Contact: awest@thesphl.com
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (December 15, 2023) – The SPHL continues its 20th season with three games this evening. You can follow all the action this season at http://sphltv.com/
Huntsville @ Evansville (8:00 p.m. EST, 7:00 p.m. CST)
Huntsville Havoc (8-8-2, 18 pts, 6th)
• Brian Wilson is third among SPHL goaltenders with a 1.98 gaa and a .929 save percentage.
• Wilson also ranks third in the SPHL with 260 saves
• Alex Kielczewski is second (tied) among defensemen with 13 points (2g, 11a) while his 11 assists are also second (tied) among blueliners.
• Huntsville is 2-0-0 against Evansville
Evansville Thunderbolts (4-11-1, 9 pts, 10th)
• Bair Gendunov is second (tied) with 18 points (7g, 11a)
• Matt Dorsey ranks sixth among rookies with 11 points (5g, 6a)
• Chays Ruddy ranks sixth (tied) among defensemen with eight points (4g, 4a)
• Evansville leads the SPHL with an average of 23.19 penalty minutes per game through four games
• Evansville is 0-2-0 against Huntsville
Fayetteville @ Birmingham (8:05 p.m. EST, 7:05 p.m. CST)
Fayetteville Marksmen (12-4-2, 26 pts, 1st)
• Simon Boyko leads the SPHL with 78 shots
• Boyko is third (tied) with 10 goals
• Tyler Kobryn is sixth (tied) in the SPHL with 14 points (8g, 6a)
• Ryan Leith is second (tied) among rookies with a +9 rating
• Home opener record 4,711 fans packed the Crown Coliseum
• Fayetteville has not yet played Birmingham
Birmingham Bulls (10-4-2, 22 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 (1.39), sv% (.946), wins (9) and leads the league lead in shutouts (3).
• Nikita Kozyrev is second among all rookies with 15 points (5g, 10a). His 10 assists are the most (tied) among rookies
• MacGregor Sinclair ranks third (tied) among rookies with nine assists
• Drake Glover ranks third (tied) in the SPHL with 17 points (10g, 7a). His 10 goals are third-most in the SPHL
• Birmingham has not yet played Fayetteville
Peoria @ Quad City (8:10 p.m. EST, 7:10 p.m. CST)
Peoria Rivermen (10-5-1, 21 pts, 4th)
• Zach Wilkie leads the SPHL with a +13 rating
• Joseph Widmar leads the league with 19 points (tied) (5g, 14a), his 14 assists are second-best (tied)
• Mike Gelatt (6g, 7a) is fourth (tied) in points among rookies with 13 (6g, 7a)
• Ryan Nolan is third 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 12-14-23
• Peoria is 3-0-1 against Quad City
Quad City Storm (8-6-0, 16 pts, 7th)
• Matt Ustaski ranks first (tied) with 19 points (12g, 7a)
• Ustaski’s 12 goals are the most in the SPHL
• Defenseman Chris Pema is fifth (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 1-3-0 against Peoria
