Stingrays sign rookie forwards Bligh and Jeke

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - The South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, have signed rookie forwards Nick Bligh and Travis Jeke, Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Ryan Warsofsky announced.

Bligh joins the Stingrays after completing his collegiate career at Dartmouth College. Despite missing time due to an injury, he enjoyed a career year in his senior season in 2015-16 with the Big Green. The native of Milton, Mass. scored 18 points (10g-8a) in 22 games last season. He finished his NCAA career with 42 points (19g-23a) in 92 career games. Prior to Dartmouth, the 23-year-old spent one season with the South Shore Kings of the Eastern Junior Hockey League in 2011-12. He was named the league's Rookie of the Year, scoring 85 points (22g-63a) in 43 games. He made the league's All-Star team, and finished second on the Kings in points to teammate Jimmy Vesey, the 2016 Hobey Baker Award winner who recently signed with the New York Rangers.

Jeke, 23, converted to forward in his senior season at Boston College in 2015-16. He scored three points (2g-1a) in 37 games for the Eagles. He patrolled the blue line for the prior three seasons, appearing in 22 games in 2012-13. He notched 12 points (5g-7a) in 69 career NCAA games, and helped the Eagles to 2013-14 Hockey East regular season conference title. The native of Pittsburgh, Pa. played two seasons of high school hockey for Northwood Prep School, scoring 70 points in 70 games while playing one season at forward and one at defense.