Greenville, SC — In the midst of setting up their playoff roster for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced that the LA Kings have extended their affiliation agreement for the next two years. Previously, the Swamp Rabbits had been affiliated with the Kings and Ontario Reign (AHL) for two seasons, first being official for the 2022-23 season. However, the grand partnership between the West Coast and East Coast teams transpired during the 2021-22 season while the Swamp Rabbits were affiliated with the Florida Panthers and Charlotte Checkers. During the 2022-23 season, the Swamp Rabbits developed on several players for their AHL team, the Ontario Reign.
A couple of players are still playing for the Rabbits, including Jacob Ingham, Ryan Bednard, Tyler Inamoto, Max Martin, Ryan Francis, Colton Young, and Nikita Pavlychev. On April 16, Nikita Pavlychev, Ryan Francis, and Ryan Bednard will be on the Reigns roster prior to the Calder Cup Playoffs. Let’s take a look at all of Kings/Reigns Swamp Rabbits players’ 2023-24 regular season stats. Starting with LA Kings contracted netminder Jacob Ingham, who played 34 games and won 17 this season, recording an average of 2.57 GAA and 0.916 SV%. The 6’5 netminder from Barrie, Ontario, also played six games for the Reign, winning three and recording a 2.71 GAA and 0.917 SV%. Next is another goalie: Ryan Bednard, who played 33 games this season for the Rabbits, winning 20 and recording a 2.91 GAA and 0.911 SV%. Bednard, 6’5 and 27 years of age from Michigan, was the 2024 ECHL ALL-STAR representative for the Rabbits; this is his fourth season for the Rabbits as he enters his potentially fourth postseason.
Now it’s time for the defensemen. Tyler Inamoto enters his second season for the Rabbits; this season, he had an abbreviated one as he played just ten games, recorded two goals and three assists, and played only six games for the Reign before injury. He is 6’2, 194 pounds, from Barrington, Illinois, and is contracted with the Reign. One characteristic Inamoto is really known for is being “a sponge for blocking shots.” His AHL career began during the 2021-22 season as he played two games. Wyatte Wylie had a short time in Greenville, as he played just five games and recorded two goals and two assists; he is currently on the active roster for the Reign and has played 44 games with two goals and eleven assists. The last d-men to mention is Max Martin. Martin has seen a career between the ECHL and AHL, as he’s played the last two seasons in Greenville and one season for Ontario. This season, Martin played 46 games for Greenville, recording five goals and 20 assists; he also played three games for the Reign and recorded an assist.
Now for the forwards. Nikita Pavlychev has played three seasons for the Rabbits and two for the Reign. This season, the 6’7 forward played 32 games for Greenville (12 goals and 18 assists) and 27 games for Ontario (five goals and three assists); in the 2022-23 season, he played 36 games for Greenville (25 goals and 20 assists) and 14 games for Ontario (one goal and two assists). Ryan Francis started his second season in the AHL with the Reign this season and first for Greenville. The 5’9 center began his AHL career during the 2022-23 season as he played four games for the Laval Rockets. This season, Francis played 31 games for Greenville (nine goals and 12 assists) and 18 for Ontario (one goal and one assist). The lastt forward is Colton Young, who was called up by the Reign in late January of 2024 for a three-game PTO. However, that three-game PTO would turn into a 19-game stay for the Reign as he would earn two goals and assists while playing with fellow Rabbit Nikita Pavlychev. Young, 25, and 6’0, began his pro career for the Rabbits in the 2022-23 season after completing four seasons for Colgate University. This season for the Rabbits, Young played 39 games and earned six goals and ten assists.
Under the affiliation with the Ontario Reign and Los Angeles Kings, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits have developed and seen talent propel with the coaching of head coach Andrew Lord manning the helm. With two more seasons to go, the Swamp Rabbits will only strengthen player development.
