Veteran leader Gaul re-signs for sixth season with Stingrays

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – The South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals and American Hockey League's Hershey Bears, have agreed to terms with forward Patrick Gaul for the 2017-18 season.

Gaul is the longest-tenured member of the Rays and the 2017-18 season will be his sixth professional year, all of which include time in South Carolina. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native returns to the Lowcountry after posting career-highs in assists and points during the regular season while serving as an alternate captain for the third consecutive year. In 67 regular-season games, Gaul notched 37 points (11g-26a) before adding four points in 11 postseason contests.

In 277 career games with South Carolina, Gaul has registered 124 points (46g-78a) to go along with a +52 rating. Additionally, the fan-favorite has played a key role on South Carolina's penalty kill which has finished first in the ECHL during 2014-15 and 2015-16 and first in the Eastern Conference in 2016-17.

Gaul, 27, who played his collegiate hockey at Notre Dame from 2008-12, is also very active in the Lowcountry community and was previously the winner of the 2015 Jerry Zucker Community Service Award.