present day . The Stingrays are three - time ECHL Kelly Cup Champions . The 2009 championship , won following a seven - game final against the Alaska Aces , along with championships in 1997 and 2001 , tie them with the Hampton Roads Admirals for the most Kelly / Riley Cup wins in league history . Alongside the Idaho Steelheads , Cincinnati Cyclones and the Toledo Walleye ( then the Toledo Storm ) , they are one of only four active ECHL teams to win multiple league championships . The Stingrays management and ownership have shown a strong loyalty to their players and staff . Since Rick Adduono ( 1998 ) , each Stingrays head coach has been the team ' s previous assistant ( and a former Stingrays player ) - - initially Jason Fitzsimmons , then Jared Bednar , and currently Cail MacLean . Rob Concannon ( named team president in 2010 ) played on the 1997 Kelly Cup team . Building on their championship success , many players on the 2009 Kelly Cup team were called up to the American Hockey League during the 2009 – 10 season . Seven players from the 2009 team played in the 2010 Calder Cup Championship - six for the victorious Hershey Bears , and one for the runner - up Texas Stars . To date , 22 former Stingrays have played in the National Hockey League . In August 2010 , the Stingrays announced that former Stingrays forward Spencer Carbery had been named the team ' s assistant coach . Team culture . Logos . The team ' s primary logo has evolved over the years . Beginning as a realistic rendition of a stingray , it transitioned through a cartoon - style representation before settling on the used today . The state flag of South Carolina was originally used as the secondary logo ( worn on the jersey shoulders ) . It has since been replaced by a variety of logos representing team affiliation , anniversary celebrations , and team championships . The current secondary logo ( worn on home jerseys ) returns to its origins as a rendition of the state flag , while the tertiary logo ( worn on away jerseys ) gives tribute to the Charleston area with its representation of the Ravenel Bridge . Mascot . The organization ' s mascot ( from its inception in 1993 to present day ) is Cool Ray , a stingray that currently resembles the previous Stingrays logo used from 2000 – 2008 . Alongside the players , Cool Ray serves as the organization ' s ambassador to the local community , often appearing at local schools , athletic competitions and charity events . Cool Ray also provides entertainment and comic relief on ice and in the stands during games , and serves as the Stingrays ' Kids Club mascot . Additional mascots have included Little Puck , an anthropomorphic hockey puck who partnered with Cool Ray from 1993 to 2008 , and Excalibear , the Carolina Ice Palace ' s mascot , who joined Cool Ray for the 2010 – 2011 season . Media . The Stingrays are covered by multiple media outlets . The Post and Courier provides newspaper coverage for the team . The team was covered by sports reporters Keith Namm and Gene Sapakoff from 1993 to 1997 . Andrew Miller currently reports on the Stingrays and also authors a blog entitled " Rays the Roof , " where he provides opinion pieces on the team ' s performance and transactions . Television coverage of Stingrays games is provided over the internet on a pay - per - view basis by B2 Networks , a subsidiary of America One Broadcasting . Play - by - play radio coverage of the Stingrays is handled by Joseph Zakrzewski , the organization ' s media specialist and broadcaster , who joined the Stingrays in 2009 . This coverage is available over the internet via the team ' s website , and on the air via the following AM radio stations : WTMZ 910 AM ( ESPN Radio ) , WJKB 950 AM , WQSC 1340 AM , and WQNT 1450 AM ( Fox Sports Radio ) . The Stingrays maintain a strong online presence , utilizing social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter to engage with fans . Video clips of team commercials and interviews are made available via " Stingrays TV , " the Stingrays ' YouTube channel . Community Service . The Stingrays organization honors the legacy of former owner Jerry Zucker by taking an active role in supporting local charities , to include the Medical University of South Carolina Children ' s Hospital , Ronald McDonald House , and Hockey Players for Kids , an organization supporting local youth hockey , among others . Player involvement includes celebrity bartender events to raise donations for charity , autographed equipment auctions , and visiting and playing with hospitalized children . The crowning event of the Stingrays season is the annual " Pink in the Rink " night , supporting Susan G . Komen for the Cure and the fight against breast cancer . Proceeds from ticket sales , vendor tables , and live and silent auctions featuring sports memorabilia including the actual game - used hockey sticks and jerseys were presented to the Lowcountry chapter of Susan G . Komen for the Cure . Pink in the Rink 2009 raised over $ 20 , 000 , while the 2010 event raised over $ 40 , 000 . In honor of Jerry Zucker ' s contributions to the team and the local community , the Stingrays created the Jerry Zucker Community Service Award , to be presented yearly to the Stingrays player whose impact on the local community was greatest . Past awardees include : Recent seasons . " This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Stingrays . For the full season - by - season history , see List of South Carolina Stingrays seasons . " Historical statistics . Stingrays in the NHL . " This is a partial list of the last five Stingrays players to advance to the NHL . For the complete list of players and staff , see List of South Carolina Stingrays alumni in the NHL . " Retired numbers . 12 - Mark Bavis , who played from 1994 – 96 when the Stingrays were an affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres . Bavis , by then a Los Angeles Kings scout , was killed along with Kings Director of Professional Scouting Garnet Bailey on United Airlines Flight 175 when Al - Qaeda terrorists hijacked the airliner , and steered it towards the World Trade Center on September 11 , 2001 . The Stingrays retired his jersey before the start of the 2001 – 02 season . 14 - David Seitz , who played from 1996 – 2004 and was a popular forward on the franchise with team records in goals , assists , and points , including over 200 goals and 500 points overall , fifth on the ECHL ' s all - time assists list , and two ECHL Kelly Cups . Seitz ' s retirement , caused by an ECHL restriction on experienced players on a roster after the Stingrays signed players for a road trip , sent shockwaves through the community . 24 - Brett Marietti , a popular player and former captain , retired after the 2002 – 03 season . Team management promptly retired his jersey in 2003 . Marietti ' s tenure as captain ranks among the longest in ECHL history for a player to captain a single team . ! colspan = " 3 " | League Championships