As we review Week 10 of the ECHL season, the South Division continues to showcase intense competition and standout performances. The Florida Everblades maintain their lead in the division, while the South Carolina Stingrays and Jacksonville Icemen are close behind. This week saw a mix of victories and setbacks for some teams, with notable individual achievements and shifts in the overall league standings. Let’s dive into the detailed recaps and see how each team fared over the past week.
Current Division Standings
- Florida Everblades: 18-6-2-0
- South Carolina Stingrays: 17-7-1-0
- Jacksonville Icemen: 15-9-2-0
- Orlando Solar Bears: 13-13-4-0
- Savannah Ghost Pirates: 13-11-2-0
- Atlanta Gladiators: 12-12-3-1
- Greenville Swamp Rabbits: 12-10-1-1
Overall League Standings
Week-to-Week Comparison
Atlanta Gladiators: 19th place (up from 20th)
Florida Everblades: 3rd place (up from 4th)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits: 16th place (down from 15th)
Jacksonville Icemen: 12th place (no change)
Orlando Solar Bears: 18th place (up from 19th)
Savannah Ghost Pirates: 17th place (down from 16th)
South Carolina Stingrays: 5th place (no change)
Last Week’s Game Results
(Two Games in OT)
Wednesday, December 18
- Jacksonville 2 at Orlando 1 (OT)
- Atlanta 4 at Savannah 1
- Greenville 3 at Jacksonville 0
Friday, December 20
- Orlando 1 at Atlanta 3
- South Carolina 2 at Florida 3
Saturday, December 21
- Jacksonville 7 at Atlanta 2
- South Carolina 4 at Florida 1
- Orlando 3 at Savannah 2 (OT)
Sunday, December 22
- Greenville 3 at Savannah 6
- South Carolina 0 at Orlando 5
First Professional Goals
Hat Trick Action
Milestones
Ara Nazarian recorded his 100th career ECHL assist on Saturday, December 21st.
ECHL Alumni News
Last Week’s Games
Tuesday, December 17
- No games for the specified teams.
Wednesday, December 18
- Jacksonville 2 at Orlando 1 (OT)
- Atlanta 4 at Savannah 1
- Greenville 3 at Jacksonville 0
Friday, December 20
- Orlando 1 at Atlanta 3
- South Carolina 2 at Florida 3
Saturday, December 21
- Jacksonville 7 at Atlanta 2
- South Carolina 4 at Florida 1
- Orlando 3 at Savannah 2 (OT)
Sunday, December 22
- Greenville 3 at Savannah 6
- South Carolina 0 at Orlando 5
South Division Team Updates
(Alphabetically Listed)
Atlanta Gladiators
The Atlanta Gladiators had a mixed week, starting strong with a 4-1 victory over Savannah on Wednesday and a 3-1 win against Orlando on Friday. However, they faced a tough loss on Saturday, falling 7-2 to Jacksonville, ending their five-game win streak. Derek Topatigh has continued to be a standout, accumulating six points (2g-4a) in his last five games. Brenden Datema is tied for 5th in the league with 16 minor penalties, and Topatigh is 9th among defensemen with 19 points (5g-14a). Compared to last week, Atlanta moved up to 19th place from 20th in the overall league standings. They are currently in 6th place in the division with 12 wins, 12 losses, three overtime losses, and one shootout loss, totaling 28 points and a points percentage of 50.0%. They have 64 goals for and 82 goals against.
Florida Everblades
The Florida Everblades split their games last week, securing a 3-2 win against South Carolina on Friday but losing 4-1 to the same team on Saturday. Cam Johnson continues to lead the league with a 1.69 goals-against average. Carson Gicewicz is 15th in the league with 25 points (12g-13a), while Sean Allen is 2nd among defensemen with 62 penalty minutes. Connor Doherty is tied for 1st among defensemen with a shorthanded goal. Florida moved up to 3rd place from 4th in the overall league standings. They are leading the division with 18 wins, six losses, and two overtime losses, totaling 38 points and a points percentage of 73.1%. They have 82 goals for and 51 goals against.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville had a solid performance last week, shutting out Jacksonville 3-0 on Wednesday but losing 6-3 to Savannah on Sunday. Bryce Brodzinski is on a five-game point streak (1g-4a). Patrick Moynihan and Colton Young are tied for 2nd in the league with 2 shootout goals each. Parker Berge is 11th among defensemen with 18 points (5g-13a). Greenville dropped to 16th place from 15th in the overall league standings. They are currently in 7th place in the division with 12 wins, 10 losses, an overtime loss, and one shootout loss, totaling 26 points and a points percentage of 54.2%. They have 63 goals for and 78 goals against.
Jacksonville Icemen
Jacksonville had a remarkable week, securing victories in both of their games. They triumphed over Orlando with a score of 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday and showcased their dominance against Atlanta, winning 7-2 on Saturday. Garrett Van Wyhe is currently tied for first among defensemen with two shorthanded points (1g, 1a) and shares second place among defensemen for shorthanded goals. Jacksonville remains in 12th position in the overall league standings, while holding 3rd place in their division with 15 wins, nine losses, and two overtime losses, accumulating a total of 32 points and a points percentage of 61.5%. They have scored 72 goals and conceded 64.
Orlando Solar Bears
Orlando faced a tough week, falling 2-1 in overtime to Jacksonville on Wednesday and losing 3-1 to Atlanta on Friday. However, they rebounded with a 3-2 overtime victory against Savannah on Saturday, followed by a commanding 5-0 shutout against South Carolina on Sunday. Kelly Bent ranks 2nd in the league with 100 penalty minutes, while Alex Frye and Spencer Kersten are tied for 4th in the league, each with three shorthanded points. Orlando has climbed to 18th place from 19th in the overall league standings. Currently, they sit in 4th place in their division with 13 wins, 13 losses, and four overtime losses, accumulating a total of 30 points and a points percentage of 50.0%. They have scored 77 goals and allowed 87 goals against.
Savannah Ghost Pirates
Savannah had a tough week, losing 4-1 to Atlanta on Wednesday and 3-2 in overtime to Orlando on Saturday. They managed to secure a 6-3 win against Greenville on Sunday. Devon Paliani has been impressive, posting multiple points in six of his last 10 games (8g-6a). Reece Vitelli is 14th in the league with 26 points (6g-20a). Dennis Cesana is 2nd among defensemen with 24 points (9g-15a) and leads in several categories, including goals (9), power-play assists (8), shorthanded points (2), and shots (89). Will Riedell is 10th among defensemen with 19 points (3g-16a). Cesana and Liam Walsh are tied for 2nd in the league with two shorthanded assists each. Kyle Jeffers and Josh Davies are tied for 2nd in the league with a 26.7% shooting percentage. Savannah dropped to 17th place from 16th in the overall league standings. The Ghost Pirates are currently in 5th place in the division with 13 wins, 11 losses, and two overtime losses, totaling 28 points and a points percentage of 53.8%. They have 91 goals for and 84 goals against.
South Carolina Stingrays
South Carolina experienced a varied week, starting with a 3-2 loss to Florida on Friday, then bouncing back with a 4-1 victory against the same team on Saturday, followed by a tough 5-0 shutout defeat to Orlando on Sunday. Josh Wilkins has been exceptional, racking up six points (4g, 2a) over his last four games. Andrew Perrott ranks 4th in the league with 78 penalty minutes and leads all defensemen with 6 major penalties. Micah Miller tops the league with 5 game-winning goals. Connor Moore holds the 4th position in the league with a +17 plus-minus rating and leads defensemen with a 20.0% shooting percentage. Blake Thompson is 7th among defensemen with 20 points (1g, 19a) and 3rd in assists with 19. Connor Moore also ranks 16th among defensemen with 16 points (4g, 12a), while Jayden Lee follows closely in 19th place with 16 points (2g, 14a). South Carolina remains in 5th place in the overall league standings and is currently positioned 2nd in the division, with a record of 17 wins, seven losses, and an overtime loss, totaling 35 points and a points percentage of 70.0%. They have scored 97 goals while allowing 54 against.
Goaltending Leaders
Cam Johnson (FLA)
Cam Johnson has been a cornerstone for the Florida team, showcasing exceptional goaltending skills. With 14 wins, he leads the division in victories, reflecting his ability to consistently deliver strong performances. His goals-against average (GAA) of 1.69 is the lowest among his peers, indicating his effectiveness in minimizing scoring opportunities for opponents. Additionally, his save percentage (SV%) of 0.934 and three shutouts highlight his reliability and consistency in goal. Johnson’s impressive stats make him a critical player for Florida, often giving his team the edge in tight games.
Alexis Gravel (ORL)
Alexis Gravel has been a standout performer for Orlando, particularly noted for his remarkable save percentage of 0.938, the highest in the division. This statistic underscores his proficiency in stopping shots and maintaining a strong defensive presence. Despite having fewer wins (7) compared to some of his counterparts, Gravel’s goals-against average (GAA) of 2.20 and his ability to secure one shutout demonstrate his capability to perform under pressure. Additionally, Gravel was named ECHL Goaltender of the Week for December 16-22, further highlighting his exceptional performance during that period. His contributions are vital for Orlando, often keeping the team competitive in challenging matchups.
Garin Bjorklund (SC)
Garin Bjorklund has made a significant impact for South Carolina with his solid goaltending performances. He boasts a goals-against average (GAA) of 1.87, which is among the best in the division, and a save percentage (SV%) of 0.933. Although he has recorded fewer wins (5), his stats reflect a high level of skill and consistency in goal. Bjorklund’s ability to maintain a low GAA and high SV% makes him a reliable last line of defense for South Carolina, often playing a crucial role in the team’s defensive strategy and overall success.
Special Teams Breakdown
Here are the special teams breakdowns overall after Week 10, organized alphabetically by team:
Atlanta (ATL)
Atlanta’s power play performance at home has seen them score eight goals from 50 opportunities, giving them a 16.0% success rate. On the road, they have struggled more, with only two goals from 41 opportunities, resulting in a 4.9% success rate. Overall, their power play stands at 11.0%. On the penalty kill, Atlanta has been more consistent, with an 82.6% success rate at home and 78.0% on the road, leading to an overall penalty kill percentage of 80.2%.
Florida (FLA)
Florida has a solid home power play record, scoring nine goals from 42 opportunities (21.4%). Their road power play is less effective, with seven goals from 49 opportunities (14.3%). Overall, their power play percentage is 17.6%. Defensively, Florida’s penalty kill remains strong, with an 85.3% success rate at home and 83.6% on the road, resulting in an overall penalty kill percentage of 84.3%.
Greenville (GRN)
Greenville’s special teams performance after Week 10 shows a balanced effort. At home, their power play has been moderately effective, scoring eight goals from 48 opportunities, resulting in a 16.7% success rate. On the road, they have managed 5 goals from 31 opportunities, giving them a 16.1% success rate. Overall, their power play percentage stands at 16.5%. Defensively, Greenville’s penalty kill has been strong, with an 89.5% success rate at home, successfully killing 34 out of 38 penalties. On the road, they have killed 30 out of 37 penalties, resulting in an 81.1% success rate. This brings their overall penalty kill percentage to 85.3%.
Jacksonville (JAX)
Jacksonville’s home power play has been challenging, with only three goals from 46 opportunities (6.5%). On the road, they have improved slightly, scoring eight goals from 41 opportunities (19.5%). Overall, their power play percentage is 12.6%. Their penalty kill is strong at home with an 87.5% success rate and 81.6% on the road, leading to an overall penalty kill percentage of 84.5%.
Orlando (ORL)
Orlando’s home power play has seen them score eight goals from 48 opportunities (16.7%). On the road, they have scored seven goals from 53 opportunities (13.2%). Overall, their power play percentage is 14.9%. Their penalty kill is impressive, with a 90.0% success rate at home and 82.5% on the road, resulting in an overall penalty kill percentage of 85.8%.
Savannah (SAV)
Savannah has a strong home power play, scoring 13 goals from 57 opportunities (22.8%). On the road, they have scored nine goals from 52 opportunities (17.3%). Overall, their power play percentage is 20.2%. Their penalty kill is excellent, with a 92.7% success rate at home and 80.5% on the road, leading to an overall penalty kill percentage of 86.6%.
South Carolina (SC)
South Carolina’s home power play is effective, with 10 goals from 41 opportunities (24.4%). On the road, they have scored 10 goals from 43 opportunities (23.3%). Overall, their power play percentage is 23.8%. Their penalty kill is outstanding, with a 90.3% success rate at home and 95.6% on the road, resulting in an overall penalty kill percentage of 93.4%.
What’s Next?
Friday, December 27:
- South Carolina at Jacksonville – 7:00 PM EST
- Greenville at Atlanta – 7:30 PM EST
- Orlando at Florida – 7:30 PM EST
- Norfolk at Savannah – 7:30 PM EST
Saturday, December 28:
- Savannah at South Carolina – 6:05 PM EST
- Norfolk at Atlanta – 7:00 PM EST
- Orlando at Florida – 7:00 PM EST
- Jacksonville at Greenville – 7:05 PM EST
Sunday, December 29:
- Norfolk at Atlanta – 3:00 PM EST
- Jacksonville at Greenville – 3:05 PM EST
- Savannah at South Carolina – 3:05 PM EST
That concludes our ECHL South Division Week 10 Recap. As we find ourselves in the midst of Week 11, the excitement and competition continue to build. Keep an eye on the standout players and key matchups that could impact the standings. Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll be back next week with more updates and insights from the ECHL South Division.
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