TRUST: GAME PREVIEW (1/6/2021): SWAMP RABBITS vs. NAILERS, 7:05 PM
BY: Matt Trust, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – Tonight, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits will welcome the Wheeling Nailers to Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the first time since 2018. The Nailers are the ECHL affiliate for the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins and American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits (3-3-0-1) vs. Wheeling Nailers (1-3-3-0)
January 6, 2021 | 7:05 PM | Game #8 | Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Referees: Kyle Lekun (32)
Linesmen: Shane Gustafson (87), Ryan Bray (54)
Ticket Information:
https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/2D005971BD9F1821
Broadcast Information:
WATCH LIVE: https://www.flohockey.tv/
LISTEN LIVE: https://mixlr.com/swamp-rabbits
LAST TIME OUT:
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits started 2021 on a high note with a New Year’s Day 3-1 victory over the South Carolina Stingrays. Brendan Connolly opened the scoring with a power play goal at 16:33 of the first period after burying an initial Greg Meireles shot. Cole Ully tied the game in the second stanza for South Carolina, but Max Zimmer answered with his first professional goal at 18:45. At 5:29 of the third period, Connolly created a steal and converted on a shorthanded breakaway to finalize the scoring. The Wheeling Nailers were last in action on Saturday night and dropped a 5-4 overtime decision to the Indy Fuel. Felix Robert scored a hat-trick for the Nailers within the game’s first 27:26 in his team’s overtime loss.
BOW TO BEDNARD:
Greenville Swamp Rabbits goaltender Ryan Bednard was named Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for Dec. 28-Jan. 3. In four starts this season, Bednard has allowed two goals or less three times. The Macomb Township, Michigan native stopped 25 shots on 26 shots to help Greenville to a New Year’s Day victory over South Carolina. The 23-year-old backstop is ranked 9th in the ECHL in goals-against average with 2.42 in addition to his 2-1-1 record.
IT’S BEEN A MINUTE:
Tonight will mark the first time Greenville and Wheeling go head-to-head since 2018. Both teams played three times during the 2018-19 season in November ‘18 with two tilts requiring overtime. The Nailers took the first of three games on Nov. 9, 2018, in a 5-1 final over the Swamp Rabbits. One day later, Austen Brassard scored the overtime winner to lift Greenville to a 3-2 revenge win on the road. The brief three-game season series concluded on Nov. 18, 2018, with Wheeling winning in overtime, 5-4. Current Jacksonville Icemen, Nick Saracino scored in sudden-death to lift the Nailers.
THE CON-MAN STRIKES:
Swamp Rabbits forward Brendan Connolly bookended Friday’s scoring line with a first-period power play goal and third-period shorthanded tally. Connolly’s initial strike marked his first ECHL goal since Mar. 28, 2015, with the Alaska Aces, and first multi-goal game since scoring a hat-trick one day prior on Mar. 27, 2015. The 5-foot-8, 181 pound forward has four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games with the Swamp Rabbits this season.
FORMER NAILERS:
Greenville Head Coach Andrew Lord will battle his former team for the first time tonight. Lord dressed in parts of three seasons with Wheeling from 2008-2011 and totaled 104 points (42 goals, 62 assists) in 165 games. Additionally, Swamp Rabbits forward Joey Haddad played alongside Lord with the Wheeling Nailers during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. Haddad posted 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in his 34 game rookie campaign, and published an ECHL career-best 21 goals in 50 games the following season.
HORA FOR 200:
Frank Hora’s next game will mark the 200th in his ECHL career. The fourth-year pro played 60 games last season with the Cincinnati Cyclones and registered 16 points (four goals, 12 assists). In his first two pro seasons, Hora totaled 31 points (three goals, 28 assists) in 133 games with the Reading Royals. In addition to ECHL play, the steady blueliner has appeared in 12 AHL contests across three seasons with the Cleveland Monsters and Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
#RABBITSRISING#
SINGLE GAME TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
Rise With Us and join us at Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the return of professional hockey in the United States! Single Game Tickets are available to purchase today here.
GEAR UP!
Get ready for the 2020–21 season by heading to our online store, the Hop Shop to purchase your brand new jerseys. On sale now!
ABOUT US
Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has been providing family-friendly, live entertainment at Bon Secours Wellness Arena since 2010. Formerly the Greenville Road Warriors, the Swamp Rabbits are the highest level professional minor league franchise in South Carolina. The Swamp Rabbits are proud affiliates of the NHL’s Florida Panthers and AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. Greenville is a member of the ECHL, Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League. Since the conclusion of the 2019-20 NHL Season, 678 former ECHL players have debuted in the NHL. Nine former Greenville Road Warriors/Swamp Rabbits have later made their NHL debut.
