GREENVILLE, SC – Continuing their countdown of the top moments from their inaugural season in the ECHL, the Greenville Road Warriors today revealed top moment number four.
On February 19, 2011 6,388 fans piled into the BI-LO Center to watch the Road Warriors take on the arch-rival South Carolina Stingrays. It turned out to be the biggest crowd of the season for the Road Warriors, and those in attendance won’t soon forget the way that game played out.
That game on a chilly Saturday night was the third of four consecutive games between the Road Warriors and Stingrays. A rocky month of January from Greenville allowed South Carolina to close the gap between the first place Road Warriors and themselves. If the four game stretch against the ‘Rays had gone poorly, the Road Warriors would have been out of first place for the first time since early December. South Carolina captured game one on its home ice, but Greenville roared back to take the first of two straight games at the BI-LO Center. Would the Road Warriors be able to defend their home ice again on Saturday, or would the Stingrays rebound?
After 40 minutes of play, the final result was still very much up in the air as the teams were tied at one goal each. Trent Campbell, who had pestered Greenville all season, put South Carolina head 2-1 just past the six minute mark of the third, but the Road Warriors had a retort. Goals by Sam Klassen and Chris Clackson 3:10 apart had the Road Warriors up 3-2 with just over six minutes to play. Unfazed by the deficit, South Carolina received a tying goal by Tommy Goebel at 18:20 and allowed the ‘Rays to earn a standings point for making it to overtime.
With momentum on their side, the Stingrays surged in overtime and out-shot the Road Warriors 5-2. With neither team able to cash in, though, everyone was preparing to see the first home shootout in Road Warriors history. That all changed in the blink of an eye with a couple of quick saves by Nic Riopel and a dash up ice by Connor Shields. In the waning moments of overtime the play of Riopel and Shields provided top moment number four from the 2010-11 season.
Don’t miss a minute of action with the Road Warriors this season! 2011-12 season ticket packages and half-season ticket packages are on sale right now. Fans can call 864-674-PUCK (7825) to speak to a Road Warriors ticket representative. Season tickets start as low as $300 and can be reserved with a deposit of just $100.
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