O'Brien signs with Stingrays
Posted 06:04 p.m., September 23, 2008
The Ray signed Pierre Luc O'Brien for next season. Below is what I wrote for the P&C print edition.
O'Brien might not be able to play when the season starts. He's still recovering from a torn ACL.
The Rays will announce the signings of a couple of more Canadian players in the next week or so. ... two names everyone should recognize and one head-scratcher.
O'Brien, the South Carolina Stingrays' third-leading scorer a year ago, has re-signed for the 2008-09 season.
O'Brien, 26, appeared in 70 games last season, compiling 57 points on 13 goals and 44 assists. O'Brien's 44 assists were second only to Travis Morin, who finished with 50 assists on the season. In 18 playoff contests O'Brien added four points (2g, 2a) and 19 penalty minutes for the American Conference runners-up.
'Pierre's a guy we're looking for a lot of offense from again this season,' said Stingrays head coach Jared Bednar. 'He was one of our most consistent players last year, and he'll certainly be a valuable asset for us whether it's on special teams or at even strength.'
Prior to joining the Stingrays, O'Brien spent four years at Sacred Heart University, amassing 158 points (67g, 91a) in 142 career collegiate games. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound forward led the Pioneers in scoring three times, and was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the most outstanding player in college hockey, during the 2006-07 season.
'I'm excited to be back for another year,' O'Brien said. 'We have the makings of a great team, and I'm eager to get the season going and challenge for the Kelly Cup.'
See you at The Rink,
APM
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Comments
Posted by borohockey8 on September 23 at 7:23 p.m.
That leaves 3 signings to be announced. I hope Trent Campbell is one of them. Stephen Werner is supposedly unsigned and still living in Charleston from what I heard. It is not a reliable source, but does anyone think that Stephen Werner could be part of this Stingrays team this year? I hope so!
Posted by hattrik on September 23 at 8:46 p.m.
Travis Morin is on the Caps roster for Wednesday's game. Nice to see that he is getting a good look by the big club!
Posted by Hockeyfan2629 on September 24 at 2:21 p.m.
Tonights game Caps at Canes Preseason should be stremed live just go to the canes site when game starts? Caps games all will be broadcast audio all 7 preseason games on the caps website. said games will be live for people in Dc area for the home games which start tommorow night.
Posted by Hockeyfan2629 on September 24 at 2:29 p.m.
Here a few links some of you may enjoy audio and video of games.
http://www.hockeywebcasts.com/
http://www.myp2p.eu/index.php?&part=home
http://www.justin.tv/
caps fans
http://capitals.nhl.tv/team/console?type=fvod&id=849&tab=1
Hope you all enjoy
Posted by stingrays01 on September 24 at 5:04 p.m.
POTENTIAL FACES FOR HERSHEY CAMP
http://johnwaltonhockey.blogspot.com/2008/09/potential-faces-for-hershey-camp.html
The 14 players not under contract with Washington or Hershey, at least not that we know of yet...
Bobby Goephert (G) – South Carolina, ECHL
Tyson Marsh (D) – Reading, ECHL
Justin Sawyer (D) – Oklahoma City, CHL
Ben Boudreau (C) – Flint Generals, IHL
Jeff Corey (RW) – Reading, ECHL
Michael Dubuc (LW) – Hockey DB says Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL in 2008-09
Keith Johnson (LW) – South Carolina, ECHL
Bryan Jurynec (LW) - Kalamazoo, IHL
Alexandre Parent (C) – Mississippi, ECHL
Don't know about these 5.........
Gavin Morgan (C) ? – (Rockford Last Season)
Colin Nicholson (RW) ? - (Texas ECHL Last Season)
Justin Bourne (RW) ? – (Bridgeport/Utah Last Season under Bridgeport Contract)
Christian Gaudet (C) ? – (Utah Last Season under Bridgeport Contract)
Michael Wirll (RW) ? – (Regensburg EV Germany Last Season, ECHL Experience)
Stingrays signing Keith Johnson also had a contract with Bridgeport last season, so could those other two guys be following Johnson to S.C.? Got to make Utah pay for stealing Haley from us...lol Wrill and Nicholson are two others possibilities I guess. Morgan has played for Hershey in the past.
Posted by stingrays01 on September 24 at 5:39 p.m.
borohockey8,
Werner was in Nashville's Rookie Camp, but I haven't seen anything about him signing with Nashville or their AHL affiliate Milwaukee. I will be surprised is doesn't hook up with some AHL team.
Trent Campbell will be attending training camp with the Manitoba Moose (AHL).
Posted by Hockeyfan2629 on September 24 at 5:43 p.m.
I guess Hershey didnt sign Werner again? I know last year they let loan him to Springfield for ryan flynn at the end of the season.
Posted by Sportsfan0799 on September 25 at 12:13 a.m.
Good Pick up on O'Brien!
Posted by stingrays01 on September 25 at 4:13 p.m.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitalsinsider/
Kyle Wilson, Steve Pinizzotto, Grant McNeill and Daren Machesney are all expected to play in tonights preseason game between Washington and Carolina.
Andrew Gordon and Machesney both played for Washington last night @ Carolina.
I think the Caps web site will be showing the game live for those wanting to check out them former Stingrays players.
Posted by Sportsfan0799 on September 26 at 1:57 a.m.
On the nhl website scores have it down has Patrick Mcneil but it was Grant Mcneil.
Posted by stingrays01 on September 26 at 3:04 p.m.
Didn't know where 5 of the guys in Hershey's training camp had signed. Well, just found out where three of them have signed.
Gavin Morgan (C) - Just Signed In Europe, won't be attending camp after all
Justin Bourne (RW) - Signed With Reading
Christian Gaudet (C) - Signed With Dayton
Michael Wirll (RW) and Colin Nicholson (RW) are the only unknowns.
20 players were just cut from Washington's training camp and sent to Hershey this morning.
Greg Amadio, Dean Arsene, Jay Beagle, Francois Bouchard, Sean Collins, Viktor Dovgan, Michael Dubuc, Alexandre Giroux, Bryan Helmer, Maxime Lacroix, Tommy Maxwell, Patrick McNeill, Graham Mink, Travis Morin, Michael Neuvirth, Oskar Osala, Steve Pinizotto, Sasha Pokoluk, Darren Reid and Kyle Wilson.
Andrew Gordon, Grant McNeill and Daren Machesney are still in Washington for now.
Well, I see 4 more were just now sent to Hershey.
Daren Machesney, Andrew Gordon, Andrew Joudrey and Josh Godfrey.
The Caps camp roster is down to 34 and Grant McNeill is still there for now.
Posted by RaysRsharp on September 26 at 5:21 p.m.
Don't be surprised if Colin Nicholson ends up in Florida.
The rest of the 'Catters did.
Posted by raysman187 on September 26 at 8:52 p.m.
stingrays01, so does this mean that there's a chance for pinizotto and travis morin will be back with us this season. they had a really good showing at the rookie game and my hopes for them returning got a lot smaller. im happy for them making good impressions up in the nhl, but them two and stephen werner are my fav players from last year. having them around again certainly wouldnt hurt our chances to go deep in the playoffs again.
Posted by stingrays01 on September 26 at 10 p.m.
raysman187,
No idea who will be sent down.
Not sure if Washington and Hershey knows who will be sent down yet.
Lots of good centers in Hershey, so that could have some effect on Morin, although centers can always be moved to the wing.
Hershey is going to be really loaded this season. A lot more than last season. We got lots of great talent from them last season, so that should tell you what kind of talent we are going to receive this season.
I think the Rays fans are going to be happy, no matter who we get from Washington/Hershey.
Posted by RaysRsharp on September 26 at 11:53 p.m.
Pokulok
Posted by stingrays01 on September 28 at 7:58 p.m.
Come on RaysRsharp, you know any team in the ECHL would jump up and down to get a talent like Pokulok.
That should get the blog going...lol
By the way, a good article about the opening of Hershey's training camp.......
http://www.pennlive.com/hersheybears/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1222388714180110.xml&coll=1
A couple of key items in the article.
1. Woods plans on keeping 25 players on the Hershey roster... 15 forwards, eight defensemen, two goalies.
2. Travis Morin, Sean Collins and Sasha Pokulok, will be hard-pressed to make the opening-night roster. Tom Maxwell and Grant McNeil are expected to vie for a tough guy slot.
Do they really need to carry 25 players? I mean, an NHL team can only carry 23 players. I guess a bunch of players are going to be sitting in the stands in Hershey instead of getting some much needed ice time down in South Carolina. :rolleyes:
Posted by RaysRsharp on September 28 at 10:13 p.m.
Bobby Goepfert played in goal for Hershey vs. Norfolk today. He gave up 2 goals in just under 2 periods, and got credit for the win in a 5-4 game. There were a couple minor scraps (including Henley vs Sawyer), but not much to talk about. Sean Collins scored the GWG, and Dovgan played like a wrecking ball (and got #3 star of the game).
Posted by Sportsfan0799 on September 29 at 2:54 p.m.
HERSHEY – The HERSHEY BEARS announced today that the club has assigned 10 players to various minor league camps following Sunday’s 5-4 preseason win over Norfolk. The announcement was made today by BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst.
The following 10 players have been assigned:
Justin Bourne (assigned to Reading, ECHL)
Bryan Jurynec (assigned to Kalamazoo, IHL)
Keith Johnson (assigned to South Carolina, ECHL)
Colin Nicholson (assigned to Florida, ECHL)
Michael Wirll (assigned to Mississippi, ECHL)
Alexandre Parent (assigned to Mississippi, ECHL)
Justin Sawyer (assigned to Oklahoma City, CHL)
Bobby Goepfert (assigned to South Carolina, ECHL)
Christian Gaudet (assigned to Dayton, ECHL)
Tyson Marsh (assigned to Columbia, ECHL) Has to be Mistake here No Columbia this season
Posted by borohockey8 on September 29 at 5:46 p.m.
I am a Pittsburgh Pens fan and I was looking at their AHL news today and came across this. Wilkes Barre Scranton sent Brad Farynuk to us today. Who is Brad Farynuk and when did we sign him unless that is the one of the guys not announced yet? Andrew, what can you tell us about this guy? I cant paste the link, but look in the wilkes barre papers.
Posted by Sportsfan0799 on September 29 at 6:05 p.m.
Brad Farynuk Defense
Born Jan 22 1982 -- Enderby, BC
Height 6.00 -- Weight 210 -- Shoots R
Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2000-01 Vernon Vipers BCHL 60 9 32 41 43
2001-02 Vernon Vipers BCHL Statistics Unavailable
2002-03 R.P.I. NCAA 39 3 12 15 20
2003-04 R.P.I. NCAA 39 6 17 23 54
2004-05 R.P.I. NCAA 38 5 16 21 36
2005-06 R.P.I. NCAA 30 4 16 20 34
2006-07 Dayton Bombers ECHL 47 4 19 23 54 22 4 12 16 20
2006-07 Syracuse Crunch AHL 16 0 1 1 8 -- -- -- -- --
2007-08 Springfield Falcons AHL 20 0 4 4 18 -- -- -- -- --
2007-08 Stockton Thunder ECHL 28 3 12 15 41 6 0 3 3 10
Posted by letdropEM on September 29 at 6:15 p.m.
borohockey8,
This would be one of those unannounced stingrays signings that Andrew wouldn’t share with us. I know that this guy played college hockey with current rays defenseman scott romfo at RPI. I also know that he was an echl allstar last season. He was also Stockton thunder captain last year. From looking at his stats he seems like a really good defenseman. He had some significant time up in the Ahl. I think this guy is like a marc busenburg. A solid, solid two way defenseman. Could possibly contend for the captaincy position. I am excited about this guy coming to Charleston!
Posted by letdropEM on September 29 at 6:21 p.m.
he also played with newcomer paul kelly in dayton 06'07
Posted by raysman187 on September 29 at 6:26 p.m.
dude we have less than a week till the team shows up to practice, i wish they would hurry up and announce the rest of the team. and i see that hershey sent out a few players, but none that we already knew of. when are we gona find out who they are sending us? their first game is the eighth, so probly soon. the suspense is killing me!!!! and this dude farynuk is an allstar. huh? sounds like we got the makings of an allstar team to compete with that highly skilled florida!
Posted by Sportsfan0799 on September 29 at 6:34 p.m.
Stingrays Camp Starts Saturday Oct 4th We will have all our guys by the time we go to alaska. Hershey has Preseason games this week coming up so we see guys coming down after this weekend. Travis Morin Sasha and I am sean collins I am sure they be down here start of the season way the bears are talking.
Posted by RaysRsharp on September 29 at 7:36 p.m.
Unless Washington/Hershey just want the guys to be able to make the Alaska trip, I doubt we'll have all our players before they leave. NHL/AHL teams generally carry inflated rosters at the beginning of the season.
Posted by raysman187 on September 29 at 8:05 p.m.
what!?! so does that mean we'll play our preseason games with like half a squad? that doesn't make any sense.
Posted by RaysRsharp on September 29 at 8:27 p.m.
Didn't say we wouldn't get any of them. I said we likely wouldn't have all of them. Pay attention. LOL
Posted by borohockey8 on September 30 at 11:46 a.m.
If they signed an ECHL all star last year, then I cannot wait to see this guy play this season. Does anyone know if the Stingrays first practice this Saturday is open to the public and if so, what time is it? Thanks!
Posted by raysman187 on September 30 at 1:33 p.m.
yeah its open i think. dont know if you gotta pay. and i think its from 1:30 - 3:30.
Posted by stingrays01 on September 30 at 4:47 p.m.
borohockey8,
The Stingrays first practice is Sat. from 1:30 - 3:30 at the Ice Palace. It is open to the public free of charge. The Stingrays will be leaving Sunday for Alaska.
Congrats to Cail MacLean on being named assistant coach of the South Carolina Stingrays!
Still waiting to hear about the three other signings.
It looks like Brad Farynuk could be one of the three, but I will wait for confirmation from the Stingrays before counting him as being on the team. After all, AHL teams in the past have been known to get us and Charlotte or Columbia mixed up from time to time.
Come on Andrew, put away your soccer balls and get out your hockey sticks. We need info.
Posted by borohockey8 on September 30 at 5:02 p.m.
Stingrays01, letdropem said that Farynuk is definitely one of the three unannounced signings. He must have a reliable source because he has all the info before any of us do. Too bad I cannot make it to the first practice because I will be watching my Pens at 2:30 playing the Senators.
Posted by stingrays01 on September 30 at 5:04 p.m.
Someone was asking about Werner earlier.
He is signed to an AHL contract with Milwaukee, so I guess that means if he gets sent down to the ECHL, it will probably be to Cincinnati.
http://www.milwaukeeadmirals.com/home/news/0929seven.html;jsessionid=43FDC6372852730C7980CD56E654FDC3
Posted by Sportsfan0799 on September 30 at 5:17 p.m.
North Charleston, SC - The South Carolina Stingrays and Head Coach Jared Bednar announced today that defenseman Brad Farynuk has signed with the team for the upcoming 2008-09 season. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Farynuk, 26, split last season with the Stockton Thunder and the American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, combining for 19 points (3g, 16a) and 59 penalty minutes in 48 games. The 6-foot, 210-pound defenseman served as team captain for the Thunder and also participated in the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game, played in Stockton, CA.
"Brad brings some great experience and leadership to the table for us," Bednar said. "He plays a smart game, has the ability to play in all situations, and can contribute on offense. I'm looking forward to having him in our lineup this season."
Farynuk broke into the professional ranks with the Dayton Bombers in 2006-07, registering 23 points in 47 games as the Bombers advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals. The Enderby, British Columbia, native tied for the ECHL lead in playoff scoring among defensemen with 16 points (4g, 12a) in 22 contests for Dayton, who also captured the North Division crown.
"I'm looking forward to joining the Stingrays," Farynuk said. "I've heard only great things about the organization, the area and the fans. With the roster Jared is putting together it should be a great season."
Prior to turning pro, Farynuk spent four years at R.P.I., collecting 18 goals and 61 assists for 79 points in 146 career contests. A fellow blueliner with the Engineers during those four years, Scott Romfo, is entering his third full season with the Stingrays
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