Contact: awest@thesphl.com
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (December 26, 2023) – The SPHL continues its 20th season with four games this evening. You can follow all the action this season at http://sphltv.com/
Roanoke @ Knoxville (6:00 p.m. EST, 5:00 p.m. CST)
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (10-6-3, 23 pts, 5th)
• Nick Ford ranks eighth (tied) with 18 points (4g, 14a)
• Xavier Filion leads all rookies with three game-winning goals
• Austyn Roudebush is second in the SPHL in goals against average (1.72) and save percentage (.940)
• Hoisted their 2023 Presidents Cup banner in front of their home crowd for the first time in franchise history
• Roanoke has not yet played Knoxville
Knoxville Ice Bears (8-11-0, 16 pts, 8th)
• Brady Fleurent leads the Ice Bears with nine goals
• Jordan Stallard is eighth (tied) with 18 points (7g, 11a)
• Dawson McKinney is eighth (tied)
• Marco Costantini is 2-0-0 since taking over between the pipes
• Knoxville has not yet played Roanoke
Peoria @ Quad City (7:10 p.m. EST, 6:10 p.m. CST)
Peoria Rivermen (12-6-2, 26 pts, 3rd)
• Zach Wilkie leads all defensemen with 21 points (3g, 18a), his 18 assists are the most among blue liners
• Joseph Widmar is second in the league with 24 points (6g, 18a), his 18 assists are tied for the league lead
• 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 4-0-1 against Quad City
Quad City Storm (9-9-0, 18 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 tied for the most in the SPHL
• Defenseman Chris Pema is eighth (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 is 1-4-0 against Peoria
Evansville @ Huntsville (8:00 p.m. EST, 7:00 p.m. CST)
Evansville Thunderbolts (7-11-2, 16 pts, 9th)
• Bair Gendunov is tied for the league lead with 25 points (10g, 15a)
• Matt Dorsey ranks sixth among rookies with 14 points (6g, 8a)
• Chays Ruddy ranks sixth (tied) among defensemen with nine points (4g, 5a)
• Evansville is 1-2-0 against Huntsville
Huntsville Havoc (10-9-3, 23 pts, 6th)
• Brian Wilson is third among SPHL goaltenders with a 2.05 gaa and a .927 save percentage.
• Wilson also ranks fourth in the SPHL with 342 saves
• David Thomson is second (tied) with three game-winning goals
• Alex Kielczewski is second among defensemen with 18 points (3g, 15a) while his 15 assists are also second among blueliners.
• Huntsville is 2-1-0 against Evansville
Birmingham @ Pensacola (8:05 p.m. EST, 7:05 p.m. CST)
Birmingham Bulls (14-4-3, 31 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 (1.37), sv% (.949), wins (10) and leads the league lead in shutouts (3).
• Nikita Kozyrev is second among all rookies with 20 points (7g, 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 23 points (15g, 8a). His 15 goals are tied for the most in the SPHL
• Birmingham is 2-3-0 against Pensacola
Pensacola Ice Flyers (13-8-0, 26 pts, 4th)
• Zac Herrmann is second among defensemen with four goals and is fifth in points with 12 (4g, 8a)
• Garrett Milan is fourth with 22 points (7g, 15a)
• Brett Mercones is fifth (tied) with 21 points (15g, 6a) and his 15 goals are tied for the most in the SPHL
• Ivan Bondarenko’s 16 assists are the second most in the league
• Pensacola is 3-2-0 against Birmingham
