NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C – The South Carolina Stingrays delivered an impressive performance, shutting out the Worcester Railers 4-0 in front of a record-setting 9,108 fans during the annual Education Day game on Wednesday. This turnout marked the largest school day crowd in the franchise’s history. Goals came from Jacob Graves, Kyler Kupka, Connor Moore, and Josh Wilkins, while goaltender Seth Eisele secured his third shutout of the season, making 24 saves. This victory also marked the Stingrays’ fourth straight win.
Graves kicked off the morning with a powerful shot from the right point that navigated through traffic and found the back of Worcester’s net. Blake Thompson and Austin Magera were credited with the assists on this opening goal. The Stingrays effectively managed two penalties in the first period while outshooting the Railers 14-9. In the second period, South Carolina expanded their lead with a short-handed goal. Micah Miller maneuvered the puck deep into the Railers’ zone and passed it back to Kupka, who fired a shot past Worcester’s goalie, Hugo Ollas, on the glove side. This marked Kupka’s impressive 26th goal of the season, leading the team.
Just over a minute into the action, Moore extended the lead to 3-0. Tyler Weiss maneuvered the puck around the boards to set up Moore, who unleashed a shot from the right point, sending it past Ollas’ blocker and tripling the Stingrays’ advantage.
As the second period wound down, defenseman Troy Murray ignited the energy by dropping the gloves—twice—with Worcester’s enforcer Kolby Johnson. In his fifth professional season, this marks Murray’s first experience in the ECHL.
The Stingrays didn’t stop there, as they netted another goal in the third period. Wilkins found the top right corner for his second goal in as many games.
Check out this photo gallery from Inside The Rink’s Julie Taylor for highlights from the game.
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