ECHL: South Carolina Stingrays Heating Up in Offseason?

Things are beginning to heat up in the off-season for the South Carolina Stingrays as the protected list and season-ending roster have been released. 

If some of your favorite players are missing from these lists, more likely than not, they have a contract with our AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears (or now known as the 2023 Calder Cup Champions), so they are not eligible to be put on these lists. Big names such as Bear Hughes, Clay Stevenson, Michael Kim, Benton Maass, Ryan Scarfo, Garin Bjorklund, Alexandre Fortin, and Martin Has previously signed contracts with other clubs, meaning they were ineligible for the protected list and season-ending rosters.

A notable name missing on the season-ending roster is Chaz Reddekopp, as he was dealt to the Kalamazoo Wings before the future considerations deadline, completing the Max Humitz trade that occurred in March.

Reddekopp was recently named the ECHL Community Service Award recipient, making him the first Stingray in franchise history to claim the honor. Last season, the 6 foot 4 defenseman tallied one goal and 13 assists during the regular season and was no stranger to the penalty box, as he was the team’s silver medalist in PIMS with 109. 

Even though he appears on the season-ending roster, Carter Turnbull has already signed to play overseas next year. Only three names were not included on the season-ending roster from the protected list; Aidan Sutter, Robbie Stucker, and Grant Cooper. Sutter and Stucker, both defensemen, joined the Stingrays late in the season for the team’s playoff run. Cooper, on the other hand, never wore the sweater but was acquired to complete a trade with the Reading Royals during the 2021-2022 season, and he elected to play overseas last season with the Leeds Knights and Belfast Giants.

From here, the Stingrays will extend eight qualifying offers to those on the season-ending roster and will start building their team for the upcoming season from there.