Stingrays Secure Home-Ice Advantage with Dominant Season Finale Win

South Carolina trounces Orlando Solar Bears 6-0 to lock up second place in the South Division.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 7:26pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with overlapping planes of navy blue, orange, and white representing the players, puck, and arena.The Stingrays' decisive victory over the Solar Bears showcases the team's offensive firepower and defensive prowess as they head into the playoffs with home-ice advantage.Charleston Today

The South Carolina Stingrays capped off their regular season with a decisive 6-0 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears on Saturday night at the Coliseum. The win secured home-ice advantage for the Stingrays in the upcoming South Division Semifinals of the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Why it matters

Finishing the regular season in second place in the South Division was a key goal for the Stingrays, as it ensures they will host the first two games of their playoff series against the Atlanta Gladiators. Playing on home ice is a significant advantage in the postseason, especially for a team like the Stingrays who had the third-best home record in the Eastern Conference this season.

The details

The Stingrays broke open a scoreless game in the second period, with Jalen Luypen, Mikey Adamson, Charlie Combs, Simon Pinard, Nolan Krenzen, and Combs again all finding the back of the net. Goaltender Gavin Bjorklund turned aside all 22 shots he faced to record his fourth career shutout.

  • The Stingrays finished the regular season with a 45-23-1-3 record and 94 points.
  • South Carolina secured the second seed in the South Division, behind only the Florida Everblades.
  • The Stingrays will host the Atlanta Gladiators in Game 1 of their playoff series on Friday, April 24 at 7:05 p.m.

The players

Jalen Luypen

A forward for the South Carolina Stingrays who scored the opening goal in the second period.

Mikey Adamson

A forward for the South Carolina Stingrays who doubled the team's lead in the second period.

Charlie Combs

A forward for the South Carolina Stingrays who scored two goals in the third period to extend the team's lead.

Simon Pinard

A forward for the South Carolina Stingrays who scored his 30th goal of the season in the third period.

Nolan Krenzen

A forward for the South Carolina Stingrays who scored 30 seconds after Pinard to make it 5-0.

Gavin Bjorklund

The goaltender for the South Carolina Stingrays who recorded a 22-save shutout.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come out strong tonight and take care of business to secure home ice. The guys executed the game plan perfectly and now we're ready to take on Atlanta in the playoffs.”

— Dave Warsofsky, Head Coach, South Carolina Stingrays

What’s next

The Stingrays will host the Atlanta Gladiators in Game 1 of their South Division Semifinal series on Friday, April 24 at 7:05 p.m. at the Coliseum.

The takeaway

The Stingrays' dominant regular season finale win not only secured home-ice advantage for the playoffs, but also showcased the team's depth and scoring prowess as they head into the postseason with momentum on their side.