Farynuk Captains Rays To Kelly Cup:

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Farynuk captains Rays to Kelly Cup

By Kevin Mitchell - Vernon Morning Star

Published: June 14, 2009

Brad Farynuk may be wearing a Kelly Cup championship T-shirt when he comes home to Enderby June 24.
Unfortunately, the captain of the ECHL South Carolina Stingrays won’t be bringing the historic Kelly Cup with him.
“No, we don’t get the Cup for a day,” laughed Farynuk, a former Vernon Viper defenceman. “It’s not in very good shape after all the parties we took it to after we won.”
Farynuk, 26, set up the winner by Pierre-Luc O’Brien, and finished with two assists as the Stingrays stopped the host Alaska Aces 4-2 in last Friday’s Game 7.
Farynuk was named second star behind South Carolina goalie James Reimer before 6,610 fans at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.
“It was awesome, especially after going to the finals two years ago (with Dayton Bombers) and losing (to Idaho Steelheads) and watching them celebrate on their home ice. It was nice to be on the other side this time.”
Farynuk pocketed 4-10-14 in 22 playoff games, fourth amongst ECHL defenceman. He managed 11 goals and 31 points in 50 regular-season games with South Carolina, who are based in North Charleston.
He also played up with the Quad City Flames of the American Hockey League (Calgary’s top farm team), earning one goal and three points in 17 games.
Coached by Jared Bednar, a 37-year-old Saskatchewan product who played 12 years in the Western League and minors, the Stingrays finished fourth overall in the 21-team ECHL with 90 points.
“I think when it came down to it, we had a great coach,” said Farynuk. “With Washington (Capitals), all three teams play the same system and Hershey (Bears) is in the American League final. He (Bednar) was real good. He was never too low and never too high.
“We played a fun system. We were aggressive all over the ice and had a great group of individuals who played great as a team.”
Farynuk said all three forward lines could score and goalies Reimer (Maple Leafs draft) and Johnathan Boutin (Tampa Bay property) took turns stealing wins.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder made his pro debut three years ago after picking up 79 points in four seasons with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers in New York.
His time with Quad City was also a five-star experience, a second AHL chance since he was “sick as a dog” when the Hartford Wolfpack tried calling him up in November.
“It was awesome. I was so thrilled. I got to play with Anders Eriksson as my defence partner. It was unbelievable playing with a guy who played 500 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup with Detroit. I learned so much. He made the game so simple and he made me such a better player. It was fun because he was so creative.”
Farynuk saw time on the Flames’ second powerplay unit, and got positive feedback from the coaches. Farynuk enjoyed being alongside other BCHL grads like Kris Chucko, Kyle Greentree and David Van der Gulik with Quad Cities.
“That would be unbelievable if I could get on with that team in Abbotsford (Quad Cities moved to the Fraser Valley for next year), but I really haven’t had time to reflect on next year. I’ll wait until early July and see what’s out there.”
On an off day during the Stingrays’ playoff run, Farynuk found time to listen to the final two periods of the Vipers’ Royal Bank Cup final win over the Humboldt Broncos.