traveling with my bwuhs

One of our favorite family pastimes is going to South Carolina Stingrays hockey games, our local ECHL minor league team. We’ve been season ticket holders for a few years now, and the boys have also been part of the Stingrays Kids Club, which has given them the chance to attend fun events and even meet some of the players.

Pictured here are our guys playing floor hockey with two former Stingrays goalies who are now on the roster for the AHL’s Hershey Bears—and who have both appeared in NHL games for the Washington Capitals. It was so exciting to see these down-to-earth, kind guys later pop up on the big screen playing in the big league.

Meeting them was memorable for the boys not just because they got to play hockey with them, but because the players truly took time to connect with the kids. Clay Stevenson sat at a picnic table making art with the children, while Garin Bjorklund chatted with Boy1 about his experiences with sign language. The boys have met many players over the years, but having the chance to actually play hockey alongside them is something they’ll always remember.

As someone who grew up going to New York Rangers games at Madison Square Garden (and a few other arenas along the way), it’s such a thrill for me to still get to experience hockey here in Charleston. It’s only a little painful that the Stingrays are a Washington Capitals affiliate—but I can overlook that for the atmosphere, the excitement, and of course… the occasional hockey fight.

If you’re visiting Charleston during hockey season (October through April, and sometimes longer if the team makes the playoffs), I highly recommend catching a game. The Stingrays staff do an incredible job creating fun themed nights and a lively game-day atmosphere for fans of all ages.

Do you have a favorite minor league team? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear about them!

❤ Jen