ROAD WARRIORS WEEKLY RELEASE: 3/19-3/26/12

BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

With two weeks left in the regular season the Road Warriors have locked up a playoff berth. With five games remaining they are still very much in the hunt for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Record: 40-22-5, 85 pts., 2nd place South Division

Leaders:

Goals – Brandon Wong: 28
Assists – Justin Bowers: 58
Points – Justin Bowers: 76
+/- – Brandon Wong: +19
PIMs – T.J. Reynolds: 183
PPG – #Marc-Olivier Vallerand/#Jeff Prough/Brett Robinson: 9/8
SHG – Brandon Wong: 2
Wins – Jason Missiaen: 22
GAA – Jason Missiaen: 2.75
SVP – Jason Missiaen: .915

# = Not on current roster

Previewing the Upcoming Week:

3/23 & 3/24 vs. Gwinnett – 7:05 p.m. & 7:35 p.m., Home vs. GWT 6-1-0, Away vs. GWT 1-5-2

• The Battle of I-85 will hit the end of the road this weekend in Greenville with the Road Warriors hosting the Gladiators for the final two games of the season. The pendulum of momentum in the season series has swung Gwinnett’s way with the Gladiators winning each of the last three games. Greenville, however, has history on its side when the series comes to the BI-LO Center. The Road Warriors have out-scored Gwinnett 26-16 in winning six of the seven games in Greenville between the clubs. Including last season, the Road Warriors are 12-4-0 at home against Gwinnett. Greenville enters play this week two points behind Gwinnett for first place in the Eastern Conference. Each of the last three times the teams have met first place in the East has been on the line.

Day-by-Day Schedule:

3/19/12– Off

• “Between the Pipes” radio show at Ford’s Oyster House and Cajun Kitchen, 7:00 p.m.
• Road Warriors players and Rowdy at Fried Green Tomatoes (Woods Crossing Rd.), 5:30-7:00 p.m.

3/20/12 – * Practice at BI-LO Center, 10:00 a.m.

3/21/12 – * Practice at BI-LO Center, 10:00 a.m.

3/22/12 – * Practice at BI-LO Center, 10:00 a.m.

3/23/12 – * Pre-game skate at BI-LO Center, 10:00 a.m.

                  Road Warriors vs. Gwinnett, 7:35 p.m.

3/24/12 – * Pre-game skate at BI-LO Center, 10:00 a.m.

                  Road Warriors vs. Gwinnett, 7:05 p.m.

3/25/12 – Off

• Denotes an appearance/event that is not open to the general public.
• The Road Warriors’ schedule is subject to change.
• It is recommended to contact the Road Warriors to confirm times of certain events, particularly practices.

Road Warriors Broadcast Information

• All Greenville Road Warriors games are broadcast live online courtesy of America One. You can listen to every game free by clicking on the “Listen Live” link located on the Road Warriors’ home page – Greenvilleroadwarriors.com. The Road Warriors Pre-Game Show kicks off every broadcast 15 minutes prior to faceoff.

Recapping Last Week:

3/16 at South Carolina: SOW 3-2

Box Score

• Greenville made its penultimate visit to North Charleston this season a memorable one with the Road Warriors forging a late tie and winning a marathon shootout by a goal. Billy Ryan scored a pair of goals in the game for the Stingrays which gave them one-goal leads in the second and third periods. The third-period lead came with just 2:35 remaining in the game. Just 61 seconds after that goal, though, Kale Kerbashian completed a coast-to-coast dash to net the tying goal. Tim Coffman had the other tally for Greenville late in the second period to tie the game at one. After a scoreless overtime it was Jason Missiaen and Billy Sauer turning in masterful performances in the shootout. Trent Campbell and Justin Bowers each scored in the first round but the netminders each stopped the next seven shooters a side. Finally, in the bottom of the ninth, Greenville rookie Francis Meilleur beat Sauer for the game winner. It was Meilleur’s first shootout attempt of the season.

3/17 at Gwinnett: L 3-4

Box Score

• Greenville nearly snapped its losing streak in Gwinnett in its final visit of the season but fell one goal short. First period markers by Brandon Wong and Kale Kerbashian had the Road Warriors ahead 2-0 headed into the second. Momentum swung in Gwinnett’s favor in a big way as the Gladiators started their rally with a power play goal 45 seconds into the session. Three more goals followed as the Gladiators built up a 4-2 lead. Greenville’s Lee Baldwin trimmed the deficit to one when he tipped home a Justin Bowers centering pass with 35 seconds remaining in the stanza. Despite an 11-7 shot advantage in the third period Greenville could not squeeze a shot past Marc Cheverie to tie the score. Nic Riopel turned in 22 saves but suffered his second straight loss since returning from injury.

3/18 vs. Cincinnati: W 5-1

Box Score

• With some help from other teams losing the previous night, Greenville began its five-game home stand with a chance to clinch a Kelly Cup playoff berth with a win over Cincinnati. The Road Warriors’ five-goal assault was led by Brandon Wong who scored his second career hat trick and added an assist for four points. Wong nearly doubled Greenville’s season total for shorthanded goals by scoring a pair of shorties in the third period to complete the hat trick. Cincinnati, which was battling to shore up its eighth seed for the playoffs, launched 47 shots Jason Missiaen’s way, but the rookie goalie stood tall and compiled a career-best 46 saves in earning his 22nd win of the season.

Quick Hits:

• With five points (4G, 1A) in three games last week, Brandon Wong was nominated for ECHL Player of the Week honors. He leads the Road Warriors with 28 goals and a +19 rating. Also, Jason Missiaen was nominated for ECHL Goalie of the Week after going 2-0-0 with 1.44 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage. He has won goalie of the week twice already this season.
• Road Warriors captain T.J. Reynolds leads team defensemen in +/- at +13. He has been even or better in each of Greenville’s nine games in March. His +2 on Sunday’s win over Cincinnati tied his season high for the ninth time.
• With Sunday’s win, goalie Jason Missiaen has crafted his fourth four-game winning streak of the season. He has not allowed more than two goals in any of the four games over the streak, and has held opponents to under three goals in nine of his last 11 starts overall. He is 6-1-0 in the month of March with a 1.80 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage.
• Greenville has a magic number of six to clinch the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. The maximum points fifth place Wheeling can earn is 90 so by subtracting Greenville’s 85 points and adding one you get Greenville’s magic number. Greenville’s magic number is reduced any time Wheeling loses in regulation and the Road Warriors win or lose in overtime/shootout, or when Wheeling loses in overtime/shootout and Greenville wins in regulation.
• Greenville has only South Division teams remaining on its schedule with two games against Gwinnett and three against South Carolina. Four of the five games are at the BI-LO Center where the Road Warriors have a 16-3-1 against South Division foes this season and a 32-10-2 mark in their history.

Upcoming Events:

• Friday, March 23: Road Warriors vs. Gwinnett, 7:35 p.m. – Spinx Family Four-Pack. Round up the family and save on a night at the game with the Spinx Family Four-Pack. With it you get four tickets, four hot dogs, four fountain drinks, and four bags of chips for just $48. You can also show your BI-LO BONUSCARD at the ticket office window starting two hours prior to faceoff to receive up to four free tickets, while supplies last, in the BI-LO Family Fun Section.
• Saturday, March 24: Road Warriors vs. Gwinnett, 7:05 p.m. – Pucks and Paws presented by Cleveland Park Animal Hospital and Upstate Veterinary Specialists. The BI-LO Center will be going to the dogs on March 24! Fans can bring their dogs with them to the game to enjoy the Dog Fun Zone, take part in the cutest dog contest, and more. Also, call in advance to enter your dog in the small dog derby that will take place at intermission.
• Early April: Kelly Cup Playoffs! The Road Warriors have qualified for the playoffs for the second straight season and playoff packages are on sale right now. There are options to pay as you go and playoff packages start at $8.50 per seat per game. Call 864-674-PUCK for information on playoff tickets.