Contact: awest@thesphl.com
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (March 2, 2023) – The Southern Professional Hockey League continues its 19th season with three games tonight. You can follow all the action this season at www.sphltv.com
Pensacola @ Quad City (7:10 p.m. EST, 6:10 p.m. CST)
Pensacola Ice Flyers (21-19-2)
• Garrett Milan is second in the league with 35 assists
• Milan is also second in the SPHL with 59 points (24g, 35a)
• Milan became Pensacola’s all-time points leader on February 3rd, securing his 207th point as a member of the Ice Flyers.
• Kolten Olynek (15g, 19a) is third in rookie scoring with 34 points
• Olynek’s 15 goals are second 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 49 goals in 153 chances (32.0%)
• Pensacola has not yet played Quad City
Quad City Storm (18-23-2)
• Michael Moran leads the Storm with 15 goals
• Logan Nelson leads the team with 26 points (12g, 14a)
• Tommy Tsicos leads the team lead with 15 assists
• Kevin Resop ranks third in goals against average (2.51 gaa) and save percentage (0.918%)
• Quad City has not yet played Pensacola
Birmingham @ Macon (7:30 p.m. EST, 6:30 p.m. CST)
Birmingham Bulls (27-14-3)
• 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 fifth most in the SPHL
• Birmingham is a league-best 20-1-0 this season when scoring first
• Birmingham is 1-1-1 against Macon
Macon Mayhem (9-29-2)
• Rhett Kingston leads the Marksmen in points (25) and goals (17)
• Kingston was named the SPHL Player of the Week for February 20-26 after his five-goal week.
• David Nippard’s 18 assists are a team-high.
• Macon is 2-1-0 against Birmingham
Roanoke @ Knoxville (7:35 p.m. EST, 6:35 p.m. CST)
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (25-14-3)
• Billy Vizzo leads the Dawgs with 17 goals
• Nick Ford (10g, 30a) leads the Dawgs with 40 points
• Nick Ford’s 30 assists are a team-best
• Roanoke defenseman Stephen Alvo is second amongst all blue liners with 99 shots
• Goalie Austyn Roudebush boasts a league-best 20 wins and is tied for second with a 2.48 goals-against average
• The Dawgs sit tied for fourth in the SPHL standings with 53 points
• Roanoke is 5-2-1 against Knoxville
Knoxville Ice Bears (25-16-3)
• Center Justin MacDonald leads the SPHL with 72 points (32g, 40a), and his 32 goals are a league-best
• MacDonald’s 40 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 February after posting 16 points, nine goals, and seven assists in nine 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 3-5-0 against Roanoke
