Reddekopp, Wardley sign 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 defensemen Chaz Reddekopp and Evan Wardley for the 2022-23 season.Reddekopp joins the Stingrays for his second season in South Carolina, and fifth professional season overall. The 25-year-old defenseman appeared in 17 games with the Stingrays during the 2021-22 campaign, tallying five points (1g-4a). Reddekopp spent two separate stints in the AHL last season, assisting on one goal in two games with the Belleville Senators and recording one assist in 12 games with the Tucson Roadrunners.

The native of West Kelowna, British Columbia was selected in the seventh round (187th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. Playing parts of six seasons with the Victoria Royals in the Western Hockey League, Reddekopp posted 134 points (27g-107a) in 280 games. Since then, Reddekopp has made stops with the Ontario Reign and San Jose Barracuda as well as Belleville and Tucson of the AHL, posting 13 points(1g-12a) in 92 games. He has also spent time with the Manchester Monarchs, Fort Wayne Komets, Allen Americans and Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, recording 17 points (2g-15a) in 54 games.Wardley is set to embark on his fourth full season of professional hockey after spending the majority of last season with the Idaho Steelheads, recording three assists in 22 games. The 28-year-old tallied one assist in four games with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch and appeared in two additional games with the Texas Stars. Wardley was acquired on March 16 along with Colby McAuley in a deal that sent Ryan Dmowski to Idaho.The Calgary, Alberta native began his professional career with the Wheeling Nailers, appearing in 12 games from 2014-16 before entering college at the University of Lethbridge for four seasons. Overall, Wardley has suited up for 67 career ECHL games with Wheeling and Idaho, totaling nine points (1g-8a).