As the hockey season progresses, the standings in the South Division continue to shift, reflecting the dynamic nature of the competition. This week, we take a closer look at the performance and standings of the South Division teams, highlighting their progress and changes from the previous week. From the Florida Everblades’ impressive record to the Atlanta Gladiators’ ongoing challenges, each team’s journey offers a unique story of triumphs and setbacks. Join us as we delve into the latest standings, key statistics, and notable achievements, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of the South Division.
Current Division Standings:
- South Carolina Stingrays
- Florida Everblades
- Jacksonville Icemen
- Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Orlando Solar Bears
- Atlanta Gladiators
Current League Standings
- South Carolina: 2nd place
- Florida: 3rd place
- Savannah: 14th place
- Jacksonville: 12th place
- Greenville: 13th place
- Orlando: 19th place
- Atlanta: 23rd place
First Professional Career Goals
Jonathan Hampton – Jacksonville Icemen
Evan Nause – Savannah Ghost Pirates
Division Comparison Week-To-Week
Florida Everblades
Current: The Everblades have a record of 16-4-1-0, accumulating 33 points with a win percentage of 78.6%. They have scored 70 goals while allowing 38.
Last Week: The Everblades had a record of 14-3-1-0, accumulating 29 points with a win percentage of 80.6%. They had scored 61 goals while allowing 31.
Change: Added two wins and one overtime loss, increasing their points by four and maintaining a high win percentage. They scored 9 more goals and allowed 7 more.
League Position: Last Week: 1st place. Current: 3rd place. Change: Dropped 2 places.
Additional Stats: They have played 21 games, with 51 games remaining. They have 11 regulation wins and 16 overall wins. Their home record is 7-1-0-0, and their road record is 9-3-1-0. In their last ten games, they are 7-2-1-0, currently on a one-game winning streak.
South Carolina Stingrays
Current: The Stingrays have a record of 16-4-1-0, accumulating 33 points with a win percentage of 78.6%. They have scored 88 goals while allowing 41.
Last Week: The Stingrays had a record of 14-3-1-0, accumulating 29 points with a win percentage of 80.6%. They had scored 61 goals while allowing 31.
Change: Added two wins and one overtime loss, increasing their points by four and maintaining a high win percentage. They scored 27 more goals and allowed 10 more.
League Position: Last Week: 3rd place. Current: 2nd place. Change: Moved up 1 place.
Additional Stats: They have played 21 games, with 51 games remaining. They have 14 regulation wins and 16 overall wins. Their home record is 10-1-1-0, and their road record is 6-3-0-0. In their last ten games, they are 8-2-0-0, currently on a six-game winning streak.
Savannah Ghost Pirates
Current: The Ghost Pirates have a record of 11-8-1-0, accumulating 23 points with a win percentage of 57.5%. They have scored 76 goals while allowing 65.
Last Week: The Ghost Pirates had a record of 9-7-1-0, accumulating 19 points with a win percentage of 55.9%. They had scored 61 goals while allowing 55.
Change: Added two wins, increasing their points by four and their win percentage by 1.6%. They scored 15 more goals and allowed 10 more.
League Position: Last Week: 16th place. Current: 14th place. Change: Moved up 2 places.
Additional Stats: They have played 20 games, with 52 games remaining. They have 11 regulation wins and 11 overall wins. Their home record is 7-3-1-0, and their road record is 4-5-0-0. In their last ten games, they are 4-5-1-0, currently on a three-game winning streak.
Jacksonville Icemen
Current: The Icemen have a record of 11-7-2-0, accumulating 24 points with a win percentage of 60.0%. They have scored 57 goals while allowing 52.
Last Week: The Icemen had a record of 9-6-2-0, accumulating 20 points with a win percentage of 58.8%. They had scored 48 goals while allowing 45.
Change: Added two wins, increasing their points by four and their win percentage by 1.2%. They scored 9 more goals and allowed 7 more.
League Position: Last Week: 10th place. Current: 12th place. Change: Dropped 2 places.
Additional Stats: They have played 20 games, with 52 games remaining. They have eight regulation wins and 11 overall wins. Their home record is 8-3-1-0, and their road record is 3-4-1-0. In their last ten games, they are 5-4-1-0, currently on a one-game losing streak.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Current: The Swamp Rabbits have a record of 10-7-1-1, accumulating 22 points with a win percentage of 57.9%. They have scored 48 goals while allowing 60.
Last Week: The Swamp Rabbits had a record of 8-6-1-1, accumulating 18 points with a win percentage of 55.0%. They had scored 38 goals while allowing 50.
Change: Added two wins, increasing their points by four and their win percentage by 2.9%. They scored 10 more goals and allowed 10 more.
League Position: Last Week: 12th place. Current: 13th place. Change: Dropped 1 place.
Additional Stats: They have played 19 games, with 53 games remaining. They have nine regulation wins and 10 overall wins. Their home record is 6-3-1-1, and their road record is 4-4-0-0. In their last ten games, they are 6-3-0-1, currently on a one-game winning streak.
Orlando Solar Bears
Current: The Solar Bears have a record of 10-11-2-0, accumulating 22 points with a win percentage of 47.8%. They have scored 59 goals while allowing 69.
Last Week: The Solar Bears had a record of 8-10-2-0, accumulating 18 points with a win percentage of 45.0%. They had scored 48 goals while allowing 60.
Change: Added two wins, increasing their points by four and their win percentage by 2.8%. They scored 11 more goals and allowed 9 more.
League Position: Last Week: 21st place. Current: 19th place. Change: Moved up 2 places.
Additional Stats: They have played 23 games, with 49 games remaining. They now have six regulation wins and 10 overall wins. Their home record is 3-6-1-0, and their road record is 7-5-1-0. In their last ten games, they are 5-4-1-0, currently on a two-game winning streak.
Atlanta Gladiators
Current: The Gladiators have a record of 7-11-3-1, accumulating 18 points with a win percentage of 40.9%. They have scored 43 goals while allowing 67.
Last Week: The Gladiators had a record of 5-10-3-1, accumulating 14 points with a win percentage of 38.9%. They had scored 35 goals while allowing 55.
Change: Added two wins, increasing their points by four and their win percentage by 2%. They scored eight more goals and allowed 12 more over the last week.
League Position: Last Week: 23rd place. Current: 23rd place. Change: No change.
Additional Stats: They have played 22 games, with 50 games remaining. They have six regulation wins and seven overall wins. Their home record is 4-4-2-1, and their road record is 3-7-1-0. In their last ten games, they are 4-4-1-1, currently on a one-game losing streak.
News and Notes
Atlanta Gladiators Ethan Haider has been a standout performer, sharing the top spot in the league with three shutouts. His stellar goaltending has been a key factor in Atlanta’s success. The Gladiators have shown remarkable consistency when leading after two periods, boasting an impressive record of 5-0-1. This indicates their ability to maintain pressure and close out games effectively.
Florida Everblades Cam Johnson has been in exceptional form, securing victories in his last nine games. His performance between the pipes has been crucial for the Everblades. Additionally, Florida has demonstrated resilience, holding a 4-0-1 record when being outshot by their rivals. This suggests that the team can capitalize on their scoring opportunities and rely on strong defensive play even when facing a high volume of shots.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits Parker Berge is making a significant impact as a rookie defenseman, tying for the lead among his peers with 16 points, including four goals and 12 assists. His offensive contributions from the blue line have been invaluable. Greenville’s penalty kill has been particularly impressive, successfully killing off 15 consecutive power-play attempts by opponents. This defensive prowess has been a cornerstone of their recent success.
Jacksonville Icemen Chris Grando has been a key offensive player for the Icemen, scoring four goals in his last five outings. His scoring touch has provided a much-needed boost to the team’s offense. Jacksonville has also been strong when leading after the first period, with a record of 5-1-1. This indicates their ability to start games strong and maintain their lead through disciplined play.
Orlando Solar Bears Tyler Bird made history for the Solar Bears by recording his 13th career game-winning goal on Sunday against Savannah, setting a new team record. His clutch performances have been instrumental in Orlando’s success. The Solar Bears also matched their season-high with 37 shots on goal during Sunday’s matchup, showcasing their offensive firepower and ability to generate scoring chances.
Savannah Ghost Pirates Devon Paliani is enjoying a hot streak, with a four-game point streak that includes five goals and five assists. His offensive contributions have been a driving force for the Ghost Pirates. Savannah ranks third in the league with an average of 3.80 goals per game, highlighting their potent offense and ability to consistently find the back of the net.
South Carolina Stingrays Mitchell Gibson has been outstanding in goal, maintaining a 1.50 goals-against average over a personal four-game winning streak. His reliable goaltending has been a key factor in the Stingrays’ recent success. South Carolina has outscored its competitors 30-9 during their six-game winning streak, demonstrating their dominance on both ends of the ice.
Special Teams
Here are the top three South Division teams in special teams and why they stand out:
1. South Carolina (SC)
- Power Play: 26.5% overall, with a strong 29.6% on the road.
- Penalty Killing: 94.8% overall, including a perfect 100% on the road.
- Why: South Carolina excels in both power play and penalty killing, making them a formidable opponent. Their ability to maintain a perfect penalty kill on the road is particularly impressive, showing their defensive strength and discipline.
2. Florida (FLA)
- Power Play: 18.9% overall, with a solid 25.0% at home.
- Penalty Killing: 84.7% overall, with 90.9% at home.
- Why: Florida’s strong home performance in both power play and penalty killing highlights their ability to capitalize on home-ice advantage. Their high penalty kill percentage at home indicates a robust defensive strategy.
3. Savannah (SAV)
- Power Play: 20.5% overall, with 24.4% at home.
- Penalty Killing: 84.1% overall, with 90.6% at home.
- Why: Savannah’s balanced performance in both special teams categories makes them a competitive team. Their effective power play and penalty killing at home contribute significantly to their current success.
This Week’s Games
Wednesday, December 11
- South Carolina at Atlanta – 7:00 PM EST (Gas South Arena, Duluth, GA)
- Greenville at Jacksonville – 7:00 PM EST (VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, FL)
- Orlando at Florida – 7:30 PM EST (Hertz Arena, Estero, FL)
Friday, December 13
- Florida at Orlando – 7:00 PM EST (Amway Center, Orlando, FL)
- Jacksonville at Atlanta – 7:30 PM EST (Gas South Arena, Duluth, GA)
Saturday, December 14
- Florida at Jacksonville – 7:00 PM EST (VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, FL)
- Atlanta at Greenville – 7:05 PM EST (Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC)
Sunday, December 15
- Orlando at Greenville – 3:05 PM EST (Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC)
Key Games to Watch
On Wednesday, December 11, the South Carolina Stingrays face off against the Atlanta Gladiators at 7:00 PM EST at Gas South Arena in Duluth, GA. This game is significant as the second-place Stingrays, currently on a six-game winning streak, will be looking to extend their dominance. Atlanta, on the other hand, will aim to break South Carolina’s momentum and secure a crucial win at home against a tough team which would be a huge win for Atlanta.
Another exciting matchup on Wednesday is between the Orlando Solar Bears and the Florida Everblades at 7:30 PM EST at Hertz Arena in Estero, FL. Florida’s goaltender Cam Johnson is on a nine-game winning streak, and this game against Orlando, who recently set a team record for game-winning goals, promises to be a thrilling contest.
On Friday, December 13, the Florida Everblades and Orlando Solar Bears meet again at 7:00 PM EST at Amway Center in Orlando, FL. This rematch will be crucial for both teams as they battle for dominance in the South Division. Additionally, the Jacksonville Icemen will visit the Atlanta Gladiators at 7:30 PM EST at Gas South Arena. Jacksonville will look to capitalize on their strong start when leading after one period, while Atlanta aims to leverage their home advantage.
Saturday, December 14, features another key matchup as the Florida Everblades visit the Jacksonville Icemen at 7:00 PM EST at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Both teams will be looking to secure important points in this competitive game. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Gladiators travel to Greenville to face the Swamp Rabbits at 7:05 PM EST at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. This game promises to be competitive, especially with Greenville’s strong defensive play.
Conclusion: Anticipation Builds as We Head into Week 9
As we head into Week 9, the South Division continues to showcase intense competition and thrilling matchups. The standings have seen significant shifts, with teams like the South Carolina Stingrays and Savannah Ghost Pirates making notable climbs, while others like the Florida Everblades and Jacksonville Icemen face challenges to regain their top spots. Key players are stepping up, with impressive performances and streaks that keep fans on the edge of their seats.
This week’s games are set to be pivotal, with several crucial matchups that could further shake up the standings. From the Everblades’ battles against Orlando and Jacksonville to the Stingrays’ clash with the Gladiators, every game holds the potential to impact the race for the top. As teams continue to push for dominance, the excitement and unpredictability of the season remain high.
Stay tuned for another week of high-stakes hockey, where every goal, save, and win brings us closer to the ultimate showdown. Enjoy the action, and let’s see how the South Division evolves as we move forward!
Discover more from Inside The Rink
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
