Contact: awest@thesphl.com
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (October 20, 2023) – The SPHL begins its 20th season with three games tonight. You can follow all the action this season at https://www.flohockey.tv/
Knoxville @ Macon (7:00 p.m. EST, 6:00 p.m. CST)
Knoxville Ice Bears (0-0-0)
• Finished with a 32-22-3 record last season, 6th seed in SPHL playoffs
• Brady Fleurent returns after finishing top five in shooting percentage last season (21.5%)
• Goaltender Zane Steeves comes to the Ice Bears after playing last season in Evansville where the netminder posted a 2.97 GAA and a .912 sv%
• Kristian Stead also returns after finishing top five in wins (20), minutes played (1,818.00), and saves (956)
• Knoxville went 6-2-0 against Macon last season
Macon Mayhem (0-0-0)
• Tommy Munichiello returns after leading the Mayhem in points (40) in 2022-23
• Josh Boyko returns to the Mayhem alongside newcomer Jimmy Poreda as the tandem between the pipes
• CJ Hayes returns to Macon after collecting 28 points on 12 goals, and 16 assists in 27 games last season for the Mayhem
• Macon was 2-6-0 against Knoxville last season
Fayetteville @ Roanoke (7:05 p.m. EST, 6:05 p.m. CST)
Fayetteville Marksmen (0-0-0)
• Starting the season with nine rookies
• Kyle Soper is the highest returning scorer after his 29-point season (4g, 25a)
• Goaltender Michael Herringer returns after making four appearances in net last season, where he amassed a 1.33 GAA and a .955 sv%
• Fayetteville was 6-7-1 against Roanoke last season
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (0-0-0)
• Will hoist their 2023 Presidents Cup banner in front of their home crowd for the first time in franchise history
• The Dawgs return their top three leading scorers from last season in Nick Ford (54p), Mac Jansen (49p), and CJ Stubbs (47p)
• Goalie Austyn Roudebush returns for his sixth season, fresh off his Presidents Cup MVP award.
• Roanoke was 8-4-2 against Fayetteville last season
Huntsville @ Birmingham (8:05 p.m. EST, 7:05 p.m. CST)
Huntsville Havoc (0-0-0)
• Dominick Procopio returns after posting the second highest +/- last season (+29)
• Tyler Piacentini makes the transition from the ice, to behind the bench, joining the Havoc as an assistant coach
• Defensemen Alex Kielczewski and Derek Perl return after being in the top 20 of scoring for blue-liners
• Huntsville went 4-4-0 against Birmingham last season
Birmingham Bulls (0-0-0)
• Michael Gillespie returns after being named to the SPHL first team last season after notching 60 points (27g, 33a)
• Carson Rose is back for his third season after collecting 30 points in 27 games last season (15g, 15a)
• The goaltending tandem of Austin Lotz and Hayden Stewart look to help lead the Bulls back to the Presidents Cup finals after falling to Roanoke last season
• The Bulls went 4-4-0 against Huntsville last season
