READING UP NEXT FOR WARRIORS

READING, PA – A battle of division leaders highlights tonight’s slate of ECHL games as the Greenville Road Warriors pay their first visit to the Sovereign Center for a 7:05 p.m. faceoff with the Reading Royals. Tonight the Road Warriors resume their season-long seven-game road trip following the all-star break.

RECAPPING THE ACTION:

1/23/11: GRW 2 – GWT 1

The Greenville Road Warriors used sound defense and excellent goaltending to snuff out a two-game losing streak and take down the Gwinnett Gladiators in their final game before the all-star break. The line of Shane Harper, Connor Shields, and Brandon Wong accounted for both goals in a game that the Road Warriors never trailed. Following a scoreless first, Harper extended his point streak to eight games with a goal 7:26 into the third period with assists from Sam Klassen and Lee Baldwin. That one-goal lead stood heading into the third period thanks to 20 saves from Nic Riopel up to that point. His busiest period of the night was in the third when Gwinnett peppered the net with 17 shots. Riopel denied all but Michael Forney’s point shot 3:56 into the frame. That goal only served, though, to cut Greenville’s lead in half because of a quick strike to open the period. At the 1:56 mark, Shields buried his 13th of the season with Harper and Wong earning the assists. The Road Warriors’ win was their third of the season in Gwinnett and snapped a four-game losing streak at the hands of the Gladiators.

1/22/11: REA 5 – FLA 4

In a game marred by an ugly brawl that saw players leave each team’s bench, the Royals salvaged a trip to southwest Florida with a comeback win last Saturday. At 14:47 of the first period, with Florida leading 1-0, a fracas broke out that drew players into the fray from both the Royals’ and Everblades’ benches, resulted in 107 penalty minutes between both clubs, and earned six different players ejections from the game. Each team lost three players to game misconducts and Florida quickly built up a 4-1 lead by the 2:28 mark of the second period. A goaltending change, though, provided the spark Reading needed to come back in the game. Michael Hutchinson turned aside all 17 shots he faced and put the brakes on a potent Florida attack. From 4:33 of the second period on it was all Reading. Ben Gordon had the goal then to pull Reading within two then All-Star forward John Scrymgeour netted a pair of goals at 4:59 and 13:43, respectively, to knot the score. Just 36 seconds after the tying goal, Reading’s Jared Ross potted the eventual winner. The depleted Everblades’ lineup managed just eight shots in the third period and a comeback attempt never really materialized.

WHAT’S ON TAP FOR TONIGHT:

Tonight is the first of three meetings this season between the Road Warriors and Reading Royals. The organizations, though, have a history from when the Road Warriors played in Johnstown, PA. Over the nine-year rivalry between the clubs, Johnstown held a 46-31-6 record against the Royals. Tonight is also the first game for the Road Warriors against an Atlantic Division opponent. Overall, Greenville is 7-1-0 against teams from outside the South Division. The Royals, meanwhile, have the best record of any northern team against the South Division at 5-3-2. The only other team in the league outside of the South with a winning record against the division is Cincinnati at 4-2-0.

Shane Harper came to the pro ranks after a prolific career with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL. He finished last season with a club record 42 goals and set the all-time mark for goals in a career with 100. His goal and assist last game extended his point streak to a career-best eight games (4G, 7A) which is the fourth-longest in the ECHL this season and second-longest for the Road Warriors. He has at least one point in 14 of his 18 games.

Tonight the Road Warriors welcome back for-ward Andrew Carroll, who had been with the Peoria Rivermen in the AHL, to their lineup. Carroll has played eight games with the Road Warriors this season and produced nine points (6G, 3A). He has played 27 AHL games combined between Abbottsford and Peoria. In 14 games with the Rivermen he notched three points (1G, 2A) and had two (1G, 1A) in 13 games with Abbottsford.

Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors will return home from a seven-game road trip on Wednesday, February 9 to take on the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:05 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. The Road Warriors will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with special games and promotions throughout the evening. Group seating remains available for the game and you can call 864-674-PUCK to book your group outing and save off the box office price, receive preferred seating based on availability, and enjoy other great benefits.