CHARLESTON, S.C. — The ultimate prize is a couple of notches above him.

But Nick Jones is still reaching.

The Seneca Valley High School and Mercyhurst University graduate is playing for the East Coast Hockey League’s South Carolina Stingrays this season. The 25-year-old defenseman has collected three assists through his team’s first 12 games.

“Nick is looking to catch on with an American Hockey League team and take that next step,” Stingrays coach Spencer Carberry said. “That’s why he and his agent signed a strictly ECHL contract with us.

“If an AHL team or someone else higher up offers him a chance, he can leave at anytime.”

Jones remains hopeful his final destination is the National Hockey League. He would become the first SV graduate to get there.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mike Weber attended Seneca Valley through his freshman year, then left the area to finish his education and pursue hockey.

“Oh, yeah, that’s why I’m still playing,” Jones said of one day joining the NHL. “I had a taste of the AHL last year and what it takes to play at that level. It was a great experience for me.”

Jones had two assists in 14 games for the AHL’s Worcester Sharks — an affiliate of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks — last season. He had a two-way contract last year and was eventually sent down to the ECHL’s Indy Fuel, where he tallied seven goals and 17 assists in 45 games.

His final season at Mercyhurst was 2013-14, when he tallied 10 goals and 23 assists in 41 games and received the Best Defenseman Award in the Atlantic Conference.

“When you sign a two-way pro contract, you make so much money based on which of the two teams and leagues you’re with and you’re restricted to those two teams,” Jones explained. “By strictly signing an ECHL contract, I have a lot more options.”

Carberry believes another AHL opportunity will happen for Jones.

“He’s got the size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and Nick is an outstanding skater with an excellent shot,” Carberry said. “We have him running out first power play unit because of that shot.

“He’s a little snake-bit with that shot right now. Guys go through that when they man the point. The shot hits people, gets deflected wide ... He’s dealing with that sort of stuff. But he’ll break through.”

Carberry admitted that for Jones to reach the next level, some of those shots will have to start finding the back of the net.

“That’s the ultimate skill he brings to the table” the coach said.

“I like joining the rush and getting involved in the play offensively,” Jones said. “I do my job back in our own zone, but I guess I consider myself an offensive defenseman.”

Jones is biding his time, enduring nine-hour bus rides to Florida for games in Orlando and Fort Myers. The Stingrays even travel as far as Tulsa and Wichita for out-of-division games in the 28-team league.

“It’s a grind, but you have to be ready to play every night,” Jones said. “The only time we fly is if we’re playing in Alaska.”

Yes, the East Coast Hockey League has a team in Alaska.

“Every shift, every game, you have to shine on the ice ... That’s how you get noticed,” Carberry said. “You can’t have a bad game if you’re looking to move on.”

Jones received a degree in biology from Mercyhurst, but is unsure of what direction he wants to pursue in terms of a non-hockey career.

He’s hoping he doesn’t have to decide for a while.

“If I’m not making any progress or getting any better after a couple of years here, I’ll probably start looking at something else,” Jones said. “Until then, I’ll keep plugging away.

“We get 3,000 to 4,000 fans a night down here and it’s a passionate fan base. Some people have been season ticket holders for 20 years. It’s fun playing in front of people like that.”