The South Carolina Stingrays have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Spencer Meier and forward Kyler Kupka for the 2024-25 ECHL season.
Spencer Meier’s Collegiate Career
Spencer Meier started his collegiate career in the 2018-19 season playing Division I hockey at St. Cloud State University. Meier spent five seasons at St. Cloud State, playing in 171 games where he had 17 goals and 45 assists for 62 points. He had 54 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +13. Meier and St. Cloud State were the NCHC Regular Season Champions in the 2018-19 season and then won the NCHC Frozen Faceoff in the 2022-23 season. Meier also received the NCHC Sportsmanship award in the 2022-23 season. He also captained St. Cloud State’s team in the 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 seasons.
Spencer Meier’s Professional Career
Meier started his professional career at the start of the 2023-24 season in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays. Meier played in 32 games, where he had one goal and five assists for six points. He had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +7.
Kyler Kupka’s Collegiate Career
Kyler Kupka started his collegiate career in the 2019-20 season playing Division I hockey at St. Cloud State. In his five seasons as a Husky, Kupka played in 145 games, where he had 32 goals and 53 assists for 85 points. He had 38 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +19. Kupka won the NCHC Frozen Faceoff with St. Cloud State in the 2022-23 season and was a Hobey Baker Nominee in the 2023-24 season.
Kyler Kupka’s Professional Career
After completing his collegiate career, Kupka signed with the South Carolina Stingrays to finish his 2023-24 season. Kupka played in seven games with the Stingrays where he had two goals and two assists for four points.
Kupka and Meier are both players who can be huge assets for the Stingrays in their respective positions. Spencer Meier stands at 6’4″ and has a huge presence on the ice. He may not produce a whole lot offensively, but he is an incredible defenseman who can make plays to help keep his team in games. Meier also brings a lot of leadership experience and skills, having captained his high school team for a season and St. Cloud State for three seasons.
Kyler Kupka stands at 6’0″ and can be a huge threat offensively at times. Kupka can be a very overlooked forward at times which allows him to be a dangerous forward when given too much space on the ice. Kupka has a lot of speed, which allows him to lead the charge up the ice, and his ability to read to puck and ice allows him to make plays or set up teammates to make plays. The 2024-25 season will still be considered Kupka’s rookie season.
