MYRTLE BEACH, SC-- Lots of history was made tonight, as the South Carolina Sting Rays (0-2-1) took on the Columbus Blue Jackets (1-2-0).  This would be the first ever game played at the EA Sports Arena in Myrtle Beach, SC, and boy did the fans get to see so good hockey!

In the first period of the game lots of action went on.  It was 20 minutes of checking, hustle, and energy.  Late in the first, everyone expected to go into the first intermission with the score tied 0-0, but Sting Rays star Peter Mueller had other plans.  He netted his 2nd goal of the season with less than 1 minute left in the period.  The score after 20 was 1-0, in favor of the Sting Rays.

In the second period it was a period dominated by the goalies.  Steve Mason and Ilya Bryzgalov slammed the door over 20 times combined in the period, and the score stayed 1-0 after 2.

In the 3rd and final period of play in the game there was again a goalie dominated period, but the Sting Rays' Paul Bissonnette snuck one by Mason to extend the Sting Rays lead to 2-0.  This would be Bissonnette's first goal of the year.  The score remained 2-0, then Mason, with less than a minute left, left his net for the extra attacker.  The strategy backfired, and Taylor Pyatt got an empty netter, to get his 1st of the season.  Bryzgalov and the Sting Rays got the shut out win in their first ever game in South Carolina.

"I am really in awe that I earned the shut out today.  The Blue Jackets got some great shots off, and luckily I stopped them all," said Bryzgalov.  "I am happy we finally got our first win out of the way."

"Well, you can't win them all.  I mean, it's a really tough loss today.  I think our team really played great, but nothing would get by Bryzgalov.  The Sting Rays deserved the win tonight."  These were the words out of Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash after the 3-0 loss.

3 Stars of the Game

3. Taylor Pyatt, 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 PTS

2. Ilya Bryzgalov, 18 saves on 18 shots

1. Steve Mason, 36 saves on 38 shots

Game Stats

CBJ: 18 shots, SC: 39 shots

CBJ: 13 hits, SC: 17 hits

CBJ: 9 faceoffs, SC: 14 faceoffs

CBJ: 0/1 PP, SC: 0/3 PP

Final Score, Columbus Blue Jackets 0, South Carolina Sting Rays 3

LOS ANGELES, CA-- The Sting Rays first game took place earlier this evening as they took on the Los Angeles Kings.  This would be both team's first games this season, and for the Sting Rays first in franchise history.  The game was action packed, and had a dramatic ending.

The first period didn't involve any scoring, but it certainly contained a lot of action.  Lots of hitting, shots, and some great saves by both goaltenders, but after the first 20 minutes the score remained the same as it did when the puck hit the ice, 0-0.

The second period also went by with a lot of action, and didn't have much scoring either.  Finally with 3.7 seconds left in the 2nd period the first goal of the 09-10 campaign was scored.  Matthew Lombardi is the one to break the tie with his 1st goal of the season, as well as the first goal in Sting Ray's history.  This would be the score after 40, 1-0.

The third period brought us the most action.  Right at the beginning of the period Anze Kopitar gave the Kings a tying goal to make it 1-1. The score remained tied again until halfway through the 3rd, when M. Hanzel netted his first of the season for the Sting Rays.  With less than 10 minutes left the Sting Rays re-took the lead.  Anze Kopitar remained dominate in the game and just seconds after the Sting Rays goal he scored his 2nd of the game and season.  The score remained tied 2-2 for the rest of the 3rd and the game went into overtime.

In overtime there were many chances for the Kings to win the game, but with great skill I. Bryzgolov made some amazing saves, and on the game went into the shootout.

In the shootout the Sting Rays shooters got shut out, and with 2 goals in the shootout from Kopitar and Doughty the Kings won the game 3-2.

"You know, I really think it was a great experience out there for everyone tonight, and even though we ended up losing the game I think it was a fun time for everyone to be in these new uniforms," said Sting Ray, Matthew Lombardi, who netted the first goal in Sting Rays history.

"In the first two periods we weren't really playing good hockey, but then our team and I stepped up our game and I got our team 2 goals for the tie which lead to the shootout win.  I am happy with my, and our team's performance tonight," said first star of the game, Kings star Anze Kopitar. 

The 3 stars of tonights game were:

3. J. Quick, 21 saves on 23 shots

2. D. Doughty, 0 Goals, 2 assists, 2 points

1. A. Kopitar, 2 goals, 0 assists, 2 points

Game Stats:

SCS: 23 shots, LA: 16 shots

SCS: 18 hits, LA 22 hits

SCS: 11 faceoffs, LA: 8 faceoffs

SCS: 0/0 PP, LA: 0/1 PP 

Once again, the final score in the shootout, Sting Rays 2, Kings 3

MYRTLE BEACH, SC-- Today Shane Doan and Taylor Pyett took the ice to show the public the new jerseys for the South Carolina Sting Rays (see jerseys above), as they took the ice at the EA Sports Arena, the new home of the Sting Rays.  The main colors on the jersey are just as the logo, red, white, and blue, although the logo does have a bit more gray than white on the logo, but that is the only flaw in these new sexy looking jerseys.

"I really enjoy the looks of these new jerseys.  The colors really can grab your eye.  I really think that having a good looking jersey can be pretty important, because it's really what your known by when you are on the ice.  Your jersey is like your own ID for when you are playing hockey.  I think the jerseys are going to be a big hit for the players and the fans," said Shane Doan after modeling the jerseys earlier today at the EA Sports Arena.

To order your new Sting Ray jersey visit the official online store of the South Carolina Sting Rays at shop.southcarolinastingsrays.com.