TOSTI: SWAMP RABBITS WEEKLY: EDITION 9
TOSTI: Swamp Rabbits Weekly: Edition 9
Swamp Rabbits top Gladiators to finish the three-game week and extend into two-game homestand.
BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
RABBITS TAILS
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (13-9-2-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, finished a three-game set with the South Carolina Stingrays and ended the week in Duluth, Georgia against the Atlanta Gladiators. The Swamp Rabbits topped the Gladiators 4-3 in a come from behind fashion to finish the week on a positive note. Without defenseman Joe Houk and leading scorer Caleb Herbert in the Swamp Rabbits lineup on Tuesday, the Stingrays earned an 8-2 victory in North Charleston. Greenville bounced back early on in Thursday night’s rematch with the Stingrays. On home ice, the Swamp Rabbits earned goals from Branden Troock and Jack Nevins in the first period. However, the Stingrays battled back to score four goals and take the game 4-2.
The club then faced the first winter storm of the season and traveled south to the Infinite Energy Center. After Atlanta scored 13 seconds into the game, the squads traded goals in the second period. Evan Jasper tallied the tying goal 1:49 into the second period. The Gladiators retook the lead at 13:52 and the following 28 seconds resulted in a pair of goals. Troock scored his first of two goals to tie the game, but Atlanta regained the lead once again to take a 3-2 advantage into the third period. Troock’s second of the game came 18 seconds into the final period and was followed by Derek Sutliffe recording his first ECHL goal and the eventual game-winner for Greenville. Goaltender Ty Rimmer earned his ninth win of the season by making 35 saves.
HOT HARE
Evan Jasper – 3GP | 4PTS (1G,3A)
The Swamp Rabbits rookie picked up four points last week and produced three of those points on Friday to help pace Greenville’s 4-3 victory over Atlanta. Jasper opened the scoring for the Swamp Rabbits on Friday with his fifth goal of the season and added assists on the following two tallies. Jasper is Greenville’s leading rookie on the roster with 15 points (5G, 10A) in 19 games this season. The Whitby, Ontario native is in his second pro season after playing four years at Sacred Heart University.
RABBIT TAILS
- Jack Nevins has recorded a point in each of the last five games (3G, 2A), the longest point streak of his career.
- First-year scorer Derek Sutliffe is the first Swamp Rabbits rookie to score a game-winning goal this season.
- Forward Branden Troock is third in the ECHL with 13 goals this season. Troock has scored 10 of his 13 goals at home.
- Greenville is 9-5-1-0 against the South Division this season.
- Defenseman Sergey Zborovskiy ranks fourth among rookies with seven points (3G,4A) on the power play.
UPCOMING GAMES
- Thursday, Dec. 14 | Swamp Rabbits vs. Monarchs | 7:00 p.m.
- We are throwing ticket prices back for Thirsty Thursday presented by Harbor Inn. Grab two tickets for $20 and enjoy our Hoppy Hour specials including $3 domestic beer from 5-8 p.m.
- Listen | Watch
- Friday, Dec. 15 | Swamp Rabbits vs. Monarchs | 7:30 p.m.
- The eighth annual Teddy Bear Toss is presented by Bon Secours. Fans are asked to bring stuffed animals to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and throw them onto the ice after Greenville’s first goal of the game. All donations will be collected by Toys for Tots.
- Buy a Bon Secours Family Fun Pack in December and you’ll receive a Goal “Horn-ament” that plays the Swamp Rabbits goal horn and song (while supplies last).
- Listen | Watch
- Saturday, Dec. 16 | Swamp Rabbits at Icemen | 7:30 p.m.
- For the first time, Greenville will travel to the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The Swamp Rabbits topped the Jacksonville Icemen 5-4 in their only other meeting this season.
- Listen | Watch
SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS
- Florida Everblades (18-2-1-2) = 39 PTS
- South Carolina Stingrays (14-4-3-1) = 32 PTS
- Greenville Swamp Rabbits (13-9-2-0) = 28 PTS
- Atlanta Gladiators (12-11-1-1) = 26 PTS
- Orlando Solar Bears (10-11-4-0) = 24 PTS
- Norfolk Admirals (7-16-1-0) = 15 PTS
- Jacksonville Icemen (4-13-2-2) = 12 PTS
WINTER WONDERLAND PACKAGE
The Swamp Rabbits are offering a Winter Wonderland experience! Get your four tickets for the team’s Dec. 23 game, four passes to Ice on Main, and a Dave and Buster’s gaming package, a $140 value for only $65! The package is ONLY available for purchase through the Swamp Rabbits office at (864) 674-PUCK or online at SwampRabbits.com.
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