Contact: awest@thesphl.com
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (December 8, 2022) – The Southern Professional Hockey League continues its 19th season tonight with two days of games. You can follow all the action this season at www.sphltv.com
Birmingham Bulls (9-4-1)
• Michael Gillespie is tied for the top spot in points (26) and goals (10), while ranking third in assists with 13
• Carson Rose is tied for first in the league with 10 goals after his four-goal performance on Friday against Macon
• Birmingham is 6-0-0 this season when scoring first
• The Bulls are 0-0-1 against Pensacola and have yet to play Roanoke this season
NEXT UP: Birmingham will host Pensacola on Friday before traveling to Roanoke on Saturday (Puck drop 7:00 p.m. CT Friday | 7:05 p.m. ET SAT)
Evansville Thunderbolts (11-6-2)
• Zane Steeves is tied for the league lead with seven wins while posting a 2.45 goals against average, good for sixth-best amongst netminders
• The Thunderbolts sit atop the SPHL with 24 points in 17 games and are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games
• Mike Ferraro ranks tied for second with nine goals
• Thunderbolts are 8-1-0 when scoring first
• Evansville played Huntsville on Tuesday night, falling to the Havoc 3-0. Evansville is 3-0-0 against Vermilion County
NEXT UP: Evansville will host Vermillion County on Saturday (Puck drop 7:00 p.m. CT SAT)
Fayetteville Marksmen (7-8-2)
• Carlos Fornaris leads the Marksmen in both points (15) and assists (11)
• Austin Alger is tied for the league lead amongst rookies with 10 assists in 16 games
• Brian Bowen ranks second in the league with 82 shots on goal
• Fayetteville is 1-2-0 against Macon
NEXT UP: Fayetteville travels to Macon on Friday for their only game this week (Puck drop 7:30 p.m. ET FRI)
Huntsville Havoc (9-5-0)
• Goalie Nick Latinovich is tied for the league lead with seven wins while his 2.11 gaa is the fourth-best amongst netminders
• Kyle Clarke currently leads all players with a 40.0% shooting percentage (6/15)
• Huntsville is 0-1-0 against Peoria
NEXT UP: Huntsville will travel to Peoria on Friday and Saturday (Puck drop | 7:15 p.m. CT FRI/SAT)
Knoxville Ice Bears (8-5-2)
• Center Justin MacDonald is tied for first in the SPHL with 26 points (9g, 17a)
• MacDonald’s 17 assists are also second-best in the league
• When leading after two periods, Knoxville is 5-1-0
• Knoxville has not yet played Quad City
NEXT UP: Knoxville travels to Quad City for two matchups on Friday and Saturday (Puck drop 7:10 p.m. CT FRI/SAT)
Macon Mayhem (2-9-2)
• Tommy Munichiello leads the Mayhem with 11 points (4g, 7a)
• Defenseman Rourke Russell is tied for second amongst defensemen with five power-play assists and is tied for fourth amongst blueliners with nine points (1g, 8a)
• CJ Hayes leads the Mayhem with five goals, two of those coming on the power-play and one being a game-winner
• The Mayhem are 2-1-0 against Fayetteville and 0-1-2 against Pensacola
NEXT UP: Macon welcomes Fayetteville to town on Friday before facing Pensacola at the Macon Coliseum on Saturday (Puck drop 7:30 p.m. ET FRI | 6:30 p.m. ET SAT)
Pensacola Ice Flyers (8-8-0)
• Dallas Comeau was named the Warrior/SPHL Player of the Week after his five goals, two assists, and +3 rating last week for the Ice Flyers
• Garrett Milan is tied for second in the league with 23 points (5g, 18a) and his 18 assists are a league-best
• Kolten Olynek is tied for fifth among rookies with 12 points (6g, 6a).
• Ryan Orgel leads all rookies in power-play points (7) and is tied for first with five power-play assists
• The Ice Flyers have the top home power play, converting 13 of 32 chances (40.6%) while also having the second-ranked power play overall with 17 goals in 57 chances (29.8%)
• Pensacola is 1-0-0 against Birmingham and 3-0-0 against Macon
NEXT UP: Pensacola travels to Birmingham on Friday before heading to Macon on Saturday (Puck drop 7:00 p.m. CT FRI | 6:30 p.m. ET SAT)
Peoria Rivermen (10-3-1)
• Alec Baer leads the Rivermen in points (17) and goals (7) and is second in assists with 10
• Peoria is 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and their 0.714 win percentage is the best in the league
• Peoria is 1-0-0 against Huntsville
NEXT UP: Peoria will face the Havoc at home for games on Friday and Saturday (Puck drop: 7:15 p.m. CT FRI/SAT)
Quad City Storm (9-6-0)
• Michael Moran is tied for third in the league with eight goals
• The Storm are 5-2 on home ice
• Has the second-best home power-play record with a 37.0% conversion rate (10 of 27)
• Quad City has not faced Knoxville this season
NEXT UP: Quad City welcomes the Knoxville Ice Flyers to the Vibrant Arena at The MARK for games on Friday and Saturday (Puck drop 7:10 p.m. CT FRI/SAT)
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (9-4-1)
• Travis Broughman leads the Dawgs with 16 points (7g, 9a)
• Billy Vizzo leads the Dawgs with a +9 rating
• Travis Broughman is first amongst rookies with 76 shots on goal
• Roanoke has not yet played Birmingham this season
NEXT UP: Roanoke hosts Birmingham on Saturday for their lone game this week (Puck drop: 7:05 p.m. ET FRI)
Vermilion County Bobcats (2-13-1)
• Davis Kirkendall leads the team in assists with eight while also being one of two Bobcats with double-digit points (10)
• Vadim Vasjonkin and Aaron Ryback both lead the Bobcats with two power-play goals and one game-winning goal each
• Vermilion County is 0-2-1 against Evansville
NEXT UP: Vermilion County travels to Evansville on Saturday for their only game this week (Puck drop 7:00 p.m. CT SAT)
