Despite playing each other five times during the 2016-17 season, the South Carolina Stingrays are still a bit of a mystery to Monarchs Country. The two teams will face-off in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the first time in the history of both franchises.

BEASTS OF THE EAST

The Stingrays are tied for the most Kelly Cup Championships in ECHL history with three titles since 1993, including six division championships.

OLD FACES, NEW PLACES

Both Derek Arnold and Colton Saucerman will be squaring-off against their former in the Eastern Conference Finals. Arnold, who scored 38 points (12g, 28a) in 53 games for the Monarchs this season, was traded to the Stingrays where he played 12 games and scored nine points on three goals and six assists during the regular season. During the playoffs, Arnold has posted four points (2g, 2a) through 10 games. Saucerman played in 42 games for the Stingrays this season where he racked-up 23 points (2g, 21a) before being traded to the Monarchs to finish the year. In Manchester, Saucerman has played 23 games and scored 14 points on three goals and 11 assists. Saucerman will bring Eastern Conference Finals experience to the Monarchs, as the blue-liner made it to the final four last season with the Stingrays.

BACK TO NEW ENGLAND

Stingrays goaltender Parker Milner is a familiar name to many fans in the New England area, as he played for the Boston College Eagles from 2009 to 2013. While on campus, Milner won two National Championships, three Hockey East titles and was the 2011-12 NCAA Tournament MVP. Up to this point in the playoffs, Milner has posted a 1.83 goals against average and a .932 save percentage through 11 games.

FLICK IS A FORCE

The Monarchs will have to key in on South Carolina’s leading scorer, Rob Flick, who finished 27^th in the league in scoring during the regular season. Flick hasn’t slowed down during the playoffs, and has scored seven goals, with his 13 points good for 6^th in the league in playoff scoring. Monarchs fans will remember Flick who played for the Providence Bruins for parts of three seasons. In his career against the Monarchs, Flick has scored 16 points on seven goals and nine assists in 22 career games, including nine points (5g, 4a) in five games this season.

BENCH BOSS

The Stingrays are coached by rookie bench boss, Ryan Warsofsky. Warsofsky served as the Manager of Hockey Operations and Assistant Coach of the Stingrays for the past three seasons before being promoted. At 28-years-old, Warsofsky is the youngest active coach in the ECHL, and the fifth-youngest to ever lead a bench in the league. Warsofsky played collegiately at Sacred Heart University and Curry College, and is a native of North Marshfield, Mass.

BROTHERS NO MORE

When the Eastern Conference finals being, former teammates will now be enemies (at least for a few weeks). Cory Ward and John Parker, who attended Bemidji State University together from 2013-16, will face each other, as well as Daniel Ciampini and Kelly Zajac, who overlapped at Union College during the 2011-12 season.

TOP SCORERS IN 2016-17

Rob Flick: 31g, 32a = 63 pts.

Kelly Zajac: 13g, 39a = 52 pts.

Steven McParland: 19g, 29a = 48 pts.

TOP GOALTENDERS IN 2016-17:

Parker Milner: 26-14-2, 2.72 GAA, 0.900 save percentage

Adam Carlson: 9-11-1, 2.97 GAA, 0.894 save percentage