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New York Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why the Blackhawks brought back Jared Nightingale to shape their future with AHL IceHogs
Jared Nightingale has lived in more homes in Rockford, Ill., than he ever could've imagined. He started in an apartment when he was captain of the AHL's Rockford IceHogs in 2013. He lived in another apartment when he returned as an IceHogs assistant coach in 2021. He later purchased a house in Rockford while in that position and then sold it when he departed to become the coach and general manager of the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays in 2024. And just recently, Nightingale bought another house in Rockford after being named IceHogs head coach. Advertisement 'Between that and (staying in Rockford's) Residence Inn, I've bounced around,' the 42-year-old Nightingale said with a laugh during a recent phone interview. Nightingale's latest return to Rockford was the most unexpected. He left the IceHogs after the 2024-25 season because he wanted to be a head coach, and the Stingrays provided that opportunity. His goal was to work his way back to the AHL as a head coach, but he never could have predicted that it would come so soon or that it'd be in Rockford again. For that to happen, a few things needed to fall into place. When Anders Sörensen was promoted from IceHogs head coach to Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach last season, Mark Eaton stepped into the IceHogs' position. At that point, IceHogs president of hockey operations and general manager Mark Bernard started thinking about permanent coaching candidates and kept close tabs on Nightingale in South Carolina. Bernard took notice when Nightingale's team went 52-15-5 in the regular season and he was named the ECHL's coach of the year. As Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson ran an NHL coaching search after the season, he put Bernard, Blackhawks associate general manager Norm Maciver and hockey operations adviser Brian Campbell largely in charge of the IceHogs' search. They looked at other candidates, but Nightingale made the most sense. 'He really just checked a lot of boxes for us — his ability to teach, his communication skills, he's detail-oriented,' Bernard said. 'I love the fact that he has that relationship with a lot of our prospects already and the ones that he didn't coach, he had met them through our development camps and rookie camps. So he's familiar with our prospects. He's familiar with how we do things in Chicago and Rockford. We're familiar with him. He knows all of our staff members. So it just made for a really easy transition. It's almost like we assigned him to the minors one year to become a head coach and we're bringing him back. It just really unfolded very well for us.' Advertisement Davidson said: 'Learning from some of the players and the management in South Carolina, just getting a sense of how he was as a head coach, came back very, very positive and a lot of really, really good references on his time as a head coach. It's a credit to himself to invest in himself and take that opportunity.' Nightingale found the season in South Carolina to be priceless. He finally got to run his own ship. There are challenges to also being the general manager at that level, but he said he learned so much from managing his own team's time. 'It's basically your schedule, kind of your blueprint of how you want to map out a day or a week and kind of the vision of what you want to work on as a team,' Nightingale said. 'I've always had my thoughts and what I thought was really important, but you never know until you actually have to live it and do it and present it to a team. So I'd say I learned a lot, just scheduling and what to get done in a week or a day for practice and helping the players ultimately have success. Then, as a head coach too, you got all those tough decisions of ice time and the roster. It was a good situation for me to live through, and I think that's really helped me for my first head coaching job.' Coming back to the AHL, Nightingale understands his job is different. The IceHogs want to win and be successful as a team, somewhat like the Stingrays, but it's much more about player development and answering to the Blackhawks' NHL needs and wants. It does help that Nightingale has some familiarity with new Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill. Nightingale played briefly for Blashill with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins during the 2014-15 season, and Nightingale's older brother, Adam Nightingale, was an assistant to Blashill with the Detroit Red Wings. Advertisement Nightingale's three years as an IceHogs assistant also gave him insight into what Davidson is seeking from player development in Rockford. From Davidson's perspective, that was important, too. 'He believes in the things that we believe in,' Davidson said. Nightingale, a former defenseman, worked with Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic with the IceHogs during the 2022-23 season and prepared him for the NHL. Training camp will determine whether Artyom Levshunov, Kevin Korchinski or any of the Blackhawks' other early-round draft picks start the season in Rockford or Chicago, but Nightingale has a feel for who's in the pipeline and what his responsibility is with those prospects. 'Obviously you look at where the Blackhawks are right now in their rebuild and a lot of young, talented players,' Nightingale said. 'I want to be on the same page and on board with Blashill's vision and Kyle's vision and all the management's vision. I understand, I've lived it and coached it to just how important it is to help these guys develop so that when they do get the opportunity, they're ready to help the Blackhawks have success. I think that you look at any of the best teams in the NHL, I think a majority of roster guys are seasoned in the AHL, and it's a job that I don't take lightly. I think it's a privilege to have that opportunity to help in any way that I can in a player's development.' One question that Blashill was asked in his introductory news conference also happens to be one Nightingale has been asked lately: What's the correct balance between player development and team success? 'I think it's a good question,' Nightingale said. 'You get asked that a lot. I really think we're not just developing to make them better players. We want them to be executing at a high level to win games and to have success on the ice. So, I think it goes hand in hand. … I think part of development is winning and being successful. I think that's what we're going to try to create in Rockford and I think that's crucial.' Nightingale saw how that could work when he played for the Syracuse Crunch, the Tampa Bay Lightning's AHL affiliate. Advertisement 'I was in Syracuse, and we lost in the finals, and almost half our roster went up to Tampa, and they had a long career and they won in Tampa,' Nightingale said. 'They placed a priority on winning. I don't necessarily talk about winning, but just developing winning habits. More times than not, you see the results on the ice.' Those are the type of results Nightingale would love to give the Rockford community. Having spent so much time in Rockford, Nightingale has developed a relationship with more than just the IceHogs. 'I know the Rockford area and the community and a lot of good friends,' Nightingale said. 'Obviously, that always makes it more enjoyable. You have a sense of pride for the city and for the organization, and that always is fun. That's why in those few years that we had some good teams and felt like we could make runs in the playoffs, there's nothing better. You see how that community rallies behind the IceHogs, and I'm excited to hopefully bring them a product that they can be proud of.'
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stingrays donate jersey proceeds to MUSC
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – Back in the first week of November, the South Carolina Stingrays held Cancer Awareness Weekend at the Coliseum. Today the organization donated proceeds from their specialty jersey auction to MUSC's Hollings Cancer Center. Four thousand dollars were raised for the only NCI Cancer Center in the state that will go to the highest level of need at MUSC. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stingrays' Bjorklund Named Goaltender Of The Week
On Monday, South Carolina Stingrays goalie Garin Bjorklund was awarded the Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for Feb. 17-23. Last week, Bjorklund went 2-0-0 with a 0.50 goals-against average, .980 save percentage and one shutout. The 22-year-old netminder made 22 saves in a 5-1 victory against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Feb. 21, then stopped all 23 shots he faced in a 3-0 shutout of the Worcester Railers Feb. 23. Under contract with the NHL's Washington Capitals, Bjorklund is having a fine season with the Rays. He's 14-3-3 in 21 appearances and ranks second in the ECHL with a 2.00 GAA and fourth with a .928 SP. A native of Calgary, Alberta, Bjorklund has appeared in 49 ECHL games with South Carolina during his career, going 29-14-4 with two shutouts, a 2.76 GAA and .901 SP. Before turning pro, Bjorklund played with Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League. Over 96 games, he posted a 40-48-4 record with three shutouts, a 3.50 GAA and .892 SP. The Stingrays are back in action Wednesday in Estero against the defending Kelly Cup Champion Florida Everblades at Hertz Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:30 Pm ET.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Calgary Wranglers Sign Kyler Kupka To PTO
The Calgary Wranglers have signed forward Kyler Kupka to a professional try-out, it was announced this past weekend. Kupka, who was recently named ECHL Player of the Week, has played the entire season with the South Carolina Stingrays where he has collected 26 goals and 25 assists for 51 points in 49 games. In his first full season of pro hockey this year, Kupka joined the Stingrays at the end of the 2023-24 season after spending five years at St. Cloud State (NCAA). Across 145 career games, Kupka scored 32 goals and added 53 assists for 85 points. With Kupka joining the Wranglers on a PTO, he could have a strong chance to see some games with the team. Kupka has already established himself as a difference maker at the ECHL level and should be a good candidate to jump to the AHL full time in 2025-26.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stingrays Mark Six Consecutive Home Games With Special Themes
The South Carolina Stingrays get to enjoy home cooking and sleeping in their own beds for a while, with six consecutive home games to wrap up the month of February. Each game at North Charleston Coliseum features unique themes and fan experiences. The Stingrays will be decked out in exclusive Charleston-themed jerseys, which will be auctioned off on the teams Handbid page. We love CHS, and we LOVE our fans too! 🥰That's why we're giving Stingrays Hawaiian shirts to the first 1,500 fans at I ❤️ CHS Night on Saturday, February 15 at 6:05 PM presented by @MUSChealth. Don't miss your chance to grab this exclusive giveaway and celebrate the city we… — South Carolina Stingrays (@SCStingrays) January 30, 2025 Fans can also purchase replica jerseys. The first 1,500 spectators to come through the doors will receive a unique Stingrays Hawaiian t-shirt. The game is presented by MUSC Health. This game will be a Family Sunday, presented by Crews Subaru and Charleston County Parks. Everyone's favorite Blue Heeler, Bluey, will make a special appearance. Fans will have the opportunity to meet Bluey throughout the game and get their picture taken. Doors open at 2 Pm. Schools across the Lowcountry can bring their students for a morning of hockey and educational fun. The game is presented by MUSC Health. Vinyl Night: Friday, Feb. 21, 7:05 Pm Who said vinyl is dead? It's very much alive, as the first 1,000 Stingrays fans in attendance will receive a limited-edition Stingrays vinyl featuring music from Charleston-based bands DangerMuffin and Majicdust. This is one of the most anticipated nights of the season. The Stingrays will wear specialty Stormtrooper jerseys, and the first 2,000 through the doors will be given a light sword. The game is presented by Jeff Cook Real Estate. The local hockey community will be celebrated with a special game honoring the sport. Former Stingrays player Justin Florek will be in attendance for the ceremonial puck drop. This game will also be a Family Sunday, presented by Crews Subaru and Charleston County Parks.
