The South Carolina Stingrays were eliminated from the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs and in strange fashion.
Orlando Solar Bears defenseman Hudson Thornton, signed to a contract with the AHL’s Hershey Bears for the 2024-25 season, scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the South Division Semifinals, ending the season early for many of Hershey’s developing prospects.
Hudson’s tally came after he toe-dragged around Alex Suzdalev at the point and fired a shot past Stingrays goaltender Seth Eisele 15:03 into the second period. The goal gave Orlando a 1-0 lead and marked Thornton’s first point of the playoffs.
Solar Bears forward Spencer Kersten added an empty-net goal with 11 seconds remaining in the third period to send Orlando to the South Division Finals, where they’ll face the Florida Everblades (a pun on Everglades).
The Stingrays jumped out to both a 2-0 and 3-2 series lead, but couldn’t close the semis out after two consecutive opportunities in Game 6 (6-2 loss) and Game 7 (2-0 loss) at home. The series loss also comes after Stingrays forward Tyler Weiss taunted the Solar Bears in the tunnel, suggesting they would be teeing off soon.
“Unreal. The Stingrays season is over in a heartbreak in Game 7,” Bears Hockey Nation wrote on X. “Just an absolutely crazy finish as Hershey’s Hudson Thornton delivers the dagger in a 2-0 shutout. Such a great regular season falls short in a winner-take-all game.”
The Stingrays were the ECHL’s best team in the regular season, notching 109 standings points and going 52-15-3 in 72 games. They led the league in both goals scored with 279 (26 more than the next closest team) and fewest goals given up (161), posting a goal differential of plus-118.
The Bears signed the 21-year-old Thornton on April 10, 2024, after his 2023-24 season concluded with the WHL’s Prince George Cougars. The 5’11”, 191-pound defender was the Cougars’ captain and recorded 74 points (18g, 56a) in 68 games, leading all of the team’s defensemen and finishing fourth among rearguards in the WHL.
Thornton spent the majority of the 2024-25 season in the ECHL, suiting up for both the Stingrays (Hershey/Capitals affiliate) and the Solar Bears (Tampa Bay Lightning affiliate). Thornton played seven games in the regular season with the Stingrays, going point-less, before getting loaned to the Solar Bears on December 5.
“The Stingrays are deep and off to a great start while Orlando has been decimated by injuries/callups,” Voice of the Bears, Zack Fisch explained of the move. “So Thornton will get a chance to play while still being under contract with the Bears.”
Thornton got much more playing time and indeed began developing with the Solar Bears, registering 14 points (3g, 11a) in 42 games. He would even get to make his AHL debut on March 19, 2025, with Hershey shorthanded on D, posting two shots on goal in the Bears’ 4-2 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Thornton, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was then loaned back to the Solar Bears on April 3 where he’d eventually end the Stingrays season after arguably developing too much.
With the Stingrays eliminated, the Bears called up defenseman Andrew Perrott and goaltender Mitch Gibson from the ECHL for their playoff run.
Hershey’s 2025 postseason opener is Wednesday night against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Giant Center. Puck drop is the same time as Game 5 of the Washington Capitals’ first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens.
