ECHL Preseason Game Recap: South Carolina Stingrays at Greenville Swamp Rabbits | 10/09/2024

Credit: Jake Farmer/InsideTheRink

GREENVILLE, S.C. — ECHL hockey has finally returned, as the 2024-25 preseason is underway prior to the regular season. Yesterday evening, Oct. 9, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hosted the South Carolina Stingrays for a single preseason game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

The game the teams referred to as “Care As One” was an opportunity for fans and the community to come together after the effects of Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of the upstate. This game gave fans in attendance the ability to see the teams play for free, while also providing them an opportunity to donate to local causes for post-relief efforts.

Despite it being a Wednesday, fans showed up. The recorded attendance for this game was 3,000 spectators.

1st Period

Luke Richardson would start for Greenville, as Seth Eisele would for South Carolina. During the period, the Swamp Rabbits seemed to have complete control over the offensive zone, while the Stingrays struggled to keep the plays out of their zone. At 12:00, Stuart Rolofs would tip the puck past Eisele from the initial shot by Arvid Caderoth to open the scoring.

However, the scoring was not over just yet, as at 13:32 Brent Pedersen capitalized on Ben Freeman’s initial rebound. With a 2-0 lead over their state rivals, the Rabbits held the momentum for the remainder of the period. After twenty minutes of play, the score was 2-0, with Greenville having 18 shots on goal compared to 8 shots for S.C.

2nd Period

The Stingrays would make it 1-2 at 5:50 from a goal by Kyle Kupka.

Seconds later, the team would draw a penalty and put the home team on its first power play of the game. The Swamp Rabbits managed to get only a single shot on goal and would not be able to capitalize on it as they remained with a one-goal lead. Greenville was controlling the momentum in the offensive zone afterward, but at 15:46, they would go on the penalty kill.

Seconds in, Josh Wilkins of the Stingrays would tie it up. Afterward, the Rays would end up having good looks in Richardson’s zone. But the 6-foot-4 ‘tendy would make the necessary plays to keep the game tied. After forty minutes, the game remained tied. The shots on goal were 15 for S.C. and 26 for Greenville.

3rd Period

The Stingrays would dominate the final period. Garin Bjorklund would be in net for the Rays while Kolby Hay would take over for the Rabbits. After shot attempt after shot attempt, the Stingrays finally broke the ice. The tie would be broken at 4:08, as Jeremy Davidson would break the tie and give the Rays some breathing room. South Carolina would continue to apply pressure and set the tone.

Around six minutes, Miles Gendron of the Rabbits and Jack Adams of the Rays would drop the mitts and engage in a fight.

The fight erupted in the crowd at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. However, the crowd wouldn’t help its home team at all. The Rays ended up gaining some insurance at 11:40, as Ryan Leibold would score on a breakaway from Jack Adams’s saucer pass short in the d-zone.

With 1:01 remaining in regulation, the Swamp Rabbits finally scored, making it 3-4, as Freeman swatted the puck past. But time quickly ran out for the Rabbits, and their division rivals took the preseason game 4-3. Final shots on goal: SC 26, GVL 34.

The Swamp Rabbits will return for the regular season home opener on Oct. 18 against the Orlando Solar Bears.

ITR 45: Everything Is Happening Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they get you up-to-date on all the latest signings and trades heading into Free Agent Frenzy!
  1. ITR 45: Everything Is Happening
  2. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again
  3. ITR 43: It's Winning Time
  4. ITR 42: Ripe For Repeat?
  5. ITR 41: Stanley Cup Final – The Rematch

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Jake Farmer

I'm a photographer and writer covering the ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits based in Greenville, South Carolina, and writer of Tampa Bay Lightning content. Twitter and Instagram: JakeCF.Hockey

Leave a Reply

ECHL: Jake McGrew Re-Signs with Tahoe Knight Monsters

The Tahoe Knight Monsters have announced that they’ve re-signed forward Jake McGrew for the 2025-26 season. In 70 games with Tahoe last season, the 26-year-old forward put up 19 goals and 23 assists for 42 points. He would add one goal during the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs. It was his first time back in the […]

Read More

ECHL: Worcester Railers Re-Sign Their Captain

The Worcester Railers made their first signing for the 2025-26 season, as they announced the re-signing of their captain, Anthony Repaci. Despite battling injuries, Repaci had a career year, putting up 29 goals and 36 assists for 65 points in 57 games. He would be named as an ECHL All-Star for the first time in […]

Read More

ECHL: Kevin O’Neil Heads Overseas

Adirondack Thunder forward Kevin O’Neil is heading overseas to Slovakia to join HC Banská Bystrica after spending his first four professional seasons in North America. In 60 games with the Thunder last season, the 27-year-old forward had 19 goals and 30 assists for 49 points. O’Neil is the third player from the Thunder heading overseas, […]

Read More