Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a stator core including a body portion having an inner and outer surface and integral retaining mechanism extending radially from the body portion for retaining a coil of wire about at least one of the inner and outer surfaces. The present further provides for a stator core assembly including at least two stator cores having a body portion with an inner and outer surface and integral retaining mechanism extending radially from the body portion for retaining a coil of wire about at least one of the inner and outer surfaces. The retaining mechanism is further defined as having a surface perpendicular with the inner and outer surface of material and a surface parallel and axial with the inner and outer surface to form a three-sided retaining mechanism thereby forming a three-sided pocket space about the body portion.