The South Carolina Stingrays, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals and AHL’s Hershey Bears, announced today the team’s Protected List. South Carolina’s Protected List includes nine forwards, seven defensemen and one goaltender.
The Stingrays' Protected List includes the following players:
- Forwards (9): Charlie Combs, Stan Cooley, Jamie Engelbert, Kaleb Ergang, Ben Hawerchuk, Timothy Heinke, Dean Loukus, Jalen Luypen, Josh Wilkins
- Defensemen (7): Mikey Adamson, D.J. King, Nolan Krenzen, Connor Moore, Andrew Perrott, Romain Rodzinski, Reilly Webb
- Goaltender (1): Ty Taylor
Teams are allowed to protect as many players as they wish provided the players protected meet the guidelines as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association which state that teams shall retain the rights to each player that:
1. Signed an SPC in 2025-26 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR
2. Signed an SPC in 2025-26, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR
3. Had received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign an SPC, and has not been traded or released, OR
4. Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR
5. Signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2025-26 Regular Season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released, OR
6. Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form, and has not been traded or released.
The ECHL also announced that teams must complete all Future Consideration trades by 3 p.m. ET on June 20 and that teams must submit their Season-Ending Roster by 3 p.m. ET on June 22.
Season-ending rosters may include up to 20 players and cannot include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2025-26.