HUNTERSVILLE, NC (December 5, 2024) — The SPHL turns the calendar to December with a full schedule of games this week.
Birmingham Bulls (7-3-3)
• Birmingham went to Huntsville for a two-game series, securing a 5-4 overtime win on Thanksgiving before falling 4-2 on Friday. The Bulls then traveled to Pensacola on Saturday, where they lost 4-3 in a shootout.
• MacGregor Sinclair scored the overtime game-winner on Thursday as the Bulls rallied from a 4-2 third-period deficit
• Carson Rose scored four goals in three games to extend his lead-leading total to 13
• Taylor Brierly leads defensemen in scoring with 13 points, while his nine power-play points and eight power-play assists (tied) are tops among all players
NEXT UP: Birmingham hosts Pensacola on Thursday and Evansville on Friday (7:05 p.m. CT)
Evansville Thunderbolts (6-7-3)
• Evansville had a tough week on the road, falling 3-1 to Quad City on Wednesday before dropping a pair of games to Knoxville, 4-0 on Friday and 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday
• Goaltender Ty Taylor stopped 33 saves on 35 shots on Wednesday
• Tyson Gilmour had a goal and an assist against Knoxville on Saturday and ranks second among rookie scorers with six goals and 11 points (tied)
NEXT UP: Evansville has a three-game week as they travel to Alabama to face Huntsville on Thursday (7:00 p.m. CT) and Birmingham on Friday (7:05 p.m. CT) before heading home to face the Havoc on Saturday (7:05 p.m. CT)
Fayetteville Marksmen (9-4-1)
• Fayetteville hosted Knoxville on Wednesday, securing a 3-1 win, before falling 3-2 to Roanoke on Friday
• After 40 minutes of scoreless hockey, Tyler Barrow broke the ice early in the third period with his sixth goal of the season, and John Moncovich added two more to give Fayetteville a 3-1 win
• Dalton Hunter scored both Fayetteville goals on Friday, giving him seven for the season
• Goaltender Ryan Kenny leads the league in wins (eight-tied) and saves.
NEXT UP: Fayetteville welcomes Quad City to the Crown Coliseum for a three-game series on Friday (7:00 p.m. ET), Saturday (6:00 p.m. ET), and Sunday (3:00 p.m. ET)
Huntsville Havoc (10-2-2)
• Huntsville had a three-game stretch that started with a 3-2 win on Wednesday against Pensacola before splitting two games with Birmingham. The Havoc fell 5-4 in overtime on Thanksgiving but rallied for a 4-2 win on Friday over the Bulls.
• Jack Jaunich scored two goals, including one game-winner, and added six assists to earn Warrior SPHL Player of the Week honors. Jaunich has 16 points this season, tying him for third among all players.
• Goaltender Brian Wilson saved 75 of 79 shots in Huntsville’s two wins
NEXT UP: Huntsville begins a three-game stretch on Thursday as they welcome Evansville (7:00 p.m. CT) before traveling to Peoria on Friday (7:15 p.m. CT) and ending their weekend in Evansville on Saturday (7:05 p.m. CT)
Knoxville Ice Bears (9-6-1)
• Knoxville fell to Fayetteville 3-1 on Wednesday before rallying to shut out Evansville 4-0 on Friday and down the Thunderbolts 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday
• Goaltender Stephen Mundinger made 30 saves for his first shutout as an Ice Bear and fourth career SPHL shutout
• Mitch Atkins scored in the sixth round of the shootout on Saturday to give Knoxville the win
NEXT UP: The Ice Bears welcome Roanoke to the Knoxville Civic Coliseum on Friday (8:05 p.m. ET)
Macon Mayhem (5-8-1)
• Macon dropped a pair of games last week, falling 3-2 to Roanoke on Wednesday and 5-3 to Pensacola on Friday at the Macon Centreplex
• Rookie Dysen Skinner made 45 saves on Wednesday as the Mayhem were outshot 48-35. Skinner’s 0.951 save percentage is tied for best in the league while his 1.66 goals against average is second.
• Parker Allison and Brad Jenion both scored their first goals of the season against Roanoke on Wednesday
• Alex Cohen scored twice for the Mayhem on Friday.
NEXT UP: Macon travels to the Pensacola Bay Center to face the Ice Flyers on Friday (7:05 p.m. CT)
Pensacola Ice Flyers (4-10-1)
• Pensacola played three games last week, falling 3-2 against Huntsville on Wednesday before coming back and downing Macon 5-3 on Friday and finishing the weekend with a 4-3 shootout win against Birmingham on Saturday
• Tyler Ho opened the scoring on Friday with his first professional goal, while Jake Hamilton and Cameron Cook each scored twice
• Goaltender Kevin Resop was stellar for the Ice Flyers on Saturday, as he had a flurry of great saves in the final 90 seconds of overtime
NEXT UP: Pensacola hits the road to face Birmingham on Thursday before finishing their week back at home against Macon on Friday (7:05 p.m. CT)
Peoria Rivermen (9-2-2)
• Peoria faced Quad City in a home-and-home series, winning 4-0 at in Peoria on Friday and 5-1 at Quad City on Saturday
• Rookie goaltender Colby Muise secured his second shutout in three games on Friday, making 25 saves.
• Jordan Ernst’s third-period power-play goal on Saturday marked his second straight night of scoring with the man advantage and extended Peoria’s lead to 4-1
• Muise was named Warrior SPHL Player of the Month as he went 8-1-1 with two shutouts, a 1.60 goals against average, and a 0.940 save percentage.
NEXT UP: Peoria hosts Huntsville on Friday for their only game of the week (7:15 p.m. CT)
Quad City Storm (5-8-1)
• Quad City played three games last week, scoring a 3-1 win over Evansville on Wednesday before dropping a home-and-home series with Peoria as they fell 4-0 on Friday and 5-1 on Saturday
• Goaltender Brent Moran stopped 38 of 39 shots to get the win on Wednesday
• Leif Mattson scored Quad City’s only goal on Saturday, tallying his ninth of the season. Mattson currently ranks second in scoring with 18 points.
NEXT UP: Quad City hits the road for a three-game series at Fayetteville on Friday (7:00 p.m. ET), Saturday (6:00 p.m. ET) and Sunday (3:00 p.m. ET)
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (7-5-1)
• Roanoke defended home ice this past week, defeating Macon 3-2 on Wednesday and Fayetteville 3-2 on Friday
• Billy Roche scored his first goal of the season Wednesday to break a 1-1 tie in the third period
• Mac Jansen scored the game-winning power-play goal with just 26 seconds remaining in regulation on Saturday
• With his goal and three assists for the week, Nick Ford leads the SPHL in scoring (23 points) and assists (18)
NEXT UP: Roanoke heads to Knoxville on Friday for their only game of the week (8:05 p.m. ET)
