The ECHL today announced the 2022-2023 Community Service Award recipient. South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Chaz Reddekopp takes home the honors after spending over 40 hours volunteering this season. The 26-year-old defenseman has played 50 games with the Stingrays this season, collecting one goal and 13 assists.
Reddekopp found ways to get involved through the Stingrays community initiatives programs, volunteering twice a month with the Be A Mentor organization. The defenseman has become a fixture within the program, spending time mentoring and playing floor hockey with the youth. He is holding a raffle to help one of the kids in the program purchase hockey equipment. A person with type one diabetes, Reddekopp has also worked with the Stingrays organization to bring awareness to the disease. The Stingrays and Reddekopp worked together to educate fans on how he manages the condition while playing professional hockey and also hosted a meet and greet with a diabetes support group.
He beats out 14 other nominees for the award, including Shawn Weller (Adirondack Thunder), Aidan Brown (Allen Americans), Ben Massella (Florida Everblades), Ben Freeman (Greenville Swamp Rabbits), Nate Pionk (Indy Fuel), Parker Gahagen (Jacksonville Icemen), Tyler Rockwell (Kalamazoo Wings), Dillon Kelley (Kansas City Mavericks), Todd Skirving (Newfoundland Growlers), Carter Robertson (Rapid City Rush), Garrett McFadden (Reading Royals), Peter Laviolette (Wheeling Nailers), Connor Walters (Wichita Thunder) and Brent Beaudoin (Worcester Railers).
