The South Carolina Stingrays concluded a season that was defined as much by their performance on the ice as by the extensive community work undertaken by the organization, its players, staff and mascot Cool Ray. Over the course of the campaign the team logged more than 1,500 volunteer hours, attended roughly 60 local events and contributed thousands of dollars worth of supplies to a wide array of charities.
A Season of Service
Players logged over 400 hours of service themselves, visiting more than 20 schools across Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties through the Reading Buddies and Floor Hockey programs. The roster of participants read like a who’s who of recent team alumni, including Charlie Combs, Ben Hawerchuk, John Fusco, Reilly Webb, Scott Docherty, Romain Rodzinski, Conner Mayer, Nolan Krenzen, Connor Mayer, Ryan Hofer and Todd Halloran, each of whom brought a distinct presence to the outreach efforts.
One highlight was the Movember Challenge, in which the squad helped raise more than $4,500 for men’s mental‑health and cancer‑awareness causes. The effort was complemented by the annual Teddy Bear Toss, which delivered over 15,900 stuffed animals to regional shelters, and the Spongebob/Undie Sunday game that donated more than 3,200 packages of undergarments to local agencies.
The front office complemented on‑ice goodwill with behind‑the‑scenes support for groups such as AMOR Healing Kitchen, the Teacher Supply Closet and Habitat for Humanity, while also partnering with BlueCross BlueShield, Great Clips, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry and a host of other nonprofits. At each home game the Community Assist of the Game program earmarked $2,000 for a local nonprofit, reinforcing a model of sustained financial backing.
Personal moments added a human touch to the outreach. Charlie Combs and Ben Hawerchuk surprised a longtime season ticket holder celebrating the end of chemotherapy, while John Fusco, Reilly Webb and Scott Docherty celebrated a Children’s Miracle Network winner at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. Romain Rodzinski and Conner Mayer organized a Community Night at the Community Resource Center in North Charleston, and Connor Mayer and Charlie Combs later visited the North Charleston Police Department ahead of First Responders Night. John Fusco and Ryan Hofer took time to learn about the daily routines of local firefighters, and Romain Rodzinski and Nolan Krenzen stopped by Bruster’s in Summerville for a “Scoops with Players” fundraiser benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry.
Beyond these high‑profile gestures, the team’s NHL Street Program offered free street‑hockey clinics in Mount Pleasant and North Charleston, giving dozens of youngsters a chance to play the sport in a safe, structured environment. The cumulative effect of these initiatives has been felt across the Lowcountry, where families, schools and service organizations cite the Stingrays’ involvement as a catalyst for additional community support.