BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors
GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors earned all four points that were up for grabs last week against the South Carolina Stingrays and moved their record back over the .500 mark. This week they finish up their eight-game home stand with one last bout against South Carolina before heading south to visit the Florida Everblades.
Record: 6-5-0, 12 pts., 4th place South Division
Leaders:
Goals – Jeff Prough: 9
Assists – Justin Bowers: 10
Points – Jeff Prough: 15
+/- – Jeff Prough: +4
PIMs – Brendan Connolly: 36
PPG – Jeff Prough: 4
SHG – None
Wins – Nic Riopel: 6
GAA – Nic Riopel: 3.00
SVP – Nic Riopel: .905
Previewing the Upcoming Week:
11/15 vs. South Carolina – 7:35 p.m., Home vs. S.C. 2-0-0, Away vs. S.C. 0-0-0
Tuesday night wraps up Greenville’s season-long eight-game home stand and is the last of three consecutive games against the Stingrays. The Road Warriors won the first two games in the Battle of the Palmetto State last week and did it with defense. They held South Carolina to three goals in two games and held the ECHL’s sixth best power play to just two goals in 11 chances (18%). Greenville also broke through for six goals in two games against South Carolina’s third ranked defense (2.23 team goals-against average). The Road Warriors will be going for their fifth consecutive home win, and seventh consecutive overall, against the Stingrays on Tuesday night. Greenville’s last loss to the Stingrays was on 2/20/11 at the North Charleston Coliseum.
11/18 & 11/19 at Florida – 7:30 p.m., & 7:00 p.m. Home vs. FLA 2-1-0, Away vs. FLA 0-0-0
After finishing their eight-game home stand, the Road Warriors will hit the road for a 701 mile trip south to Germain Arena to visit the Everblades for two games this weekend. Greenville has played the fewest road games in the league (2) at this point of the season but will be looking to continue its success at Germain. In 2010-11 the Road Warriors were 5-1-2 at the Everblades’ home, but the games were typically close. Greenville out-scored Florida 27-24 in the eight games at Germain Arena. The Everblades have won four of their last five games entering play this week including two of three against the Wheeling Nailers last week.
Day-by-Day Schedule:
11/14/11 – * Practice at the BI-LO Center, 10:00 a.m.
“Between the Pipes” radio show at Ford’s Oyster House and Cajun Kitchen, 7:00 p.m.
11/15/11 – * Pre-game Skate at the BI-LO Center, 10:00 a.m.
Road Warriors vs. South Carolina, 7:35 p.m.
11/16/11 – * Practice at the BI-LO Center, 10:00 a.m.
Depart for Estero, Florida, 8:00 p.m.
11/17/11 – Practice at Germain Arena, 9:00 a.m.
11/18/11 – Pre-game skate at Germain Arena, 11:00 a.m.
Road Warriors at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
11/19/11 – Pre-game Skate at Germain Arena, 11:00 a.m.
Road Warriors at Florida, 7:00 p.m.
11/20/11 – Off
* Denotes an appearance/event that is not open to the general public. Media members, however, are welcome to attend these events to report on the Road Warriors and their community involvement. Please contact Ray Schmitt at 864-293-2025 or ray.schmitt@greenvilleroadwarriors.com to coordinate covering Road Warriors practices or community appearances. 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 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 kicks off every broadcast 15 minutes prior to faceoff.
Recapping Last Week:
11/10 vs. South Carolina: W 5-2
Justin Bowers tied a team record with four points (4A) in helping the Road Warriors capture their first win of the season against the Stingrays. A season-high three power play goals paced the Road Warriors’ attack as they snapped South Carolina’s two-game winning streak. Marc-Olivier Vallerand scored a power play goal in each the first and second period and Brendan Connolly added his third of the season 3:58 after Vallerand’s second tally to build a 3-0 Road Warriors lead. South Carolina put two goals on the board in the second to close the gap, but Nic Riopel shut the door the rest of the way. Connolly and Jeff Prough scored in the third to give Greenville insurance and set the final score.
11/12 vs. South Carolina: SOW 2-1
Last Saturday was Greenville’s first overtime game of the season, but it almost never happened. Trailing 1-0 in the third period, the Road Warriors weren’t able to register a shot on goal until just one minute remained in regulation. But in that final minute, with Nic Riopel pulled for the extra attacker, Marc-Olivier Vallerand slipped a backhand shot past Philipp Grubauer and drew the Road Warriors even. Neither team scored in overtime so it was up to a shootout to decide the winner. Riopel, who had already stopped Greg Stewart on a penalty shot earlier in the game, turned away five of the Stingrays’ seven shooters. Justin Bowers, Connor Shields, and Brett Robinson all scored for the Road Warriors which let them earn the second point for the win.
Quick Hits:
* After last week’s action, the Road Warriors are 5-2-0 against the South Division this season. This week they continue a stretch of six consecutive games against divisional opponents. Two games remain against the Stingrays (one home, one away) as well as two (both away) against the Everblades. After the final game against the Stingrays on Nov. 27, the Road Warriors will play four straight against the North Division.
* Marc-Olivier Vallerand earned an ECHL Player of the Week nomination after posting three goals in two games last week. After just one goal in his first six games, Vallerand has put up four in five games in November and is second behind Jeff Prough (9) in goals.
* Road Warriors goalie Nic Riopel was nominated for ECHL Goalie of the Week after going 2-0-0 with a 1.44 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage. He is tied for third among ECHL goalies with six wins, and after winning Saturday’s shootout he is 4-0 in shootouts in his career.
* Greenville is 5-2-0 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.
* The Road Warriors are proving to be a hard team to put away this season. Of their six victories, four of them have been come-from-behind wins. Greenville is 2-2-0 when trailing after the first period this season and 3-5-0 when tied or trailing at the end of the second.
Upcoming Events:
Tuesday, Nov. 15: Road Warriors vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:35 p.m. – 2 For Tuesday. Show your BI-LO BONUSCARD at the Breakaway Honda Box Office at the BI-LO Center and get a ticket FREE with the purchase of an equal value ticket.
Thursday, Dec. 8: Road Warriors vs. Gwinnett Gladiators, 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, Dec. 9: Road Warriors vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:35 p.m. – Spinx Family Four Pack. The Spinx Family Four Pack gets you four tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips, and four fountain drinks all for just $48!
Friday, Dec. 16: Road Warriors vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:35 p.m. – Teddy Bear Toss and Spinx Family Four Pack. Bring a new, or gently used, stuffed animal to the game and throw it onto the ice after the Road Warriors score their first goal! All tossed toys will be donated to charity. The Spinx Family Four Pack gets you four tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips, and four fountain drinks all for just $48!
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