This year’s South Carolina Stingrays Fan Fest had some major alumni participation as three former Stingrays bench bosses turned NHL head coaches made returns to North Charleston on Saturday.

Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals, Jared Bednar of the Colorado Avalanche, and Ryan Warsofsky of the San Jose Sharks were all in attendance at North Charleston Coliseum for the event. The three coaches met with fans and answered the local media’s questions for three hours.

Back where it all started! Media press conference with @rwarsofsky @BednarJared and Spencer Carbery to kick off our 2024 Fan Fest #OnceARayAlwaysARay pic.twitter.com/YgvHyjAydu

— SC Stingrays (@SCStingrays) August 17, 2024

Carbery, a left wing for South Carolina, played two seasons for the Stingrays from 2008-2010 and transitioned behind the bench for the 2010-11 season.  He became head coach in 2011 after Bednar and current Calgary Flames assistant coach Cail MacLean departed for jobs in the AHL.

Bednar skated on South Carolina’s blueline from 1995-2002 before jumping behind the bench as an assistant for the 2002-03 campaign. He became head coach in 2007, coaching Carbery on the 2008-09 Kelly Cup-winning South Carolina team.

Warsofsky, the youngest head coach in the NHL after being hired last June, spent two seasons as head coach of the Stingrays (2016-2018). The 36-year-old was first hired as an assistant in South Carolina on Carbery’s staff before the 2013-14 season and then took the reins once Carbery departed in 2016.

The three bench bosses combined to lead the Stingrays to six Kelly Cup Finals appearances and three Kelly Cup titles.

“I think we’re very lucky that three NHL coaches that spent a lot of time honing their craft here are able to fit this event into their schedules,” Stingrays President Rob Concannon told The Post and Courier. “They’ve never forgotten where they came from and are willing to spend time in Charleston with the fans, players, and alumni who helped them get their coaching careers started.”

Carbery and the Capitals took on Bednar’s Avalanche last year, losing both matchups. He’ll take on his former assistant, Warsofsky, for the first time on December 3 when the Sharks visit the Capitals in DC.

“It’s not Ryan Warsofsky versus Spencer Carbery, it’s San Jose against Washington,” Warsofsky said. “Spencer is one of my best friends and we both want to win. No matter what happens, we will have dinner together the night before the game and a few beers afterwards.”

“It’s going to be a special night when we face the Sharks,” Carbery added. “You look over at the other bench during the national anthem and you think about how we are connected with the other coach.

“But once the puck drops, we’re both trying to win. You know whoever wins, there’s going to be some trash-talking next summer on the golf course, so you want to win.”

South Carolina will see even more NHL coaching representation next season as former Stingrays defenseman Scott Ford will be behind the Columbus Blue Jackets bench as an assistant. Ford played for the Stingrays under Carbery and Warsofsky during the 2014-15 season.

The Stingrays open their 2024-25 season on October 19, with their home opener against the Savannah Ghost Pirates. Scott Davidson, who played for the team during the 2019-20 campaign and was an assistant coach last season, is entering his first professional season as a head coach. South Carolina missed the ECHL playoffs under Brenden Kotyk last year.