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The South Carolina Stingrays and head coach Jared Bednar announced today the signing of rookie forward Bryan Esner. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Esner, 24, played the last four years at Northeastern University , compiling 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points in 131 career games. Last season, he played in all 36 games for the Huskies, collecting eight goals and five assists for 13 points while finishing as runner-up for Hockey East’s Best Defensive Forward award. Following the conclusion of his senior year, the 5-foot-8, 170-pound forward joined the American Hockey League’s Peoria Rivermen, going pointless with two penalty minutes in 12 contests.

“ Bryan ’s a player that can play all three forward positions,” Bednar said. “He’s an energy guy with world-class speed, and is a fearless player who isn’t afraid to go to the net and go into the places where you have to score goals. We’re looking for big things out of Bryan this year.”

Prior to attending Northeastern, Esner played two seasons with the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), accumulating 32 goals and 45 assists for 77 points in 102 career games.

This past July, the native of Paradise Valley, AZ attended the Phoenix Coyotes’ rookie camp, and was profiled along with former Stingray Dave Spina (also and Tornado Alum)in a story featured on the NHL’s official website:
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=334644 

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