The Carolina Ice Palace team today announced its newest member, Ryan Blair (above), who has accepted the position of Hockey Operations Manager. He will begin his new role on June 20th.
The Carolina Ice Palace says Blair will “adopt, develop, and execute an ever-evolving portfolio of hockey programs and player development strategies to provide the best hockey experience for players of all ages, their families, and the community.”
The former head coach of the South Carolina Stingrays from 2020–2022 is eager to get started.
“I'm excited to join the team at the Carolina Ice Palace where we will continue to grow the great game of hockey! Together, we will create a culture of teamwork, respect, and continuous improvement,” Blair said. “I am extremely excited about the chance to contribute to the sport I love and positively impact the growth of hockey in Charleston.”
Prior to his head coaching job with the Stingrays, Blair held the Director of Hockey Operations position with his alma mater, UMass-Lowell men's hockey team from 2018-2019. He also spent 3 seasons coaching the Boston Jr. Rangers in the Eastern Hockey League from 2015-2018 where his team won multiple regular season championships and Ryan received coach of the year honors in 2018. He played professionally for 3 years, totaling 117 games with various organizations within the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).
Upon Blair's arrival, he will take on the responsibilities as the Hockey Director for the Charleston Youth Hockey Association (CYHA) and plans are in place to completely phase him into the role over the next few months. He will continue to offer on-ice support to the CYHA and provide general consultation to the association board of directors.
The Carolina Ice Palace has already scheduled weekly hockey clinics throughout the summer, which Blair will be coaching, including Player Development Clinics for Birth Years 2008-2011 and 2012-2014. Registration is currently open (see below).
For more information on Carolina Ice Palace and the offered clinics, please visit carolinaicepalace.com.
