VERSUS 
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors forced Stingrays fans to wait the duration of the game to toss their teddy bears on Saturday night. The Road Warriors earned a 2-0 win to defeat the Stingrays at the North Charleston Coliseum.
The first period was action packed and featured solid scoring opportunities for both clubs. It was the goalies, however, who stole the show and left the game scoreless after 20 minutes of play. Greenville sent eight shots Todd Fords’ way, including a ringing scoring chance for Marc-Olivier Vallerand near the seven-minute mark of the period. The reigning ECHL goalie of the year was able to make the save and prevent a rebound opportunity. Dov Grumet-Morris was equal to the challenge for Greenville and turned in six saves in the period. Much of South Carolina’s offense came while on the power play, but the goaltending and penalty killers turned away all three of the Stingrays’ power plays.
Defense and goaltending reigned supreme in the second period, just like they did in the first, but the Road Warriors put up enough offense to grab a one-goal lead heading into the second intermission. At the 2:34 mark of the period South Carolina had the best chance of the night to grab the lead. Dylan Yeo was awarded a penalty shot but his wrist shot was gloved down by Grumet-Morris. It was the first penalty shot attempted against the Road Warriors this season. When Greenville got a breakaway of its own a few minutes later Justin Bowers did not make the same mistake Yeo did. Bowers used a backhand-to-forehand deke to get Ford out of position and give himself some open net to shoot for. The Road Warriors’ center slipped it past Ford at 10:45 of the second with the lone assist going to Jimmy Kilpatrick.
Greenville was determined to not allow for a dramatic comeback by the Stingrays and did its best to salt the game away with a power play score almost halfway through the frame. After taking a pass from Julien Brouillette on the left wing, Kilpatrick turned a wrist shot on goal. Ford made the save with his left arm, but left the rebound right in the crease. Paul McIlveen pounced on it and potted his third goal of the season at 8:14. The Stingrays bombarded Grumet-Morris with 11 shots in the third period, and pulled Ford for the extra attacker with about 1:45 left in the game. Grumet-Morris was dialed in, though, and denied each shot he faced and when Matt Scherer took a tripping minor with less than a minute remaining the Stingrays’ comeback hopes were dashed.
Grumet-Morris earned his second shutout in his last three starts with 26 saves. The Road Warriors were 1-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-3 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. It will be the Road Warriors’ first Twofer Tuesday of the season. You can pick up two center ice tickets, two hot dogs, two sodas, and two boxes of popcorn for just $30! There is also group seating still available for the game and your group of 10 or more can enjoy discounted tickets, preferred seating based on availability and much more by booking in advance. Call 864-674-PUCK to speak to a Road Warriors group sales representative.
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