Stingrays bring aboard pair of rookie forwards

Staff reports

Friday, September 28, 2007

State Report

The South Carolina Stingrays added two speedy rookie forwards to the lineup, signing Paul McIlveen and Pierre-Luc O'Brien.

McIlveen, 21, collected 37 goals and 52 assists for 89 points in 68 games last season for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL. In two seasons with Cape Breton, the 5-11, 170-pound right wing compiled 128 points (52 G, 76 A) and 116 penalty minutes in 116 career Quebec league games.

"Paul has great speed, and he handles the puck really well," Stingrays coach Jared Bednar said. "He's a talented guy that can make plays up front for us. I think he's going to be a good fit for our lineup."

O'Brien, 24, spent the last four years at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, amassing 158 points (67 G, 91 A) in 142 career collegiate games. The 5-9, 180-pounder led the Pioneers in scoring the last three seasons, and last season was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to college hockey's most outstanding player.

"He's a guy we're going to look to for a lot of offense," Bednar said. "He'll be a power-play guy for us, and I expect him to put up good numbers offensively. I really think he has the potential to play in the American league or above, from everything I've heard and all the people I've talked to."

Following the conclusion of his senior season, the Nicolet, Quebec, native signed with the American Hockey League's Portland Pirates and played in two Pirates games.

College sailing

The College of Charleston's Russ O'Reilly was a second-team selection to the 2007 ICSA All-Academic Sailing Team.

The Charleston native graduated this year with a GPA of 3.66 as a sociology major. He had also been named to the inaugural All-Academic team in 2006. O'Reilly, a key skipper, earned ICSA All-America honors in 2006 and '07.

College soccer

Jessa Scott scored in the 17th and 83rd minutes to boost The Citadel (3-6) to a 2-1 women's home win over S.C. State (2-5) on Wednesday night. Star Tazwell scored for S.C. State in the 74th minute.