Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson and San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky returned to their roots last week, showing support for the ECHL team where they got their starts. And, for Warsofsky, it was a family affair.
Ahead of the round two Kelly Cup matchup between the Stingrays and the Florida Everblades on May 15, Thompson and Ryan Warsofsky took turns dropping ceremonial pucks, greeted by cheers from the fans. They enjoyed Game 4 of the series from the Stingrays box seats, looking on as the Rays took the 3-1 win to keep their postseason alive and make the series 3-1 for Florida.
Since the offseason began, Thompson has been showing up as a fan (and model) recently, also making an appearance at a Washington Nationals game alongside teammate Anthony Beauvillier and supporting the Washington Mystics’s Hockey Crossover Night. His trip to South Carolina came a few weeks after being snubbed as a finalist for the 2026 Vezina as the league’s best goaltender.
The 2023 Stanley Cup champion with the Vegas Golden Knights played 32 games for the Stingrays during the 2019-20 season. He boasted a .929 save percentage and a 2.25 GAA, helping the team to an unofficial regular-season championship when the Covid-19 pandemic cut the season short.
“I loved my time as a Stingray, and I’m very thankful to wear that jersey,” Thompson said during the 2024 preseason. “If it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be here today.”
In addition to Game 4, Ryan Warsofsky was in attendance for Games 3 and 5, on May 13 and 17, supporting his brother and Stingrays’ head coach, David Warsofsky. The 2025-26 season was David Warsofsky’s first as head coach and his second with the team, joining as a special coaching advisor the year prior. Ryan Warsofsky was joined by his wife, Annie, and their children.
In his second season as the San Jose Shark’s head coach, Ryan Warsofsky led the team to a 39-35-8 record. The Sharks finished just four points out of the playoffs, and star center Macklin Celebrini was named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award as Players’ MVP under Ryan Warsofsky’s leadership.
Ryan Warsofsky got his professional coaching start with the Stingrays in 2013, joining the coaching staff as an assistant before being promoted to head coach in 2016.
During his five seasons in South Carolina, the Rays made the playoffs every year, advancing to the finals in 2015 and 2017. He was also on staff when the Stingrays went on a 23-game winning streak, the longest in ECHL history. As an assistant coach, Ryan Warsofsky served under Spencer Carbery.
“I worked for him for three years,” Ryan Warsofsky said of Carbery during his introductory press conference in 2024. “He’s the man that molded me into the coach that I am so I need to thank Spence. He’s one of my best friends, he’s had a huge impact on my coaching career, and I can’t thank him enough.”
It seemed former Rays Thompson and Ryan Warsofsky were the Stingrays’ good luck charm to stave off a sweep, but the NHL energy of Ryan Warsofsky would not be enough for Game 5, with the Rays’ season coming to an end after losing 3-1.
