GREENVILLE, S.C. — After a long wait during the offseason, the ECHL’s 2024-25 regular season is about to begin. Today, Oct. 18, the Orlando Solar Bears and Greenville Swamp Rabbits will start the regular season in Greenville for a heated division rivalry rematch.
Last season, the two teams went head-to-head for round one of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, when the Solar Bears took the series in six games. The Solar Bears ended with a record of 38-24-7-3 for 86 points. They scored 220 goals and allowed 206 goals, while committing 1,017 penalty minutes. Despite the high penalty minutes, the Bears had a strong penalty kill (PK) with an 85% success rate, compared to the Rabbits’ 82% kill percentage.
Meanwhile, the Swamp Rabbits finished first in the South Division with a record of 44-23-4-2 for 93 points. They scored 224 goals and allowed 212 goals, while taking 854 penalty minutes. Although both teams may have different-looking rosters from last season, there will most certainly be tensions during this game.
Solar Bears’ Roster
The Solar Bears have several returning players this season. Offensively, they have Tyler Bird, Brayden Low, Tanner Schachle, Darik Angeli, Ryan Mahshie, Alex Frye, Kelly Bent, Spencer Kersten, and Aaron Luchuk. The new additions are Jarret Lee, Kohei Sato, Anthony Bardaro, Ara Nazarian and Jack Adams.
Addition of Jack Adams
As if he never truly left the South Division, Jack Adams, a leading goal scorer during last season in the ECHL, was recently traded from the Bloomington Bison to the Solar Bears. Within the same week, he was traded from the South Carolina Stingrays to Bloomington. The 6-foot-6 winger scored 27 goals and 35 assists for 62 points in 72 games from his first season in the ECHL.
Defensively, they have Ben Carroll, Jimmy Mazza, Chris Harpur and Avery Winslow. Ben Carroll and Jimmy Mazza are two large-bodied defenders who are big back checkers. The Swamp Rabbits will have to watch out for them in the crease. The new additions to the D-core include Robbie Stucker, Scott Walford, Wyatt Wilson and Djibril Touré.
For the Solar Bears, they have Tampa Bay Lightning contracted goaltender Ryan Fanti, with Alexis Gravel as the backup.
The Swamp Rabbits’ Roster
For the Swamp Rabbits, the returning forwards are Quinn Olson, Ben Freeman, Austin Saint, and Colton Young. Olson and Young are two players contracted with the Ontario Reign. They also have added Brent Pedersen, Arvid Caderoth, Tyson Fawcett, Bryce Brodzinski, Carter Savoie, Zach White, Ben Poisson, Reed Morison and Patrick Moynihan.
Addition of Brent Pedersen
From a two-way trade with the Savannah Ghost Pirates and the Reading Royals earlier this offseason, the Rabbits acquired veteran forward Brent Pedersen. The ECHL veteran is an excellent addition to the Rabbits, as he had 43 points from 22 goals and 21 assists in 65 games last season.
He played very well with Ben Freeman during the preseason game against the Stingrays on Oct. 9, as the two veteran forwards demonstrated good chemistry for playmaking, and even notched a goal.
Defensive Roster
For the defenders, the Greenville club has returning defensemen Joe Leahy, Bobby Russell, Jacob Modry, Jake Flynn, and Max Coyle, with the addition of former Swamp Rabbit Miles Gendron. The new additions to the defensive core include Dru Krebs and Parker Berge.
Greenville’s goalkeepers will be Dryden McKay and Kolby Hay. McKay is likely to start today as he is the one with more ECHL experience; entering his third season in the ECHL — this time for a new team. Meanwhile, Hay is beginning his inaugural ECHL season after completing his final season in the WHL.
The two teams will go head-to-head tonight at 7:05 pm. at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, marking Greenville’s home opener.
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