GREENVILLE NEWS AND PREVIEWS 

Editor’s note: In additional Greenville news, Chad Johnson returned from his personal time due to a death in the family so Jason Missiaen has been returned to the Road Warriors. Missiaen told Howlings that he was, “Looking forward to getting back with the guys.” He was in a hurry to catch a plane to Chicago.

BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – The Greenville Road Warriors will ring in the new year with their first visit to the Sears Centre to take on the expansion Chicago Express tonight.

The Road Warriors (16-10-2) visit Chicago (15-11-4) tonight for the first of 3 scheduled meetings between the clubs. Fans can follow the action by watching live on America One or listening at greenvilleroadwarriors.com. The Express, along with the Colorado Eagles in the Western Conference, were one of two expansion teams added by the ECHL in the summer of 2011. The Road Warriors’ opponent tonight snapped a four-game losing streak with an overtime win over the Kalamazoo Wings last night. The Road Warriors, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back after falling to the Florida Everblades 3-1 in Greenville last Thursday. The Express is led by former ECHL MVP Tyler Donati who has 26 points (7G, 19A) in 23 games. The Express is coached by Steve Martinson who has won six professional championships as a head coach and previously coached the Elmira Jackals over their first three seasons in the ECHL.

Who: Greenville Road Warriors at Chicago Express
What: Away Game #11, Season Game #29
When: 7:30 p.m. CST
Where: Sears Centre, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192

NOTEWORTHY:

• Greenville is 2-for-23 on the power play in its last five games overall and both goals came on 12/23 vs. Reading. They are 3-for-39 since Jeff Prough was called up to the AHL on 12/14.
• With 739 miles between their home and the Express’, Chicago is the furthest the Road Warriors will travel for an away game this season. Florida is just behind at 701 miles.
• Greenville is 4-2-2 in games decided by one goal while Chicago is 7-3-4.
• Tonight is the final game for Greenville in the 2011 calendar year. They were 40-25-4 in the year in the regular season. The most productive month was March with nine victories.
• Captain T.J. Reynolds is one of four Road Warriors to dress for all 28 games this season. He leads Greenville in all time games played at 99. Marc-Olivier Vallerand is second with 97.

Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors return home to face the Gwinnett Gladiators on Thursday, January 12 at 7:35 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. Come out for a Throwback Thursday which features $2 draft beers, fountain drinks, hot dogs, and pretzels. Throwback Thursdays are sponsored by WSSL 100.5, The Greenville News, and New Rock 93.3. You can also save on your tickets by bringing out a group of 10 or more! The Road Warriors offer discounts off the box office price and preferred seating based on availability to groups who book in advance. Call 864-674-PUCK (7825) for more info or to book your group.