Contact: awest@thesphl.com
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (December 23, 2023) – The SPHL continues its 20th season with five games this evening. You can follow all the action this season at http://sphltv.com/
Quad City @ Knoxville (6:00 p.m. EST, 5:00 p.m. CST)
Quad City Storm (8-9-0, 16 pts, 7th)
• Leif Mattson (12g, 13a) leads the SPHL with 25 points
• Matt Ustaski is second in the SPHL with 24 points (15g, 9a)
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 Knoxville
Knoxville Ice Bears (8-10-0, 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 has not yet played Quad City
Fayetteville @ Roanoke (7:05 p.m. EST, 6:05 p.m. CST)
Fayetteville Marksmen (13-5-3, 29 pts, 2nd)
• Simon Boyko leads the SPHL with 86 shots
• Boyko is fourth (tied) with 12 goals
• Boyko is third (tied) in the SPHL with 22 points (12g, 10a)
• Ryan Leith is second among rookies with a +9 rating
• Home opener record 4,711 fans packed the Crown Coliseum
• Fayetteville is 1-3-2 against Roanoke
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (10-5-3, 23 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 (1.68) and save percentage (.939)
• Hoisted their 2023 Presidents Cup banner in front of their home crowd for the first time in franchise history
• Roanoke is 5-0-1 against Fayetteville
Birmingham @ Huntsville (8:00 p.m. EST, 7:00 p.m. CST)
Birmingham Bulls (13-4-3, 29 pts, 1st)
• 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 19 points (6g, 13a). His 13 assists are the most among rookies
• MacGregor Sinclair ranks fourth (tied) among rookies with 10 assists
• Drake Glover ranks third (tied) in the SPHL with 22 points (14g, 8a). His 14 goals are second-most in the SPHL
• Birmingham is 3-1-1 against Huntsville
Huntsville Havoc (10-9-2, 22 pts, 6th)
• Brian Wilson is third among SPHL goaltenders with a 2.06 gaa and a .926 save percentage.
• Wilson also ranks third in the SPHL with 315 saves
• David Thomson is second (tied) with three game-winning goals
• Alex Kielczewski is second among defensemen with 17 points (3g, 14a) while his 14 assists are also second among blueliners.
• Huntsville is 2-3-0 against Birmingham
Macon @ Pensacola (8:05 p.m. EST, 7:05 p.m. CST)
Pensacola Ice Flyers (12-8-0, 24 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 21 points (7g, 14a)
• Brett Mercones is sixth (tied) with 19 points (13g, 6a) and his 13 goals are third in the SPHL (tied)
• Ivan Bondarenko’s 15 assists are the third most in the league
• Pensacola is 3-0-0 against Macon
Macon Mayhem (4-11-4, 12 Pts, 10th)
• Josh Boyko leads the SPHL with 481 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
• Macon is 0-2-1 against Pensacola
Evansville @ Peoria (8:15 p.m. EST, 7:15 p.m. CST)
Evansville Thunderbolts (7-11-1, 15 pts, 9th)
• Bair Gendunov is third (tied) with 22 points (9g, 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 3-4-0 against Peoria
Peoria Rivermen (11-6-2, 24 pts, 3rd)
• Joseph Widmar is second the league with 24 points (6g, 18a), his 18 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 4-2-1 against Evansville
