Contact: awest@thesphl.com
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (December 22, 2023) – The SPHL continues its 20th season with five games this evening. You can follow all the action this season at http://sphltv.com/
Birmingham @ Knoxville (6:00 p.m. EST, 5:00 p.m. CST)
Birmingham Bulls (12-4-3, 27 pts, 2nd)
• Hayden Stewart was named SPHL Player of the Month after posting a 7-2-0 record, 1.43 gaa, and a .940 sv% which are all league-best
• Stewart leads the SPHL in GAA (1.40), sv% (.948), wins (10) and leads the league lead in shutouts (3).
• Nikita Kozyrev is second among all rookies with 18 points (6g, 12a). His 12 assists are the most among rookies
• MacGregor Sinclair ranks third (tied) among rookies with 10 assists
• Drake Glover ranks fourth in the SPHL with 20 points (12g, 8a). His 12 goals are second-most (tied) in the SPHL
• Birmingham is 3-0-0 against Knoxville
Knoxville Ice Bears (8-9-0, 16 pts, 8th)
• Brady Fleurent leads the Ice Bears with nine goals
• Jordan Stallard is sixth (tied) with 18 points (7g, 11a)
• Kristian Stead is sixth in the league with 247 saves
• Marco Costantini is 2-0-0 since taking over between the pipes
• Knoxville is 0-3-0 against Birmingham
Roanoke @ Fayetteville (7:00 p.m. EST, 6:00 p.m. CST)
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (9-5-3, 21 pts, 5th)
• Nick Ford ranks sixth (tied) with 18 points (4g, 14a)
• Ford’s 14 assists are fourth (tied) in the SPHL
• Austyn Roudebush is second in the SPHL in goals against average (1.79) and save percentage (.937)
• Hoisted their 2023 Presidents Cup banner in front of their home crowd for the first time in franchise history
• Roanoke is 4-0-1 against Fayetteville
Fayetteville Marksmen (13-5-2, 28 pts, 1st)
• Simon Boyko leads the SPHL with 83 shots
• Boyko is second (tied) with 12 goals
• Boyko is third (tied) in the SPHL with 21 points (12g, 9a)
• Ryan Leith is second among rookies with a +10 rating
• Home opener record 4,711 fans packed the Crown Coliseum
• Fayetteville is 1-3-1 against Roanoke
Pensacola @ Macon (8:00 p.m. EST, 7:00 p.m. CST)
Pensacola Ice Flyers (11-8-0, 22 pts, 4th)
• Zac Herrmann is second among defensemen with four goals and is fourth (tied) in points with 12 (4g, 8a)
• Garrett Milan is fifth with 19 points (7g, 12a)
• Brett Mercones is sixth (tied) with 18 points (12g, 6a) and his 12 goals are second in the SPHL (tied)
• Ivan Bondarenko’s 15 assists are the third most in the league
• Pensacola is 2-0-0 against Macon
Macon Mayhem (4-10-4, 12 Pts, 10th)
• Josh Boyko leads the SPHL with 447 saves
• Alex LaPlante (7g, 7a) ranks third (tied) among rookies with 14 points
• Michael McChesney is third overall (tied) with four power-play goals, and leads all rookies
• CJ Hayes ranks sixth (tied) with 12 points (5g, 7a)
• Macon is 0-1-1 against Pensacola
Quad City @ Huntsville (8:00 p.m. EST, 7:00 p.m. CST)
Quad City Storm (8-8-0, 16 pts, 7th)
• Leif Mattson (11g, 12a) and Matt Ustaski (15g, 8a) lead the SPHL with 23 points
• Ustaski’s 15 goals are the most in the SPHL
• Defenseman Chris Pema is sixth (tied) amongst all blue liners with nine points (2g, 7a)
• Tommy Tsicos scored a goal in his 200th appearance for the franchise in a 4-1 defeat to the Rivermen
• Quad City has not yet played Huntsville
Huntsville Havoc (9-9-2, 20 pts, 6th)
• Brian Wilson is third among SPHL goaltenders with a 1.89 gaa and a .932 save percentage.
• Wilson also ranks third in the SPHL with 287 saves
• David Thomson is second (tied) with three game-winning goals
• Alex Kielczewski is third (tied) among defensemen with 15 points (2g, 13a) while his 13 assists are also second among blueliners.
• Huntsville has not yet played Quad City
Evansville @ Peoria (8:15 p.m. EST, 7:15 p.m. CST)
Evansville Thunderbolts (6-11-1, 11 pts, 9th)
• Bair Gendunov is third (tied) with 21 points (8g, 13a)
• Matt Dorsey ranks sixth among rookies with 13 points (6g, 7a)
• Chays Ruddy ranks sixth (tied) among defensemen with nine points (4g, 5a)
• Evansville is 2-4-0 against Peoria
Peoria Rivermen (11-6-1, 23 pts, 3rd)
• Zach Wilkie leads the SPHL with a +14 rating (tied)
• Joseph Widmar is second the league with 22 points (5g, 17a), his 17 assists lead the league
• Mike Gelatt (6g, 7a) is sixth (tied) in points among rookies with 13
• Ryan Nolan is third (tied) among all rookies with eight goals
• Coach’s son Tristian Trudel suits up for the Rivermen this season, becoming the first-ever father-son coaching and playing duo in SPHL history
• Franchise record, 8,701 fans vs Quad City on December 14th
• Peoria is 4-2-0 against Evansville
