Shepard makes NHL debut

Former South Carolina Stingrays' goaltender Hunter Shepard became the 742nd former ECHL player to reach the National Hockey League when he debuted with the Washington Capitals on Wednesday at New Jersey. 

Shepard is the second former ECHL player to make his NHL debut during the 2023-24 season. He appeared in 44 games for the Stingrays during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons posting an overall record of 24-15-4 with three shutouts, a 2.73 goals-against average and a save percentage of .919. During the 2021-22 season, he ranked fifth among ECHL goaltenders with a .917 save percentage

A native of Cohasset, Minnesota, Shepard has seen action in 47 career games with Hershey of the American Hockey League where he is 30-11-5 with three shutouts, a 2.11 goals-against average and a save percentage of .920. Last season, he helped lead the Bears to the Calder Cup title with a 14-6 record in 20 postseason appearances with three shutouts, 2.27 goals-against average and a save percentage of .914 en route to earning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Calder Cup Playoffs.