ECHL: South Carolina Stingrays Win 2025 Brabham Cup

Photo: Julie Taylor

It’s Friday Night, April 11th, in the LowCountry, and the South Carolina Stingrays have officially had a fantastic season. With 69 games played, 50 wins, and 14 losses, garnering them 105 points and being on fire with one regular-season game left to play, breaking the franchise record. The previous record was set in 2017-2018; the prior point record was the 1997 season. When I spoke to Coach Jared Nightingale in November this season, the Stingrays were already on a hot streak. We talked about the potential he saw here and how he wanted this season to go. It was mostly about how much value each player adds to the team and being present. While this momentum saw some intense play, it never faltered. 

We all saw December and how it could have changed everything. The team overcame whatever that was and made it out of the month with an almost even win/loss record, notching that win on New Year’s Eve to make it a positive month and a precursor to what was to come. As Billy Mays said, “But wait, there’s more!” They didn’t stop there. 

Today, April 11, with one more game to go, the Rays have shown their new coach’s work, words, and who they are; we always knew they could be finishing the regular season with a late-season 15-game hot streak, securing those last points, making them the Brabham Cup and South Divison Champions. Historically, this time, but for the second time in franchise history, the South Carolina Stingrays take home the league championship for points. This is monumental as the Stingrays last saw this cup in the 1996-1997 season with 70 games played, 45 wins, 15 losses, and ten ties. This was the first year of the ECHL, and what it resembles today, making it another joyous occasion when the Stingrays also went on to win the Kelly Cup Championship. 

Nightingales are often seen as signs or symbols of resilience and hope, reminding us that, even in the darkest night, we can fight our way out and succeed. The Stingrays and Nightingale meet with the Norfolk Admirals on Friday and Saturday, April 11th and 12th, and finish the season in Greenville with the Swamp Rabbits on the 13th. 

The first round of the Kelly Cup Playoff for the Stingrays starts on April 18th, with the puck dropping at 7:05 pm EST.

ITR 38: Quenneville is a Duck Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they discuss Joel Quenneville getting back into the NHL, Gavin McKenna's record-setting game, and updates from the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
  1. ITR 38: Quenneville is a Duck
  2. ITR 37: Round Two
  3. ITR 36: Coaching Carousel
  4. ITR 35: Round One
  5. ITR 34: End Of The Road

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Stephanie DeLaFleur

Beat Writer covering the ECHL, AHL and NHL. Follow me on X @StephiDelafleur

2 thoughts on “ECHL: South Carolina Stingrays Win 2025 Brabham Cup

Leave a Reply

Florida Everblades

ECHL Eastern Conference Finals – Game 2 Recap: Trois-Rivières Lions vs. Florida Everblades

Sunday night, the stage was set for game two of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Florida Everblades determined to level the series, while the Trois-Rivières Lions are certainly riding high from their 1-0 victory in game one. The first shutout the Everblades have faced this postseason and the second shutout for Trois-Rivières Luke Cavallin. With […]

Read More

ECHL Eastern Conference Finals – Game 1 Recap: Trois-Rivières Lions vs Florida Everblades

Sir Elton John once said, “Saturday night’s alright for fighting. Get a little action in.” Saturday night lived up to that as the Florida Everblades met the Trois-Rivières Lions for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Florida has done well in the playoffs so far, with only one loss, while Trois-Rivières had a slightly […]

Read More

ECHL Western Conference Finals – Game 2 Recap: Toledo Walleye vs Kansas City Mavericks

In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Toledo took a 2-0 lead in the series after defeating Kansas City 2-0 on May 15, 2025. They followed that performance with another win in Game 2, securing a 4-3 victory over the Mavericks and extending their series lead to 2-0. Both teams battled fiercely in a […]

Read More