ROAD WARRIORS WALLOP GLADIATORS
GREENVILLE, SC –The Greenville Road Warriors used a four-goal outburst in the second period to power their way to a 7-1 win over the Gwinnett Gladiators on Thursday night. The win improved Greenville’s record to 14-5-1 on the season and propelled the team into first place in the South Division.
Riding the wave of four straight road victories the Road Warriors returned to home ice and grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first period. After missing out on a power play that was awarded 35 seconds into the game, Greenville capitalized on its second power play of the period. Working low on the left wing, Justin Bowers fed the puck to the point for Blake Parlett who gave it across to the right point to Julien Brouillette. A quick wrist shot from Brouillette beat Chris Carrozzi high to the glove side 13:16 into the game. Dov Grumet-Morris turned away eight shots in the period to help the goal stand up.
In the second, Greenville put control of the game in a stranglehold. Four goals after the midway point of the frame and a fight involving T.J. Reynolds after the horn had sounded whipped the home crowd into a frenzy. Mark Voakes began the onslaught by banging home a rebound at 11:59. His eighth of the season was set up by Bowers and Jimmy Kilpatrick. Power play goals from Marc-Olivier Vallerand (12:45) and Blake Parlett (16:59) stretched the lead to 4-0. Brandon Wong slipped a backhander between Carrozzi’s pads 18:44 to cap the Road Warriors’ scoring in the frame. Things got a bit chippy after the period had ended with players pushing and shoving and ultimately Reynolds fought Gwinnett‘s Danick Paquette at the 20:00 mark. Greenville’s four goals in the period were one better than the three shots Gwinnett attempted.
The Gladiators tried to battle back early in the third with Sam Roberts slapping in a power play goal at 4:31. The goal broke Grumet-Morris’ stretch of shutout play at 124:38. The Road Warriors weren’t discouraged by the goal and answered back with a pair of their own. Brendan Connolly capped a two-point night (1G, 1A) with his 12th goal of the season at 9:49 and Vallerand potted his second shorthanded goal of the season at 10:53. Greenville ended the night with seven different players posting multiple points. They were: Blake Parlett (1G, 1A), Brendan Connolly (1G, 1A), Jimmy Kilpatrick (2A), Marc-Olivier Vallerand (2G), Mark Voakes (1G, 1A), Justin Bowers (2A), and Brandon Wong (1G, 2A).
Grumet-Morris won his sixth game of the season with 21 saves. The Road Warriors ended the night 3-for-6 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors are back on home ice to take on the Gwinnett Gladiators on Tuesday, December 14 at 7:05 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. The Road Warriors will be hosting their first Twofer Tuesday of the season which features two center ice tickets, two hot dogs, two drinks, and two boxes of popcorn for just $30! Group seating is still available for the game and your group of 10 or more can enjoy saving on the box office price, preferred seating based on availability, and much more by booking in advance. Call a Road Warriors group sales representative at 864-674-PUCK to book your group.
