Contact: awest@thesphl.com
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (March 4, 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
Knoxville @ Macon (6:30 p.m. EST, 5:30 p.m. CST)
Knoxville Ice Bears (26-16-3 | 4th)
• 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.
• Kristian Stead leads the league in save percentage (0.923 sv%)
• When outshooting their opponents, Knoxville is 9-3-1
• Knoxville is 4-0-0 against Macon
Macon Mayhem (9-31-2 | 10th)
• 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 and Kyle Soper are tied for the Mayhem team lead with 18 assists
• Macon is 0-4-0 against Knoxville
Pensacola @ Quad City (8:10 p.m. EST, 7:10 p.m. CST)
Pensacola Ice Flyers (22-19-2 | 7th)
• Garrett Milan is second in the league with 37 assists
• Milan is also second in the SPHL with 61 points (24g, 37a)
• Milan became Pensacola’s all-time points leader on February 3rd, securing his 207th point as a member of the Ice Flyers.
• Kolten Olynek (17g, 19a) is second in rookie scoring with 36 points
• Olynek’s 17 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 50 goals in 156 chances (32.1%)
• Pensacola is 1-0-0 against Quad City
Quad City Storm (18-24-2 | 9th)
• Michael Moran leads the Storm with 15 goals
• Tommy Tsicos leads the team lead with 15 assists
• Kevin Resop is third in the league in goals against average (2.53 gaa) and is third in save percentage (0.917%)
• Quad City is 0-1-0 against Pensacola
Evansville @ Peoria (Grossinger Motors Arena, Bloomington, IL) (8:15 p.m. EST, 7:15 p.m. CST)
Evansville Thunderbolts (24-15-2 | 6th)
• Zane Steeves ranks sixth in the league with 11 wins
• Aaron Huffnagle (8g, 32a) lead the Thunderbolts with 40 points
• Aaron Huffnagle leads Evansville and is fourth in the league with 32 assists
• The Thunderbolts are 16-3-0 when scoring first
• Evansville is 4-3-1 against Peoria
Peoria Rivermen (31-10-3 | 1st)
• *Clinched Playoff Berth*
• 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 +33 rating
• Eric Levine leads the league with four shutouts
• Peoria is the first team this season to reach the 30-win mark
• Peoria is 4-3-1 against Evansville
