The South Carolina Stingrays [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/stingrays-set-franchise-record-in-win-over-solar-bears]made a meaningful impact both on the ice and in the community! Through the dedication of Stingrays players, front office staff, and Cool Ray, the team has collectively contributed over 1,000 hours of service to various community initiatives. Player Impact Throughout the season, Stingrays players attended over 60 events and dedicated more than 375 hours to the community. They spent much of December spreading holiday cheer, from visiting children at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Hospital to personally calling season ticket holders to wish them a Merry Christmas. After the holidays, the players kicked off the new year with a series of visits to local schools for our Reading Buddies program supported by Neal Brothers, and the Floor Hockey program, supported by BlueCross BlueShield. Players had the opportunity to visit over 20 schools this season across the Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley County districts, reading with students and teaching the kids about floor hockey. In January, Seth Eisele and Austin Magera, alongside the Landon Strong Foundation, visited MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital to spend time coloring and conversing with children before their treatments. Some of these brave kids even helped design the team’s Coloring for a Cure jersey, making the experience even more meaningful. In March, six players visited Riverfront Park to collaborate with Rink2Reef and Neal Brothers. During this event, the players learned about the vital role oysters play in maintaining healthy waterways. As part of the initiative, they helped build oyster reefs using broken hockey sticks collected during the club’s earlier Broken Stick Drive, making the project even more special and impactful. Cool Ray In The Community While the players were hard at work, so was Cool Ray, the team’s beloved mascot. He had a blast at the Lowcountry Oyster Festival in February, helped Charleston Media Group’s Radiothon benefitting MUSC Health, cycled for a cause at Pattison’s Academy, and, of course, celebrated his good friend Bucky’s birthday at CSU. Staff Around Town The Stingrays’ front office staff has also been actively volunteering around town. In December, the entire team lent a hand with the Salvation Army to help pack essential items and toys for families in North Charleston. A few weeks later, two staff members traveled to Summerville to collaborate with Habitat for Humanity and SERVPRO, helping prepare a home for a family to move into. Most recently, in March and April, the front office team participated in several career fairs around Charleston, speaking with children about what it's like to work in the sports industry and inspiring the next generation. Throughout the season, the Stingrays organization has had the privilege of launching several new community initiatives. At the start of the season, they introduced Players with a Purpose, an initiative that allows fans to purchase tickets through a special link, with a portion of the proceeds going to a cause chosen by the players. The club also rolled out its Backpack Program in partnership with BlueCross BlueShield. Throughout the season, players, coaches, and Cool Ray have helped distribute 200 backpacks filled with essential supplies to Title 1 schools and low-income families. During one of the distributions, Assistant Coach Scott Davidson not only handed out backpacks but also surprised a grade with tickets to the Education Day game, making the experience even more memorable for the students. The Rays also introduced their NHL Street program. The first two clinics have been filled with learning, growth, and plenty of fun, with more to come. The goal is to continue expanding this program and introduce the joy of hockey to even more people in the Charleston area. One program the team is especially proud to continue is the Community Assist of the Game. At each home game, Stingrays owner Todd Halloran donates $1,993 (in honor of the Stingrays' founding year) to a local non-profit organization. Photo Courtesy of the South Carolina Stingrays
