Tosti: Swamp Rabbits Host Road-Bound Monarchs 
Greenville begins three-in-three on home turf against North Division-leading Manchester.
BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
| DATE | TIME | OPPONENT | FOLLOW |
| Thur, Dec. 14 | 7:00 p.m. (ET) | vs. Manchester Monarchs | Listen – Watch – Twitter |
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, begin a three-day set of games tonight at 7 p.m. at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena after five days without a contest. The Manchester Monarchs (15-8-1-1) travel to The Upstate after dropping a 6-5 decision in Jacksonville last night. The Swamp Rabbits have produced a 6-4-1-0 record at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena this season while the Monarchs have earned a 9-3-1-1 record away from home. Joel Lowry is the top scorer for Manchester with 24 points (11G, 13A), while Caleb Herbert has paced the Swamp Rabbits and the ECHL with 33 points (15G, 18A).
FEEL LIKE WE’VE DONE THIS BEFORE
Greenville and Manchester met on back-to-back nights up in New Hampshire in October. Those games opened what will be a five-game season series between the Eastern Conference foes. The teams split the pair of games with Greenville winning the latter of the two contests 4-1. The Swamp Rabbits have played five games against North Division opponents already and five more remain on the 2017-18 schedule. The club’s five meetings with the Monarchs is the most of any non-divisional opponent this season.
FIRST TO REMEMBER
Rookie forward Derek Sutliffe earned his first ECHL point in the Swamp Rabbits 4-3 victory over Atlanta last Friday night. In his third game with the Swamp Rabbits, the Las Vegas, Nevada native tallied his first goal. The third-period tally held up as the game-winning goal to help the Swamp Rabbits complete the comeback. Sutliffe signed with Greenville from the Mississippi River Kings in the SPHL after logging 14 points (7G, 7A) in 13 games this season. The NCAA Division III product is in his first full professional season after playing four years for the College of St. Scholastica.
EXPERIENCE ADDS UP
The top-five scorers on the Swamp Rabbits are in their fourth pro season. The Swamp Rabbits experienced crew consists of Caleb Herbert, Allan McPherson, Branden Troock, Joe Houk, and Joe Basaraba. The group has combined for 124 points (48G, 76A), accounting for almost half the team’s offensive production this season.
TWO OF THE BEST ON THE BLUELINE
Greenville’s top blue-liner, Joe Houk, ranks seventh among defenseman in the ECHL with 18 points (6G, 12A). On the other side of the ice, Colton Saucerman leads the Monarchs and is third in the league with 20 points (3G, 17A) this season. In addition to the offense that Houk provides, he leads Greenville’s defense corps with a +5 rating. Saucerman is third on the Monarchs active roster at +4.
ROYAL EXPEDITION
The Monarchs have embarked on a season-long road trip that will cap off a prolonged stint away from SNHU Arena in New Hampshire. Tonight is Manchester’s second game of an eight-game trip away from home. The Monarchs next game at home will wrap up the 2017 calendar year and is the only home game in 12 straight contests. Manchester has played 14 road games already this season (9-3-1-1). At the halfway point of the season (36 games), the Monarchs will play 24 games away from home and only 12 games in Manchester.
CARROT BITES
- Monarchs captain Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman ranks third in the ECHL with 93 shots on net.
- Starting tonight, Greenville will play nine of the next 11 games on home ice. (14 of the next 18).
- Evan Jasper earned his first career three-point night last Friday, netting a goal and adding two assists.
- The Swamp Rabbits average almost 20 penalty minutes per game, the most in the South Division and fourth highest in the league.
- Monarchs goaltender Charles Williams has the fourth lowest goals against average in the ECHL (2.24 GAA).
THIRSTY THURSDAY | TONIGHT, December 14 | 7 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, and select $2 concessions from 5-8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased before the game through the Swamp Rabbits office or at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena box office.
TEDDY BEAR TOSS | TOMORROW, December 15 | 7:30 p.m.
The Swamp Rabbits eighth annual Teddy Bear Toss presented by Bon Secours is sure to bring some holiday cheer! Bring new stuffed animals to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena TOMORROW NIGHT to donate to Toys for Tots. After the Swamp Rabbits score their first goal of the game, throw them out onto the ice to be collected. For tickets and info on the annual Teddy Bear Toss, visit us on the web at SwampRabbits.com.
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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