South Carolina Stingrays name Captain, Alternate Captains for 2008-09 Season

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – North Charleston, SC – The South Carolina Stingrays and Head Coach Jared Bednar announced today that Brad Farynuk has been named captain and Nate Kiser and Travis Morin have been appointed alternate captains for the 2008-09 season.

“It was a tough decision,” Bednar said.  “I feel that we have a lot of leadership in our locker room, and these three guys bring different qualities to our hockey club.  I’m extremely happy with the attributes these leaders bring to our locker room.”

Farynuk, 26, is the sixth captain in the Stingrays’ 16-year history.  The third-year pro 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. 
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“Brad is a calming influence in our locker room and on the ice, much like Cail MacLean was over the last few years.  I see similar qualities in the way they lead.” 

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.  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.

Kiser, 26, is back for his fifth season with the Stingrays.  Last year he established career highs and led all Stingrays defensemen with 22 assists and 27 points.  Kiser finished second on the team with 169 penalty minutes and his three power-play goals tied for the team lead among blueliners.  In five seasons as a professional, Kiser has posted 88 points (17g, 71a) and 930 penalty minutes in 310 career games with South Carolina and Dayton in the ECHL, and Syracuse, Portland and Albany of the AHL. 

“Nate obviously has a difficult role being an enforcer on our team.  He’s our emotional, heart and soul leader in our locker room.  He’s been a solid two-way defenseman for us, and he comes to play for us every night with a lot of emotion and enthusiasm.” 

Prior to turning pro, the d-man played four years with the OHL's Plymouth Whalers, amassing 41 points (13g, 28a) and 473 penalty minutes in 137 junior games.  Kiser was originally a 5th round choice (160th overall) of the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Morin, 24, returns after leading the Stingrays with 34 goals, 50 assists and 84 points last season.  The 6-foot-2, 195-pound center led the ECHL with six short-handed goals, and also ranked among the league leaders in goals, assists, points, power-play goals and game-winning goals.  The 2008 ECHL All-Star went pointless in four contests played with Hershey before leading South Carolina with 17 points (10g, 7a) in 20 playoff games. 

“Travis is very consistent in his game and he comes to play every night.  He was our offensive leader last year and leads by example.”

Originally, the Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, native was Washington’s 9^th round choice (263^rd overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and he spent four years at the University of Minnesota-Mankato before signing with the Capitals in March 2007.

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