GREENVILLE, S.C. — Following their shootout win in Atlanta against the Gladiators, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced a significant trade to bolster their roster. Today, Jan. 19, the club announced via social media that they have traded longtime defender Bobby Russell to the Toledo Walleye in exchange for forward Casey Dornbach.
Russell spent the last four seasons in the ECHL with the Swamp Rabbits, skating in 170 games as an agile and speedy d-man. In those games, he recorded 14 goals and 44 assists for 58 points and had a minus-31 rating.
In recent years, the Rabbits used Russell as a blueline sharpshooter on and off the power play; he could score powerful shots from the blueline. He was also well-suited skating-wise; his backward skating in his defensive zone gave him the best position to defend.
However, this season was not his best, as he recently recovered from an injury that sidelined him for several games and thus drained him. In 28 games this season, the British Columbia native recorded two goals and eight assists as a top-line defenseman; though, with a new Swamp Rabbits team this season, Russell simply did not fit in well.
During his first season in the ECHL (2021-22), the 6-foot defender also participated in and accumulated American Hockey League (AHL) experience with the Charlotte Checkers and Ontario Reign. He skated in nine contests for the Checkers and one for the Reign, recording no points.
About Casey Dornbach
Now, about the forward that the Swamp Rabbits are receiving. Dornbach, 27, has been around the block in pro hockey for four seasons now — three in the AHL and two in the ECHL. The 6-foot, 180-pound forward has accumulated 92 games of ECHL playing time, notching 16 goals and 46 assists.
During his short tenure with the Walleye this season, the Edina, Minnesota native appeared in 37 games and recorded 20 points (3G-17A). Dornbach first joined the professional hockey ranks during the 2022-23 season with the Iowa Wild in the AHL after completing his final NCAA season at the University of Denver, where he skated in only two games.
The following season, he played in only 11 games for the Wild (1G-1A) before being sent down to the Heartlanders, where he accumulated 13 goals and 29 assists for 42 points in 55 contests. During this season, the forward, who shoots right, appeared in a single game for the Chicago Wolves on a professional tryout (PTO).
The Swamp Rabbits have addressed their need for a power forward capable of intensifying their power play. Dornbach shoots right, and that is what the team needs: a right-handed shooter on the left wing who can offer one-time capabilities at the point—something the team has yet to utilize despite possessing it with Bryce Brodzinski, who is also a right-handed shooter.
However, they have yet to really address their defensive inconsistencies and struggles, which have plagued them all season. Dryden McKay and Jacob Ingham’s goaltending needs extra support. So far, it has been a bumpy ride, and the team must improve if it wants another consecutive playoff berth.
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