ECHL: South Division Recap | Week 16

Welcome to this week’s South Division recap! The competition is heating up as teams battle for the top spots. The Florida Everblades still lead the division with an impressive 64 points, followed closely by the South Carolina Stingrays with 58 points. The Jacksonville Icemen, Orlando Solar Bears, Atlanta Gladiators, Savannah Ghost Pirates, and Greenville Swamp Rabbits are all in the mix, each striving to climb the standings. We dive in to the latest updates and standout performances as the race to the playoffs intensifies in the South. Each team brings unique strengths, promising an exciting second half of the season.

South Division Standings

1. Florida Everblades: 64 points, 29-8-5-1 record
2. South Carolina Stingrays: 58 points, 27-11-2-2 record
3. Jacksonville Icemen: 55 points, 26-15-2-1 record
4. Orlando Solar Bears: 55 points, 24-18-7-0 record
5. Atlanta Gladiators: 43 points, 19-21-3-2 record
6. Savannah Ghost Pirates: 40 points, 19-21-2-0 record
7. Greenville Swamp Rabbits: 39 points, 17-19-3-2 record

Overall League-Wide Standings

Week 15 to Week 16 League-Wide Comparison:

1. Florida Everblades: Moved down from 1st to 2nd place.
2. South Carolina Stingrays: Moved down from 4th to 5th place.
3. Jacksonville Icemen: Remained in 10th place.
4. Savannah Ghost Pirates: Moved down from 17th to 20th place.
5. Orlando Solar Bears: Remained in 15th place.
6. Atlanta Gladiators: Remained in 19th place.
7. Greenville Swamp Rabbits: Moved up from 23rd to 21st place.

Milestones

Hat Tricks – Tate Singleton – Greenville Swamp Rabbits

2000 Professional Games – Jeff Camelio – South Carolina

Team News & Updates

Stay up-to-date with the latest stats and performance updates from the South Division. From standout player achievements to recent game results, here’s everything you need to know about your favorite teams.

Atlanta Gladiators

Cody Sylvester is making waves by tying for the league lead with six game-winning goals. Atlanta is one of only two teams that have not allowed a shorthanded goal this season. The Gladiators have a record of 19-21-3-2, with 43 points and a win percentage of 47.8%. They are currently 19th in the league standings. Last week, their goaltender Ethan Haider was called up to Milwaukee, and Drew DeRidder stepped in, playing in net for all three games. The team had a mixed week, suffering a heavy 5-0 loss to Bloomington on Friday, bouncing back with a 3-1 victory on Saturday, but falling again 3-1 on Sunday. Atlanta has accumulated 414 penalty minutes, averaging 9.20 PIM per game, which is one of the lowest in the league. At home, they have a record of 12-11-2-2, while on the road, they are 7-10-1-0. In overtime, they have a win percentage of 44.43%, and in shootouts, they have scored three goals on nine attempts. When scoring first, Atlanta has a strong record of 13-4-1-1, with a win percentage of 73.75%.

Florida Everblades

Tarun Fizer is on fire, extending his point streak to four games with four goals and one assist. The Everblades are riding high with a 5-0-3 record in their last eight games. Florida, holding a strong 2nd place in the league standings, boasts a record of 29-8-5-1, with 64 points and a win percentage of 74.4%. Last week was a rollercoaster for them, as they edged out Orlando 4-3 in overtime on Friday, but then lost to Orlando 2-1 in overtime on Saturday and 5-4 in overtime on Sunday. Florida has accumulated 675 penalty minutes, averaging 15.70 PIM per game. At home, they have a record of 15-4-0-0, while on the road, they are 14-4-5-1. In overtime, they have a win percentage of 53.93%, and in shootouts, they have scored a goal on five attempts. When scoring first, Florida has an impressive record of 21-3-3-0, with a win percentage of 83.35%.

Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Tate Singleton has etched his name in history as the first Swamp Rabbits player to record hat tricks in consecutive games. Greenville’s power play has been potent, converting 23.5% of their opportunities in the last 10 games. The Swamp Rabbits, currently 21st in the league standings, have a record of 17-19-3-2, with 39 points and a win percentage of 47.6%. They had a challenging start last week with a 4-1 loss to Cincinnati on Wednesday but rebounded with back-to-back wins against Indy, 4-3 on Friday and 5-2 on Saturday. Greenville has accumulated 487 penalty minutes, averaging 11.88 PIM per game. At home, they have a record of 8-10-1-2, while on the road, they are 9-9-2-0. In overtime, they have a win percentage of 44.43%, and in shootouts, they have scored 8 goals on 14 attempts. When scoring first, Greenville has a record of 12-8-2-1, with a win percentage of 58.75%.

Jacksonville Icemen

Peter Tischke is a standout on defense, ranking fifth among defensemen with a +21 plus-minus rating. The Icemen are also tied for third in the league with seven shorthanded goals. Jacksonville, sitting 10th in the league standings, has a record of 26-15-2-1, with 55 points and a win percentage of 62.5%. Last week, they faced a setback with a 4-1 loss to Orlando on Tuesday but came back strong with decisive victories over Savannah, 7-2 on Friday and 6-3 on Saturday. Jacksonville has accumulated 624 penalty minutes, averaging 14.18 PIM per game. At home, they have a record of 16-3-1-1, while on the road, they are 10-12-1-0. In overtime, they have a win percentage of 70.03%, and in shootouts, they have scored three goals on seven attempts. When scoring first, Jacksonville has a strong record of 16-3-1-1, with a win percentage of 81.05%.

Orlando Solar Bears

Spencer Kersten has been a scoring machine, racking up 19 points (11 goals and 8 assists) in his last 11 games. Orlando leads the league with nine overtime wins, showcasing their clutch performance. The Solar Bears, currently 15th in the league standings, have a record of 24-18-7-0, with 55 points and a win percentage of 56.1%. They had a stellar week, defeating Jacksonville 4-1 on Tuesday, narrowly losing to Florida 4-3 in overtime on Friday, but bouncing back with overtime wins against Florida, 2-1 on Saturday and 5-4 on Sunday. Orlando has accumulated 666 penalty minutes, averaging 13.59 PIM per game. At home, they have a record of 11-9-2-0, while on the road, they are 13-9-5-0. In overtime, they have a win percentage of 58.83%. When scoring first, Orlando has a record of 14-4-4-0, with a win percentage of 72.75%.

Savannah Ghost Pirates

Ross Armour is lighting up the power play, tying Savannah’s single-season record with 11 power-play goals. The Ghost Pirates are one of three teams yet to play a shootout this season. Savannah, currently 20th in the league standings, has a record of 19-21-2-0, with 40 points and a win percentage of 47.6%. Last week was tough for them, as they lost to South Carolina 4-1 on Wednesday and suffered defeats to Jacksonville, 7-2 on Friday and 6-3 on Saturday. Savannah has accumulated 512 penalty minutes, averaging 12.19 PIM per game. At home, they have a record of 10-10-2-0, while on the road, they are 9-11-0-0. In overtime, they have a win percentage of 50.03%. When scoring first, Savannah has a record of 13-3-2-0, with a win percentage of 77.85%.

South Carolina Stingrays

Kyler Kupka is making a name for himself, tying for first among rookies with 20 goals. South Carolina’s penalty kill is the best in the league, operating at an impressive 88.7% efficiency. The Stingrays, currently 5th in the league standings, have a record of 27-11-2-2, with 58 points and a win percentage of 69.0%. They had a mixed week, securing a 4-1 win over Savannah on Wednesday, losing to Norfolk 3-0 on Friday, but bouncing back with a 4-3 victory over Norfolk on Saturday. South Carolina has accumulated 745 penalty minutes, averaging 17.74 PIM per game. At home, they have a record of 16-2-2-1, while on the road, they are 11-9-0-1. In overtime, they have a win percentage of 50.03%, and in shootouts, they have scored two goals on 10 attempts. When scoring first, South Carolina has an outstanding record of 22-2-1-1, with a win percentage of 88.55%.

What’s Next?

The South Division teams have a busy schedule ahead with several key matchups. On Tuesday, February 4, the South Carolina Stingrays will face the Orlando Solar Bears at 7:00 PM EST. This game features standout players like South Carolina’s Kyler Kupka, who is tied for first among rookies with 20 goals, and Orlando’s Spencer Kersten, who has racked up 19 points in his last 11 games. On Wednesday, February 5, the Atlanta Gladiators will take on the Worcester Railers at 7:05 PM EST, with Cody Sylvester looking to continue his impressive performance. The Greenville Swamp Rabbits will visit the Florida Everblades at 7:30 PM EST, showcasing Florida’s Tarun Fizer, who is on a four-game point streak, and Greenville’s Tate Singleton, who recently made history with consecutive hat tricks.

Thursday, February 6, sees the Savannah Ghost Pirates hosting Trois-Rivières at 7:00 PM EST, with Ross Armour aiming to add to his record-tying 11 power-play goals. On Friday, February 7, the Jacksonville Icemen will play Trois-Rivières at 7:00 PM EST, with Peter Tischke’s defensive skills being crucial. The Atlanta Gladiators will have another game against Worcester at 7:05 PM EST, while the Greenville Swamp Rabbits face the Florida Everblades again at 7:30 PM EST. Savannah will also host Bloomington at 7:30 PM EST, looking to bounce back from recent losses.

Saturday, February 8, features a rematch between the Orlando Solar Bears and the South Carolina Stingrays at 6:05 PM EST. The Atlanta Gladiators will play Worcester for the third time in a row at 6:05 PM EST, and the Greenville Swamp Rabbits will face the Florida Everblades once more at 7:00 PM EST. Jacksonville will host Trois-Rivières at 7:00 PM EST, aiming to continue their strong home performance.

These matchups promise exciting action and key performances as teams push towards the playoffs. With standout performances and ever-changing standings, stay tuned to Inside the Rink for ongoing coverage, in-depth analysis, and all the latest updates as these teams battle it out. The race to the playoffs is just beginning, and you won’t want to miss a moment of the action!