BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of Greenville Road Warriors
GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors moved their record back to .500 last week thanks to a two-game sweep of the Florida Everblades over the weekend. This week Greenville looks to keep piling up the wins with three home games in as many days on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Record: 3-3-0, 6 pts., 3rd place South Division
Leaders:
Goals – Jeff Prough: 4
Assists – Wes Cunningham: 6
Points – Jeff Prough/Wes Cunningham: 7
+/- – Brett Robinson: +5
PIMs – Brendan Connolly: 26
PPG – Brendan Connolly: 2
SHG – None
Wins – Nic Riopel: 3
GAA – Nic Riopel: 3.00
SVP – Nic Riopel: .899
Previewing the Upcoming Week:
11/3 vs. Toledo – 7:35 p.m., Home vs. TOL 0-0-0, Away vs. TOL 0-0-0
Thursday night marks the first ever visit by the Toledo Walleye to the BI-LO Center to battle the Road Warriors. Greenville played twice in Toledo last season and came away with a 2-0-0 record. Greenville and Toledo meet five times this season; three times in Greenville and twice in Toledo. The Walleye have played four games so far this season and are off to a 1-3-0 start. They have scored the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference with seven. Thursday will also mark the return of former Greenville Grrrowl goaltender and assistant coach Nick Vitucci. Vitucci, head coach of the Walleye for the last two seasons, played goal for the Grrrowl in his final three seasons as a player from 1998 to 2001 and had a record of 44-38-8. He was an assistant coach for the Grrrowl from 2001 to 2003 before moving on as the head coach of the Toledo Storm beginning in 2003. Vitucci was a part of the inaugural ECHL Hall of Fame class in 2008.
11/4 vs. Reading – 7:35 p.m., Home vs. REA 0-1-0, Away vs. REA 0-0-0
The Road Warriors will face the Royals for the second time this season on Friday night. Greenville will be looking for a measure of revenge after launching a season-high 44 shots on goal on Oct. 15 but still falling a goal short in a 3-2 loss. The 44 shots were the second most ever by the Road Warriors in a regulation game. Reading enters the week with a 3-3-1 record which is good for second place in the Atlantic Division. Reading has been strong away from home this season and sports a 2-0-1 record away from the Sovereign Center.
11/5 vs. Florida – 7:05 p.m., Home vs. FLA 2-0-0, Away vs. FLA 0-0-0
The Road Warriors wrap up their first three-in-three of the season by playing host to the Florida Everblades on Saturday night. Greenville will be going for its third straight win over Florida after sweeping a pair of games on October 28 and 29. Greenville won the games by a combined score of 12-7 and went 3-for-8 on the power play. The Everblades will be finishing up a nine-game road trip that began on October 21 and took them through the Atlantic and South Divisions. Florida is 1-4-0 away from Germain Arena on the trip and has surrendered the second most goals, 31, in the ECHL entering play this week.
Day-by-Day Schedule:
10/31/11 – Off
“Between the Pipes” radio show at Ford’s Oyster House and Cajun Kitchen, 7:00 p.m.
11/1/11 – Practice at The Pavilion, 10:00 a.m.
* Business After Hours Appearance at Sarent Chiropractic, 5:30 p.m.
11/2/11 – Practice at The Pavilion, 10:00 a.m.
11/3/11 – Pre-game Skate at the BI-LO Center, 10:00 a.m.
Road Warriors vs. Toledo, 7:35 p.m.
11/4/11 – Pre-game Skate at the BI-LO Center, 10:00 a.m.
Road Warriors vs. Reading
11/5/11 – Pre-game Skate at the BI-LO Center, 10:00 a.m.
Road Warriors vs. Florida, 7:05 p.m.
11/6/11 – Off
* Denotes an appearance that is not open to the general public. Media members, however, are welcome to attend these appearances to report on Road Warriors community involvement. Please contact Ray Schmitt at 864-293-2025 or ray.schmitt@greenvilleroadwarriors.com to coordinate covering Road Warriors community appearances.
Road Warriors Broadcast Information
All Greenville Road Warriors games are broadcast live online courtesy of America One. You can listen to every game for free by clicking on the “Listen Live” link located on the Road Warriors’ home page – www.greenvilleroadwarriors.com. You can also visit www.americaone.com to find the Road Warriors internet TV broadcasts. The Road Warriors Pre-Game Show starts off every broadcast 15 minutes prior to faceoff.
Recapping Last Week:
10/28 vs. Florida: W 7-4
The Road Warriors avoided their first-ever three game home losing streak by pulling off a come-from-behind win over Florida last Friday. Scott Pitt put the Everblades in front with a shorthanded goal 8:31 into the game, but Greenville battled back for a 2-1 lead on goals by Connor Shields and Sam Klassen. Florida reclaimed the lead at 3-2 with scores in succession by Alex Hutchings and Mike McKenzie in the second period. The Road Warriors completely changed the complexion of the game, though, by notching three goals in a 2:36 span of the second period to take the lead for good. Brett Robinson, Kale Kerbashian, and Brandon Wong tallied the goals in the offensive eruption. Insurance goals by Justin Bowers and Robinson in the third period sealed the win. Nic Riopel earned his second straight win with 31 saves.
10/29 vs. Florida: W 5-3
The Road Warriors gave fans another dramatic comeback win on Saturday afternoon to complete the sweep of the Everblades. Florida grabbed a 2-0 first period lead, but the Road Warriors’ offense came to life in the second. Rookie Jeremy Gouchie scored his first two professional goals and set up another as the Road Warriors headed into the third with the game tied at three. Florida’s Scott Pitt scored his second goal of the weekend to break what had been a 2-2 tie after Gouchie’s pair of goals. In the third Marc-Olivier Vallerand netted his first goal of the season for the eventual game winner and Brendan Connolly popped in a power play goal to pad the lead to two. Nic Riopel earned his third straight win with 23 saves.
Quick Hits:
* With his current three-game winning streak, Road Warriors goalie Nic Riopel is 10-1-1 in his last 12 regular season starts dating back to the 2010-11 season. With the 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs included, Riopel has won 14 of his last 19 starts for Greenville.
* Greenville is 5-for-12 on the power play during its current three-game winning streak. For the season, Greenville leads the ECHL on the power play at 28 percent. The Road Warriors have the third-fewest power play chances in the league with 25.
* With two wins this weekend, goalie Nic Riopel has won eight consecutive regular season starts for the Road Warriors dating back to March 13, 2011. With last weekend’s wins at home, Riopel is now 16-5-1 in his career at the BI-LO Center.
* Greenville is 2-0-0 on its current eight-game home stand. At the conclusion of the home stand on November 15, the Road Warriors will have played 28 percent (10 games of 36) of their home schedule for 2011-12.
* Cullen Eddy has the second most power play points among ECHL defensemen with four (1G, 3A). At five points (2G, 3A) in four games this season, Eddy has already surpassed his point total (4 – 1G, 3A) from 16 games with Greenville in 2010-11.
Upcoming Events:
Thursday, Nov. 3: Road Warriors vs. Toledo Walleye, 7:35 p.m. – Throwback Thursday Presented by WSSL 100.5, The Greenville News, and New Rock 93.3. Come out to enjoy $2 draught beers, $2 fountain drinks, $2 hot dogs, and $2 pretzels. Also, any college student with a valid ID gets in for just $6.
Friday, Nov. 4: Road Warriors vs. Reading Royals, 7:35 p.m. – Faith and Family Night. Groups from churches in the Upstate can get group tickets for just $6, and there will be a free post-game concert from Pulse!
Saturday, Nov. 5: Road Warriors vs. Florida Everblades, 7:05 p.m. – BI-LO Family Fun Section. Bring your BI-LO BONUSCARD to the Breakaway Honda Box Office at the BI-LO Center beginning two hours prior to the start of the game to receive up to four tickets for you and your family.
Thursday, Nov. 10: Road Warriors vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:35 p.m. – Throwback Thursday Presented by WSSL 100.5, The Greenville News, and New Rock 93.3. Come out to enjoy $2 draught beers, $2 fountain drinks, $2 hot dogs, and $2 pretzels. Also, any college student with a valid ID gets in for just $6.
Saturday, Nov. 12: Road Warriors vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:05 p.m. – Military Appreciation Night.
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