"I am truly honored to be selected as the Executive of the Year," said Abbott, who was a finalist for the award in 2006-07. "The ECHL is filled with outstanding individuals and to be given this award means a great deal to me and to the Stingrays management team."

Abbott was presented with the award at the Annual Board of Governors Meeting held June 19-20 in Westminster, Colo. The other finalists, in alphabetical order, were Craig Brush of the Florida Everblades, Dan Chapman of the Stockton Thunder, Billy Johnson of the Las Vegas Wranglers, Gordon Kaye of the Reading Royals and Bill Yates of the Mississippi Sea Wolves.

"Darren's background and experience have allowed him to develop a broad understanding of team operations," said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna. "He has done an outstanding job of running a good business while putting a competitive product on the ice for the Stingrays fans."

South Carolina has raised its attendance the last three years and had a team record crowd of 10,565 on Jan. 19. It was the third crowd of more than 10,000 and the second sellout in the last two years for the Stingrays, who had not had a sold out crowd since 1998.

"On behalf of the entire ownership group, I would like to say how extremely proud we are of Darren's accomplishments in such a short period of time," said Herb Greenwald, governor of the South Carolina Stingrays. "To receive an award from both your peer group and the ECHL is an honor and Darren has proved to be a valuable asset to the team, fans, community, partners and the ECHL as a whole."

Abbott has been with the organization for 11 years and before being named team president was the "Voice of the Stingrays" and director of public relations and broadcasting from 1999-2006. He was named ECHL Public Relations Director of the Year in 2000 and 2001 and was selected to the television broadcast team for the ECHL All-Star Game in 2006 and 2003 and to the audio broadcast team in 2000. Before joining the Stingrays, Abbott worked two seasons as the play-by-play broadcaster and director of public relations for Roanoke of the ECHL and was the assistant sports director for WSNN Radio in Potsdam, N.Y.

ECHL Executive Of The Year Winners

2008 Darren Abbott South Carolina Stingrays
2007 Matt Riley Bakersfield Condors
2006 Steve Chapman Gwinnett Gladiators
2005 Steve Chapman Gwinnett Gladiators
2004 Terry Parks Alaska Aces
2003 John Butler Peoria Rivermen
2002 Matt Loughran Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
2001 Craig Brush Florida Everblades
2000 Brian McKenna Trenton Titans
1999 Carl Scheer Greenville Grrrowl
1998 Charles Felix Pensacola Ice Pilots
1997 David Paitson Columbus Chill
1996 Dave Berryman Louisiana IceGators
1995 Harvey Feuerstein and Craig Laughlin Richmond Renegades
1994 Jean Gagnon and Pierre Paiement Roanoke Express
1993 Larry Kish Wheeling Thunderbirds