Stingrays' 1st Home Game/Win

October 23, 1993

SCORE BY PERIODS                                                               

Roanoke                    1  1  4--6

South Carolina             2  4  1--7                                          

 

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, South Carolina-Bright (A. Yakovenko, 
Harrington) 2:39. 2, South Carolina-Bright (short handed) (Socha) 
15:08. Roanoke-Szabo (power play) (Thomas, Jestadt) 19:58. 
Penalties: Barhte, ROA (interference), 3:47. A. Yakovenko, SC 
(charging), 3:47. Galloway, ROA (tripping), 6:34. BENCH, ROA 
(too many men). 8:54. Galloway, ROA (slashing), 10:21. Bright, SC 
(unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:21. Green, SC (roughing), 13:57. 
S. Yakovenko, SC (cross checking), 18:54.

 

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Roanoke-Thomas (unassisted) :18. 
5, South Carolina-Ruoho (Bright) 9:11. 6, South Carolina-Bright 
(Socha) 9:55. 7, South Carolina-T. Smith (power play) (Thibodeau) 
14:28. 8, South Carolina-Socha (short handed) (Bright) 18:09. 
Penalties: Galloway, ROA (high sticking, misconduct), 3:46. 
Kearney, SC (interference), 10:31. Morrissette, ROA (roughing), 
12:44. A. Yakovenko, SC (roughing), 12:44. M. Smith, ROA (slashing), 
15:09. A. Yakovenko, SC (tripping), 17:50. Morrissette, ROA (slashing, 
misconduct), 19:13. Ruoho, SC (holding), 19:36.

 

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 9, South Carolina-Holdeman (Ruoho) 2:53. 
10, Roanoke-M. Smith (power play) (Thomas) 5:53. 11, Roanoke-Potter 
(Thomas, Yashin) 6:45. 12, Roanoke-Daley (power play) (Szabo, M. Smith) 
11:24. 13, Roanoke-Daley (Szabo, Ferschweiler) 18:15. Penalties: Fleury, 
SC (high sticking), :16. S. Yakovenko, SC (high sticking), 4:03. 
A. Yakovenko, SC (interference), 5:40. Szabo, ROA (tripping), 7:53. 
Harrington, SC (high sticking).

 

SHOTS ON GOAL                                                                   

Roanoke                   10 12 14--36

South Carolina            11 18 12--41                                         

 

Power Play Conversions: Roanoke – 4 of 12. South Carolina – 1 of 8.        

Goalies: Roanoke-Ryder (20 shots-16 saves), Schoen (21-18). South 
Carolina-Ouellette (36 shots-30 saves).

A: 9393.

First Win!

CHARLESTON POST AND COURIER

The South Carolina Stingrays, unable to hold leads in their first two games, had just enough firepower 
to offset a furious Roanoke comeback Saturday night.

The Express scored the last four goals, but Tom Holdeman’s goal 2:53 into the third period held up for a 
7-6 Stingrays victory in their East Coast Hockey League home opener.

The 9,393 on hand at North Charleston Coliseum had no idea how interesting things would get when 
Holdeman scored to make it 7-2. He converted from in close off an assist from Dan Ruoho.

Roanoke’s first two third period goals, finding net just 1:08 apart, came from Mike Smith on a two-man 
advantage and from Chris Potter on a power play. Gerry Daley scored Roanoke’s last goal, poking in a 
feed on the right side of the crease with 1:45 left.

Chris Bright recorded the Stingray’s first three-goal hat trick as South Carolina improved to 1-1-1 with 
three ECHL points.

The Express fell to 2-1 after opening its season with two home victories.

“We were kidding around on the bench and wondering if the crowd knew about a hat trick. They 
obviously did,” said Bright, noting the several spectators who parted with their headwear after his third 
goal 9:55 into the second period.

“We were really looking forward to tonight. We saw the opening night excitement that was involved in two 
other cities this week. The people came and they were cheering. We wanted to put on a good show, and I 
think a lot of people went home happy.”

Roanoke’s two goaltenders were peppered with 41 Stingrays shots on goal, 18 alone in South Carolina 
four goal second period. South Carolina goalie Francis Ouellette faced 36 shots, 14 in the third period.

“They were flying. They got the two quick goals, and all of a sudden they’re back in the game,” Ouellette said. 
“We had too many penalties. But we broke the ice with our first win, and that’s the important thing.”

Roanoke sat down backup goalie Bryan Schoen for the final minute, but the Express’ last-gasp attempt to tie 
with an extra skater came up empty. Ouellette’s last testing save came on a lifted tip try by Potter with eight 
seconds left.

“I saved that last one with my mask,” said Ouellette, pointing out the fresh black mark the shot left on his 
face protection.

Bright said the strong offensive effort over the first 43 minutes almost went to waste.

“We tried real hard to give it away. We didn’t play too well in the third period,” Bright said. “We don’t want 
to get a team down and let them back in games too many times.”

After Conrade Thomas tied it 2-2 on a rush off the second period face-off, the Stingrays went ahead to stay on 
Ruoho’s right side drive at 9:11. Bright got his third goal 44 seconds later, beating Roanoke starting goalie Dan 
Ryder with a slap shot from the left point. Ryder was then lifted by coach Frank Anzalone in favor of Bryan 
Schoen.

Trevor Smith pushed the South Carolina lead to 5-2 at 14:28 with a power play score from the inside of the left 
circle. Gary Socha put in the Stingrays’ second shorthanded goal of the night at 18:09. Lifting a right side shot 
past Schoen.

NOTE: The crowd Saturday night for the first regular season pro hockey game in South Carolina exceeded the 
ECHL’s biggest this season through Friday, 8,112 for a Hampton Roads Admirals game.