ECHL: South Division Recap | Week 7

The ECHL South Division is highly competitive, with the Florida Everblades leading the way. The South Carolina Stingrays are close behind, making it a tight race at the top. The Savannah Ghost Pirates and Jacksonville Icemen are also in contention, while the Greenville Swamp Rabbits are not far behind. The Orlando Solar Bears and Atlanta Gladiators are trailing but still within reach. With the teams separated by just a few points, every game is crucial, and the standings can change quickly, making the race for the playoffs exciting and unpredictable.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the current standings and recent performance of the teams in the ECHL South Division. It highlights key statistics, milestones, and changes in the league standings from last week to this week, giving a clear picture of the competitive landscape. The report showcases how each team is performing and their position in the race for the playoffs. With the standings being highly dynamic, this analysis will help in understanding the crucial games and pivotal moments that could shape the rest of the season. Every game is crucial, and the standings can shift significantly with just a few wins or losses.

Current South Division Standings

1. Florida Everblades
2. South Carolina Stingrays
3. Savannah Ghost Pirates
4. Jacksonville Icemen
5. Greenville Swamp Rabbits
6. Orlando Solar Bears
7. Atlanta Gladiators

Current League Standings

The overall ECHL league standings for each South Division team from last week to this week:

• Florida Everblades: Remained in 1st place.
• South Carolina Stingrays: Remained in 3rd place.
• Savannah Ghost Pirates: Moved down to 16th place.
• Greenville Swamp Rabbits: Moved down to 12th place.
• Jacksonville Icemen: Moved up to 10th place.
• Orlando Solar Bears: Moved up to 21st place.
• Atlanta Gladiators: Moved up to 23rd place.

Division Comparison Week-To-Week

Florida Everblades

• Current: Leading the division with a record of 14-3-1-0, the Everblades have accumulated 29 points and boast a win percentage of 80.6%. They have scored 61 goals while allowing 31.
• Last Week: With a record of 12-3-0-0, the Everblades had 24 points and a win percentage of 80.0%. They had scored 52 goals while allowing 24.
• Change: Improved their record by two wins and one overtime loss, increasing their points by five and maintaining a high win percentage. They scored 9 more goals and allowed 7 more.
• League Position: 1st in the South Division, 1st in the league.
• Additional Stats: They have played 18 games, with 54 games remaining. They have 9 regulation wins and 14 overall wins. Their home record is 6-1-0-0, and their road record is 8-2-1-0. In their last ten games, they are 8-1-1-0, currently on a 5-0-1-0 streak, with no shootout games.

South Carolina Stingrays

• Current: With a strong record of 13-4-1-0, the Stingrays have accumulated 27 points and have a win percentage of 75.0%. They have scored 72 goals while allowing 36.
• Last Week: With a record of 10-4-1-0, the Stingrays had 21 points and a win percentage of 70.0%. They had scored 58 goals while allowing 32.
• Change: Added three wins, increasing their points by six and their win percentage by 5%. They scored 14 more goals and allowed 4 more.
• League Position: 2nd in the South Division, 3rd in the league.
• Additional Stats: They have played 18 games, with 54 games remaining. They have 11 regulation wins and 13 overall wins. Their home record is 7-1-1-0, and their road record is 6-3-0-0. In their last ten games, they are 8-2-0-0, currently on a 3-0-0-0 streak, with no shootout games.

Savannah Ghost Pirates

• Current: Holding a record of 10-8-0-0, the Ghost Pirates have accumulated 20 points and have a win percentage of 55.6%. They have scored 66 goals while allowing 60.
• Last Week: Holding a record of 9-6-0-0, the Ghost Pirates had 18 points and a win percentage of 60.0%. They had scored 55 goals while allowing 46.
• Change: Added one win and two losses, increasing their points by two but decreasing their win percentage by 4.4%. They scored 11 more goals and allowed 14 more.
• League Position: 3rd in the South Division, 14th in the league.
• Additional Stats: They have played 18 games, with 54 games remaining. They have 10 regulation wins and 10 overall wins. Their home record is 6-3-0-0, and their road record is 4-5-0-0. In their last ten games, they are 4-6-0-0, currently on a 1-0-0-0 streak, with no shootout games.

Jacksonville Icemen

• Current: The Icemen have a record of 9-5-2-0, accumulating 20 points with a win percentage of 62.5%. They have scored 47 goals while allowing 42.
• Last Week: The Icemen had a record of 7-4-2-0, accumulating 16 points with a win percentage of 61.5%. They had scored 40 goals while allowing 36.
• Change: Added two wins, increasing their points by four and their win percentage by 1%. They scored 7 more goals and allowed 6 more.
• League Position: 4th in the South Division, 12th in the league.
• Additional Stats: They have played 16 games, with 56 games remaining. They have 6 regulation wins and 9 overall wins. Their home record is 6-2-1-0, and their road record is 3-3-1-0. In their last ten games, they are 6-3-1-0, currently on a 2-0-0-0 streak, with no shootout games.

Greenville Swamp Rabbits

• Current: With a record of 9-6-1-0, the Swamp Rabbits have accumulated 19 points and have a win percentage of 59.4%. They have scored 42 goals while allowing 53.
• Last Week: With a record of 8-4-1-0, the Swamp Rabbits had 17 points and a win percentage of 65.4%. They had scored 36 goals while allowing 42.
• Change: Added one win and two losses, increasing their points by two but decreasing their win percentage by 6%. They scored 6 more goals and allowed 11 more.
• League Position: 5th in the South Division, 9th in the league.
• Additional Stats: They have played 16 games, with 56 games remaining. They have 8 regulation wins and 8 overall wins. Their home record is 6-2-1-0, and their road record is 3-4-0-0. In their last ten games, they are 7-3-0-0, currently on a 0-2-0-0 streak, with 1 shootout win.

Orlando Solar Bears

• Current: With a record of 8-10-2-0, the Solar Bears have accumulated 18 points and have a win percentage of 45.0%. They have scored 50 goals while allowing 60.
• Last Week: With a record of 7-9-1-0, the Solar Bears had 15 points and a win percentage of 44.1%. They had scored 43 goals while allowing 51.
• Change: Added one win and one overtime loss, increasing their points by three and their win percentage by 0.9%. They scored 7 more goals and allowed 9 more.
• League Position: 6th in the South Division, 22nd in the league.
• Additional Stats: They have played 20 games, with 52 games remaining. They have 6 regulation wins and 8 overall wins. Their home record is 3-6-1-0, and their road record is 5-4-1-0. In their last ten games, they are 4-5-1-0, currently on a 0-1-1-0 streak, with no shootout games.

Atlanta Gladiators

• Current: The Gladiators have a record of 6-9-3-1, accumulating 16 points with a win percentage of 42.1%. They have scored 39 goals while allowing 57.
• Last Week: The Gladiators had a record of 5-8-3-0, with 13 points and a win percentage of 40.6%. They had scored 28 goals while allowing 45.
• Change: Added one win and one shootout loss, increasing their points by three and their win percentage by 1.5%. They scored 11 more goals and allowed 12 more.
• League Position: 7th in the South Division, 24th in the league.
• Additional Stats: They have played 19 games, with 53 games remaining. They have 5 regulation wins and 6 overall wins. Their home record is 4-3-2-1, and their road record is 2-6-1-0. In their last ten games, they are 3-5-1-1, currently on a 0-1-0-0 streak, with 1 shootout loss.

Career Milestones

Florida Everblades – Brad Ralph, Head Coach

Brad Ralph became the fourth coach in ECHL history to reach the 500-win plateau on Saturday at Fort Wayne.

Orlando Solar Bears – Brayden Low

Brayden Low scored his 100th career ECHL goal.

First Professional Career Goals

Atlanta Gladiators – PJ Fletcher

ECHL South Division Game Scores (November 25 – December 1, 2024)

Atlanta Gladiators

• Nov 27: Lost to Greenville Swamp Rabbits 2-3 (SO) (Gas South Arena)
• Nov 29: Beat Savannah Ghost Pirates 6-3 (Gas South Arena)
• Nov 30: Lost to Savannah Ghost Pirates 3-6 (Gas South Arena)

Florida Everblades

• Nov 28: Beat Fort Wayne Komets 5-4 (OT) (Allen County War Memorial Coliseum)
• Nov 29: Lost to Fort Wayne Komets 1-2 (OT) (Allen County War Memorial Coliseum)
• Nov 30: Beat Fort Wayne Komets 3-1 (Allen County War Memorial Coliseum)

Greenville Swamp Rabbits

• Nov 27: Beat Atlanta Gladiators 3-2 (SO) (Gas South Arena)
• Nov 29: Lost to South Carolina Stingrays 2-5 (North Charleston Coliseum)
• Nov 30: Lost to Jacksonville Icemen 1-4 (VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena)

Jacksonville Icemen

• Nov 27: Lost to South Carolina Stingrays 1-4 (VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena)
• Nov 29: Beat Orlando Solar Bears 2-1 (OT) (Amway Center)
• Nov 30: Beat Greenville Swamp Rabbits 4-1 (VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena)

Orlando Solar Bears

• Nov 26: Beat Savannah Ghost Pirates 5-2 (Amway Center)
• Nov 29: Lost to Jacksonville Icemen 1-2 (OT) (Amway Center)
• Dec 1: Lost to South Carolina Stingrays 1-5 (Amway Center)

Savannah Ghost Pirates

• Nov 26: Lost to Orlando Solar Bears 2-5 (Amway Center)
• Nov 29: Lost to Atlanta Gladiators 3-6 (Gas South Arena)
• Nov 30: Beat Atlanta Gladiators 6-3 (Gas South Arena)

South Carolina Stingrays

• Nov 27: Beat Jacksonville Icemen 4-1 (VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena)
• Nov 29: Beat Greenville Swamp Rabbits 5-2 (North Charleston Coliseum)
• Dec 1: Beat Orlando Solar Bears 5-1 (Amway Center)

Team News & Notes

Atlanta Gladiators

• Eric Neiley is on a four-game assist streak (6a).
• Atlanta is 5-2-1 when scoring first.
• Top Goal Scorer: Eric Neiley (6 goals)
• Assist Leader: Derek Topatigh (9 assists)
• Standout Defenseman: Derek Topatigh (2 goals, 9 assists, 11 points)

Team Update:  The Atlanta Gladiators had a notable transaction with Chad Nychuk (D) being recalled from loan by Milwaukee (AHL) on November 27, 2024.

Florida Everblades

• The Everblades have outscored their opponents 22-8 in the third period.
• Top Goal Scorer: Carson Gicewicz (9 goals)
• Assist Leader: Colton Hargrove (12 assists)
• Standout Defenseman: Connor Doherty (1 shorthanded goal)

Team Update: The Florida Everblades made a move by loaning Mike O’Leary (F) to Milwaukee (AHL) on November 27, 2024.

Greenville Swamp Rabbits

• Dryden McKay has started eight consecutive games in goal.
• Greenville is 8-1-1 when scoring first.
• Top Goal Scorer: Bryce Brodzinski (7 goals)
• Assist Leader: Parker Berge (10 assists)
• Standout Defenseman: Parker Berge (4 goals, 10 assists, 14 points)
• Rookie Leader: Bryce Brodzinski (7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points)

Jacksonville Icemen

• Justen Close is eighth with a 2.20 goals-against average.
• The Icemen are tied for second with five games decided in overtime or a shootout.
• Top Goal Scorer: Zach Jordan (6 goals)
• Assist Leader: Davis Koch (8 assists)
• Standout Defenseman: Garrett Van Wyhe (2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points, 1 shorthanded goal, 37 shots)

Team Update: The Jacksonville Icemen signed Brayden Hislop (D) to an SPC on November 28, 2024.

Orlando Solar Bears

• Orlando is tied for second with four shorthanded goals.
• Top Goal Scorer: Tyler Bird (8 goals)
• Assist Leader: Spencer Kersten (9 assists)
• Standout Defenseman: N/A
• Rookie Leader: Spencer Kersten (5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points)

Team Updates: The Orlando Solar Bears were quite active recently. They signed Alex Cohen (F) and Michael Kim (D) to SPCs, and loaned Ryan Fanti (G) from Syracuse (AHL) on December 1, 2024. Additionally, they released Caden Sandusky (G) from emergency backup on the same day. Earlier, on November 30, 2024, Jaydon Dureau (F) was reassigned by Tampa Bay (NHL) to Syracuse (AHL), and Brayden Low (F) was loaned to Belleville (AHL). On November 29, 2024, Cory Dennis (D) was signed to an SPC, Ryan Fanti (G) was recalled from loan by Syracuse (AHL), and Caden Sandusky (G) was added as an emergency backup. Djibril Touré (D) was reassigned by Ottawa (NHL) to Belleville (AHL) on November 27, 2024.

Savannah Ghost Pirates

• Devon Paliani has six points (3g-3a) in his last two games.
• The Ghost Pirates have scored first in 11 of their 18 games.
• Top Goal Scorer: Riley Hughes (12 goals)
• Assist Leader: Reece Vitelli (15 assists)
• Standout Defenseman: Dennis Cesana (5 goals, 11 assists, 16 points)
• Rookie Leader: Riley Hughes (12 goals, 7 assists, 19 points)

Team Update: The Savannah Ghost Pirates had Riley Hughes (F) recalled from loan by Charlotte (AHL) on November 30, 2024.

South Carolina Stingrays

• Mitchell Gibson has a 1.67 goals-against average during his personal three-game winning streak.
• South Carolina has killed 29 consecutive shorthanded situations over its last 11 games.
• Top Goal Scorer: Micah Miller (4 game-winning goals)
• Standout Defensemen: Blake Thompson (1 goal, 14 assists, 15 points), Connor Moore (4 goals, 8 assists, 12 points)
• Rookie Leaders: Kyler Kupka (9 goals, 9 assists, 18 points), Jamie Engelbert (10 goals, 6 assists, 16 points), Alexander Suzdalev (5 goals, 11 assists, 16 points), Charlie Combs (5 goals, 10 assists, 15 points), Jayden Lee (2 goals, 12 assists, 14 points)

Between the Pipes

Florida Everblades (FLA)

Cam Johnson has been outstanding for the Florida Everblades, playing in 11 games and accumulating 668 minutes. He has an impressive record of 10 wins and just 1 loss. Johnson has faced 266 shots, making 249 saves, which gives him a save percentage of 0.936. His GAA is 1.53, with 17 goals allowed and 3 shutouts. He was recently honored as the Goaltender of the Month for November 2024 after going 7-1-0 with three shutouts, a 1.37 goals-against average, and a .944 save percentage in eight games.

Jacksonville Icemen (JAX)

Justen Close has been a reliable presence in the net for the Jacksonville Icemen. Over 7 games, he has played 408 minutes, securing 4 wins and 2 losses. Close has faced 203 shots, saving 188 of them, which gives him an impressive save percentage of 0.926. His goals-against average (GAA) stands at 2.20, with 15 goals allowed and 1 shutout to his name.

Atlanta Gladiators (ATL)

Ethan Haider has shown resilience for the Atlanta Gladiators, playing in 10 games and clocking 601 minutes. He has recorded 4 wins and 5 losses, with a save percentage of 0.912. Haider has faced 283 shots, making 258 saves, and has a GAA of 2.49. He has allowed 25 goals and has 2 shutouts.

Orlando Solar Bears (ORL)

Alexis Gravel has been a key player for the Orlando Solar Bears, appearing in 7 games and playing 428 minutes. He has achieved 3 wins, 3 losses, and 1 overtime loss. Gravel has faced 250 shots, saving 234 of them, resulting in a save percentage of 0.936. His GAA is 2.24, with 16 goals allowed.

South Carolina Stingrays (SC)

Seth Eisele has been a strong performer for the South Carolina Stingrays, playing in 7 games and logging 420 minutes. He has 5 wins, 1 loss, and 1 overtime loss, with a save percentage of 0.945. Eisele has faced 201 shots, saving 190 of them, and has a GAA of 1.57, with 11 goals allowed and 2 shutouts.

Score First, Win

The Atlanta Gladiators have a winning percentage of 68.8% when scoring first, showing their general success in maintaining leads and securing victories. The Florida Everblades are particularly impressive, with a 95.0% winning percentage when they score first, highlighting their exceptional ability to capitalize on early leads. The Greenville Swamp Rabbits also perform strongly, with an 85.0% winning percentage when scoring first, indicating their effectiveness in securing victories. The Jacksonville Icemen demonstrate their capability to hold onto leads with a 78.6% winning percentage when they score first. The Orlando Solar Bears have a 62.5% winning percentage when scoring first, suggesting some challenges in consistently converting early leads into wins. The Savannah Ghost Pirates leverage early leads effectively, with a 72.7% winning percentage when scoring first. Lastly, the South Carolina Stingrays are dominant, boasting a remarkable 95.8% winning percentage when they score first, showcasing their efficiency in maintaining leads.

Special Teams

Atlanta Gladiators (ATL)

The Atlanta Gladiators have a mixed performance in special teams. Their home power play is decent with a 20.6% success rate, but their road power play struggles at just 3.8%. Overall, their power play percentage is 13.3%. On the penalty kill, they perform better, with an 81.8% success rate at home and 78.1% on the road, leading to an overall penalty kill percentage of 80.0%. Key strategies for improvement include focusing on increasing their power play efficiency, especially on the road, and maintaining their solid penalty kill performance.

Florida Everblades (FLA)

The Florida Everblades excel in both power play and penalty kill. Their home power play is strong at 21.7%, though it drops to 13.2% on the road, resulting in an overall power play percentage of 16.4%. Their penalty kill is outstanding, with a 94.7% success rate at home and 79.1% on the road, leading to an overall penalty kill percentage of 83.9%. The key strategy for the Everblades is to maintain their high penalty kill efficiency while working to improve their road power play performance.

Greenville Swamp Rabbits (GRN)

The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have a solid penalty kill but need improvement on their power play. Their home power play stands at 16.7%, and their road power play is 13.0%, resulting in an overall power play percentage of 15.3%. Their penalty kill is impressive, with a 92.0% success rate at home and 79.2% on the road, leading to an overall penalty kill percentage of 85.7%. The Swamp Rabbits should focus on enhancing their power play effectiveness while continuing to leverage their strong penalty kill.

Jacksonville Icemen (JAX)

The Jacksonville Icemen have a strong penalty kill but struggle with their power play. Their home power play is only 6.7%, while their road power play is better at 22.2%, resulting in an overall power play percentage of 14.0%. Their penalty kill is excellent, with a 90.3% success rate at home and 81.8% on the road, leading to an overall penalty kill percentage of 85.9%. The Icemen should aim to improve their home power play while maintaining their robust penalty kill performance, especially as they will face FLorida on December 6th and 7th.

Orlando Solar Bears (ORL)

The Orlando Solar Bears have a balanced performance in special teams. Their home power play is 18.9%, and their road power play is 13.9%, resulting in an overall power play percentage of 16.4%. Their penalty kill is strong, with an 87.8% success rate at home and 82.2% on the road, leading to an overall penalty kill percentage of 84.9%. The Solar Bears should focus on improving their road power play while continuing to capitalize on their solid penalty kill.

Savannah Ghost Pirates (SAV)

The Savannah Ghost Pirates have a decent power play and a solid penalty kill. Their home power play is 22.2%, and their road power play is 15.8%, resulting in an overall power play percentage of 18.9%. Their penalty kill is strong, with an 88.9% success rate at home and 77.4% on the road, leading to an overall penalty kill percentage of 82.8%. The Ghost Pirates should work on enhancing their road penalty kill while maintaining their effective power play.

South Carolina Stingrays (SC)

The South Carolina Stingrays excel in both power play and penalty kill. Their home power play is 25.0%, and their road power play is 29.6%, resulting in an overall power play percentage of 27.0%. Their penalty kill is exceptional, with a 90.9% success rate at home and a perfect 100.0% on the road, leading to an overall penalty kill percentage of 95.9%. The Stingrays should continue to leverage their strong special teams performance to maintain their competitive edge.

Exciting Matchups (December 2-8, 2024)

Atlanta Gladiators (ATL)

• Friday, December 6: Atlanta at Savannah – 7:30 PM EST
• Saturday, December 7: Atlanta at Greenville – 7:05 PM EST
• Sunday, December 8: Greenville at Atlanta – 3:00 PM EST

Florida Everblades (FLA)

• Thursday, December 5: Florida at Jacksonville – 7:00 PM EST
• Friday, December 6: Florida at Jacksonville – 7:00 PM EST
• Saturday, December 7: Jacksonville at Florida – 7:00 PM EST

Greenville Swamp Rabbits (GRN)

• Friday, December 6: Orlando at Greenville – 7:05 PM EST
• Saturday, December 7: Atlanta at Greenville – 7:05 PM EST
• Sunday, December 8: Greenville at Atlanta – 3:00 PM EST

Jacksonville Icemen (JAX)

• Tuesday, December 3: Orlando at Jacksonville – 7:00 PM EST
• Thursday, December 5: Florida at Jacksonville – 7:00 PM EST
• Friday, December 6: Florida at Jacksonville – 7:00 PM EST

Orlando Solar Bears (ORL)

• Tuesday, December 3: Orlando at Jacksonville – 7:00 PM EST
• Friday, December 6: Orlando at Greenville – 7:05 PM EST
• Sunday, December 8: Orlando at Savannah – 3:00 PM EST

Savannah Ghost Pirates (SAV)

• Friday, December 6: Atlanta at Savannah – 7:30 PM EST
• Sunday, December 8: Orlando at Savannah – 3:00 PM EST

South Carolina Stingrays (SC)

• Friday, December 6: Rapid City at South Carolina – 7:05 PM EST
• Saturday, December 7: Rapid City at South Carolina – 6:05 PM EST
• Sunday, December 8: Rapid City at South Carolina – 3:05 PM EST

What’s Next?

The ECHL South Division remains one of the most competitive divisions in the league, with teams closely vying for the top spots. The Florida Everblades continue to lead the pack, but the South Carolina Stingrays are not far behind, making for an exciting race. The Savannah Ghost Pirates and Jacksonville Icemen are also strong contenders, while the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Orlando Solar Bears, and Atlanta Gladiators are still within striking distance. This dynamic and closely contested division ensures that every game is crucial, and the standings can shift significantly with just a few wins or losses, keeping the race for the playoffs exciting and unpredictable.

Adding to the excitement, several teams have scheduled their Teddy Bear Toss events in early December. The Jacksonville Icemen, in 1st place for our results last year, will host their event on December 6, 2024, aiming to surpass last year’s impressive count of 14,762 teddy bears. The South Carolina Stingrays, in 2nd place last season, will hold their event on December 7, 2024, following last year’s toss of 14,237 bears. The Savannah Ghost Pirates will have their Teddy Bear Toss on December 8, 2024, hoping to make an impact on those standings. These events not only add a festive atmosphere to the games but also contribute to the community, making the holiday season even more special for fans and players alike.