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South Carolina captures E.A. “Bud” Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference champions

South Carolina captures E.A. “Bud” Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference champions

Tuesday, June 22nd

The South Carolina Stingrays claimed the E.A. “Bud” Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference champions on Monday with a 2-1 win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

South Carolina wins the series 3 games to 1, and awaits the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Allen Americans and Fort Wayne Komets in the 2021 Kelly Cup Finals. The Stingrays advance to the Finals for the sixth time, extending their ECHL record. South Carolina’s three championships (1997, 2001 and 2009) are tied with Alaska and Hampton Roads for the most in League history.

Matthew Weis broke a scoreless tie with a power-play goal 9:43 into the second period and Max Novak found the back of the net at 4:02 of the third period to give South Carolina 2-0 lead before Ben Finkelstein got the Swamp Rabbits on the scoreboard at 4:37. Hunter Shepard stopped 29 shots, including a Max Zimmer penalty-shot attempt early in the second period.

Novak (3g-2a) and Weis (2g-3a) led the Stingrays in the series with five points each while Shepard went 3-1 with a 2.28 goals-against average. Greenville was led by Graham Knott (1g-2a) and Garret Thompson (1g-2a) with three points each.

The trophy is named in recognition of E.A. “Bud” Gingher, who was Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors from 1992-95. Gingher, who passed away in 2002, co-founded the Dayton Bombers in 1991 and owned the team for seven seasons, serving as President and Governor until selling the team in 1998. Gingher was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2010.

E.A. “Bud” Gingher Trophy Champions2021 South Carolina Stingrays2020 Trophy not awarded due to COVID-192019 Newfoundland Growlers2018 Florida Everblades2017 South Carolina Stingrays 2016 Wheeling Nailers 2015 South Carolina Stingrays 2014 Cincinnati Cyclones 2013 Reading Royals 2012 Florida Everblades 2011 Kalamazoo Wings 2010 Cincinnati Cyclones 2009 South Carolina Stingrays 2008 Cincinnati Cyclones 2007 Dayton Bombers 2006 Gwinnett Gladiators 2005 Florida Everblades 2004 Florida Everblades 2003 Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 2002 Dayton Bombers 2001 Trenton Titans 2000 Peoria Rivermen 1999 Richmond Renegades 1998 Hampton Roads Admirals