The South Carolina Stingrays have announced that they hired Mike Hamilton as the team’s second assistant coach. Hamilton becomes the fourth member of the Stingrays coaching staff, joining Head Coach Jared Nightingale, Assistant Coach Scott Davidson, and Player/Coach Trevor Mingoia. He has spent the majority of his post-playing career in Charleston. This will be Hamilton’s first coaching opportunity.
Hamilton spent five years as a player in the ECHL, putting up 48 goals and 72 assists for 120 points in 199 games with the Gwinnett Gladiators (Now the Atlanta Gladiators), Las Vegas Wranglers, Victoria Salmon Kings, and South Carolina Stingrays. He would add five goals and ten assists for 15 points in 24 career playoffs. The former sixth-round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2003 would also play in 47 games at the AHL, putting up four goals and six assists for 10 points in 47 games with the Houston Aeros and Chicago Wolves.
“I’m really looking forward to this upcoming season,” said Hamilton. “It was a lot of fun to play here and be a part of this community. The fans here are loyal and passionate, and this organization is special to a lot of different people. I’m excited to be back with the Stingrays.”
-Hamilton on joining the Stingrays (Via South Carolina Stingrays Press Release)
The Vancouver, BC, native also played in 32 games in Italy during the 2010-11 season, scoring 27 goals and adding 27 assists for 54 points. The following season, he played in 27 games in the EIHL with the Fife Flyers, scoring 13 goals and adding 17 assists for 30 points before joining the Stingrays for the final two years of his playing career. Prior to playing professionally, Hamilton played four years at the University of Maine, putting up 20 goals and 45 assists for 65 points in 137 games. The Black Bears would win a Hockey East Championship during his freshman year.
