Contact: awest@thesphl.com
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (March 2, 2024) – The SPHL continues its 20th season with five games this evening. You can follow all the action this season at http://sphltv.com/
Knoxville @ Roanoke (7:05 p.m. EST, 6:05 p.m. CST)
Knoxville Ice Bears (15-25-4, 34 pts, 9th)
• Dawson McKinney leads the Ice Bears with 26 points (12g, 14a) and ranks ninth (tied) among rookies with his 26 points.
• Jason Price is 11th among defensemen with 15 points (0g, 15a)
• Tyler Rollo (5g, 15a) ranks 12th (tied) among rookies with 20 points.
• Knoxville is 1-4-1 against Roanoke
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (25-12-7, 57 pts, 3rd)
• Matt O’Dea leads all defensemen with 34 points (7g, 27a), his 27 assists are the most among blue liners.
• Xavier Filion is second among rookies with four game-winning goals.
• Brenden Pepe ranks fourth among defensemen with 27 points (7g, 20a). His 20 assists are tied for the fourth most among defensemen.
• Austyn Roudebush is sixth in the SPHL in goals against average (2.62) and save percentage (.905)
• Roanoke is 5-0-1 against Knoxville
Quad City @ Evansville (8:00 p.m. EST, 7:00 p.m. CST)
Quad City Storm (25-19-0, 50 pts, 6th)
• Matt Ustaski had a 12-game point streak (21 pts) dating from December 15th – January 27th.
• Ustaski (24g, 25a) is tied for second in the SPHL with 49 points and his 24 goals are the second most in the SPHL.
• Leif Mattson is fourth in the SPHL with 46 points (20g, 26a)
• Defenseman Dillion Fournier is third amongst all blueliners with 30 points (4g, 26a). His 26 assists are the second most among defensemen.
• Quad City is 7-3-0 against Evansville
Evansville Thunderbolts (18-23-3, 39 pts, 8th)
• Cole Ceci ranks fourth among goaltenders with a 2.48 gaa and .923 sv%; his 12 wins are the fifth most.
• Brendan Harrogate is third in the SPHL with 139 shots.
• Myles Abatte ranks 10th (tied) among rookies with 24 points (10g, 14a)
• Scott Kirton is also tied for 13th in the SPHL with 28 points (14g, 14a), his 14 goals lead the Thunderbolts.
• Evansville is 3-7-1 against Quad City
Macon @ Huntsville (8:00 p.m. EST, 7:00 p.m. CST)
Macon Mayhem (12-26-6, 30 Pts, 10th)
• Josh Boyko is fifth in the SPHL with 663 saves.
• Alex LaPlante (23g, 13a) ranks third among rookies with 36 points. His 23 goals lead all rookies.
• Michael McChesney is tied for the top spot overall with seven power-play goals and leads all rookies.
• McChesney also ranks fourth among rookies with 28 points (16g, 12a)
• Macon is 1-0-0 against Huntsville.
Huntsville Havoc (22-16-7, 51 pts, 5th)
• Brian Wilson is seventh among SPHL goaltenders with a 2.67 gaa and a .906 save percentage.
• Wilson also ranks fourth in the SPHL with 706 saves.
• David Thomson is second (tied) with five game-winning goals.
• Alex Kielczewski is fourth among defensemen with 26 points (5g, 21a) while his 21 assists are also third among blueliners.
• Huntsville is 0-1-0 against Macon.
Fayetteville @ Pensacola (8:05 p.m. EST, 7:05 p.m. CST)
Fayetteville Marksmen (25-14-5, 55 pts, 4th)
• Boyko ranks eighth in the SPHL with 37 points (18g, 19a) (tied)
• Grant Loven is fourth among rookies with 31 points (11g, 20a)
• Matt Araujo (5g, 17a) is tied for fifth among defensemen with 22 points.
• Kyle Soper (5g, 14a) is tied for eighth among rookies with 20 points
• Fayetteville is 17-1-1 when scoring first this season.
• Fayetteville is 1-0-1 against Pensacola.
Pensacola Ice Flyers (20-20-3, 43 pts, 7th)
• Recently acquired Joseph Widmar is second in the SPHL with 45 points (11g, 34a)
• Widmar’s 34 assists are the most in the SPHL.
• Zac Herrmann leads all defensemen with eight goals and is seventh in points with 21 (8g, 13a)
• Garrett Milan is eighth (tied) with 37 points (10g, 27a). Milan’s 27 assists are the third most in the league (tied)
• Pensacola is 1-1-0 against Fayetteville
Birmingham @ Peoria (8:15 p.m. EST, 7:15 p.m. CST)
Birmingham Bulls (30-8-7, 67 pts, 1st)
• Clinched a playoff berth.
• Hayden Stewart leads the SPHL in GAA (1.89), sv% (.933), wins (21), and is second in the league lead in shutouts (3).
• Nikita Kozyrev leads all rookies with 43 points (12g, 31a). His 31 assists are the most among rookies.
• Carson Rose leads the SPHL with 50 points (23g, 27a)
• Drake Glover is tied for third in the SPHL with 46 points (26g, 20a). His 26 goals lead the SPHL.
• MacGregor Sinclair ranks sixth among rookies with 25 points (10g, 15a)
• The Bulls are 21-1-4 when they score first this season.
• Birmingham is 0-1-0 against Peoria.
Peoria Rivermen (29-11-5, 63 pts, 2nd)
• Clinched a playoff berth.
• Nick Latinovich leads the SPHL with five shutouts.
• Zach Wilkie is second among defensemen with 33 points (7g, 26a), Both are second among blue liners.
• Alec Baer is fourth in the SPHL with 45 points (19g, 26a) (tied)
• Alec Hagaman is seventh with 40 points (21g, 19a)
• Coach’s son Tristian Trudel suits up for the Rivermen this season, becoming the first-ever father-son coaching and playing duo in SPHL history.
• Peoria is 21-4-2 when scoring first this season.
• Peoria is 1-0-0 against Birmingham.
