Contact: awest@thesphl.com
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (February 24, 2023) – The Southern Professional Hockey League continues its 19th season with five games tonight. You can follow all the action this season at www.sphltv.com
Knoxville @ Roanoke (7:05 p.m. EST, 6:05 p.m. CST)
Knoxville Ice Bears (25-14-3)
• Center Justin MacDonald leads the SPHL with 73 points (31g, 42a), and his 31 goals are a league-best
• MacDonald’s 42 assists are a league-best
• MacDonald’s 12 power play goals are tied for the most in the league
• MacDonald was named the SPHL player of the Month for January after posting 21 points, 11 goals, and 10 assists in 11 games played
• MacDonald is chasing history as he has the chance to catch or pass Kevin Swider’s team-record 106 points in a single season.
• When outshooting their opponents, Knoxville is 9-3-1
• Knoxville is 3-3-0 against Roanoke
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (23-14-3)
• Billy Vizzo leads the Dawgs with 17 goals
• Mac Jansen (13g, 22a), and Nick Ford (9g, 26a) are tied for the team lead with 35 points
• Nick Ford’s 26 assists are a team-best
• Roanoke defenseman Stephen Alvo is second amongst all blue liners with 96 shots
• Goalie Austyn Roudebush boasts a league-best 18 wins and is third with a 2.46 goals-against average
• The Dawgs sit in fourth in the SPHL standings with 49 points
• Roanoke is 3-2-1 against Knoxville
Huntsville @ Fayetteville (7:15 p.m. EST, 6:15 p.m. CST)
Huntsville Havoc (25-13-2)
• Goalie Nick Latinovich ranks tied for second in the SPHL with 15 wins, while his 2.72 gaa is the fourth-best amongst netminders
• Sy Nutkevitch is third in the league with 32 assists
• Dominick Procopio is tied for second in the league with a +24 rating
• Huntsville is 3-0-0 against Fayetteville
Fayetteville Marksmen (17-19-6)
• Brian Bowen and Drake Glover are tied for the Marksmen lead with 17 goals
• Bowen also leads the Marksmen in assists (26), and points (43)
• Austin Alger is second in the league lead among rookies with 15 power play points
• Brian Bowen ranks tied for first in the league with 206 shots on goal
• Fayetteville is 0-3-0 against Huntsville
Quad City @ Macon (7:30 p.m. EST, 6:30 p.m. CST)
Quad City Storm (17-22-2)
• Michael Moran leads the Storm with 15 goals
• Tommy Tsicos leads the team lead with 14 assists
• Kevin Resop leads the league in goals against average (2.40 gaa) and save percentage (0.920%)
• Quad City has not yet played Macon
Macon Mayhem (7-28-2)
• Tommy Munichiello (10g, 14a) leads the Mayhem with 24 points.
• Rhett Kingston and Caleb Cameron are tied for the team lead with 12 goals
• David Nippard’s 17 assists are a team-high.
• Macon has not yet played Quad City
Pensacola @ Birmingham (8:00 p.m. EST, 7:00 p.m. CST)
Pensacola Ice Flyers (21-17-1)
• Garrett Milan is second in the league with 33 assists
• Milan is also second in the SPHL with 56 points (23g, 33a)
• Milan became Pensacola’s all-time points leader on February 3rd, securing his 207th point as a member of the Ice Flyers.
• Kolten Olynek (14g, 18a) is tied for third in rookie scoring with 32 points
• Olynek’s 14 goals are tied for first among rookies
• Ryan Orgel is third among rookies in power-play assists (10) and is tied for fifth with 12 power play points
• The Ice Flyers have the top home power play, converting 35 of 84 chances (41.7%), while also having the top-ranked power play overall with 46 goals in 142 chances (32.4%)
• Pensacola is 3-6-0 against Birmingham
Birmingham Bulls (25-14-3)
• Michael Gillespie is tied for third in the league with 21 goals
• Gillespie is third in the SPHL with 52 points (21g, 31a)
• Gillespie’s 31 assists are third in the SPHL
• Birmingham is a league-best 18-1-0 this season when scoring first
• Birmingham is 6-1-2 against Pensacola
Evansville @ Peoria (8:15 p.m. EST, 6:15 p.m. CST)
Evansville Thunderbolts (23-14-2)
• Zane Steeves ranks tied for fifth in the league with 11 wins
• Scott Kirton (19g, 19a), and Aaron Huffnagle (8g, 30a) are tied for the team lead with 38 points
• Aaron Huffnagle leads Evansville and ranks tied for fifth in the league with 30 assists
• The Thunderbolts are 15-3-0 when scoring first
• Evansville is 3-2-1 against Peoria
Peoria Rivermen (30-9-3)
• Alec Hagaman leads the Rivermen in goals (19), assists (30), and points (49)
• Alec Hagaman is tied for fifth in the league with 12 power play assists along with teammate Alec Baer.
• Tyler Barrow is fourth among rookies with 30 points (11g, 19a)
• Zach Wilkie leads the league with a +35 rating
• Eric Levine leads the league with four shutouts
• Peoria is the first team this season to reach the 30-win mark
• Peoria is 3-2-1 against Evansville
