ECHL: Stingrays Extend Streak in OT Thriller; Ghost Pirates Break Out in Greenville | 03/23/2025

Two key South Division matchups on Sunday reshaped the standings down the stretch. The South Carolina Stingrays extended their winning streak to 11 games with a 5–4 overtime win over the Jacksonville Icemen, earning two points to maintain their division lead. Jacksonville collected one point in the loss, holding steady in third place. Meanwhile, the Savannah Ghost Pirates grabbed a big road win in Greenville, defeating the Swamp Rabbits 5–2 behind Devon Paliani’s two-goal performance and a sharp 38-save showing by Keith Kinkaid. The day also featured milestone moments, as two players recorded their first professional goals: Rylan Van Unen (Savannah) and Kyle Haskins (Greenville).

South Carolina Stingrays 5, Jacksonville Icemen 4 (OT)

First Period

South Carolina broke the ice at 12:23 when Alexander Suzdalev cleaned up a feed from Austin Magera and Romain Rodzinski in tight.

GOAL (12:23): Alexander Suzdalev (SC) from Austin Magera, Romain Rodzinski

Just 16 seconds later, Jacksonville’s Chase Lang was whistled for high-sticking, but the Stingrays were unable to capitalize on the ensuing power play. The Icemen responded late in the frame, tying the game at 19:12. Christopher Brown and Olivier Nadeau connected on a rush that Chris Grando finished near the crease.

GOAL (19:12): Chris Grando (JAX) from Christopher Brown, Olivier Nadeau

End of 1st Period:

Score: Tied 1–1

Shots: 8–8
Penalty: Lang (JAX) – High-sticking (12:39)

Second Period

South Carolina regained the lead at 6:23 when Jayden Lee sniped a shot past Justen Close, set up by Tyler Weiss.

GOAL (6:23): Jayden Lee (SC) from Tyler Weiss

Just 26 seconds later, Jacksonville answered. Ty Cheveldayoff buried a wrister from the right circle, assisted by Cameron Supryka and Brendan Harris.

GOAL (6:49): Ty Cheveldayoff (JAX) from Cameron Supryka, Brendan Harris

At 8:14, the Stingrays reclaimed the lead when Romain Rodzinski stepped into a wrister through traffic, converting a loose puck after Alexander Suzdalev slides it over.

GOAL (8:14): Romain Rodzinski (SC) from Alexander Suzdalev, Erik Middendorf

They struck again just over a minute later at 9:40. Jordan Klimek blasted home wrister after passes from Connor Moore and Charlie Combs.

GOAL (9:40): Jordan Klimek (SC) from Connor Moore, Charlie Combs

At 10:10, Erik Middendorf took a tripping penalty, and Jacksonville made it count just five seconds into the man advantage. Christopher Brown ripped a shot from the high slot off a faceoff win.

GOAL (10:15 – PP): Christopher Brown (JAX) from Noah Laaouan

At 14:22, Ty Cheveldayoff and Jackson van de Leest got into a brief altercation, each receiving roughing minors for the exchange.

End of 2nd Period:

Score: South Carolina 4 – Jacksonville 3

Shots: JAX 13, SC 12
Penalties: Middendorf (SC) – Tripping (10:10), Cheveldayoff (JAX) & van de Leest (SC) – Roughing (14:22)

Third Period

The Icemen tied things up at 12:27. After extended offensive pressure, Connor Russell slipped a puck to Brendan Harris, who fed Olivier Nadeau for a quick tap-in to make it 4–4.

GOAL (12:27): Olivier Nadeau (JAX) from Connor Russell, Brendan Harris

Both teams played disciplined hockey down the stretch, with no penalties called in the third, sending the game to overtime.

End of 3rd Period:

Score: Tied 4–4

Shots: SC 8 – JAX 7

Overtime

Jacksonville was awarded a penalty shot just 46 seconds into OT after a breakaway chance by defenseman Noah Laaouan. However, Stingrays goaltender Garin Bjorklund denied the attempt with a calm glove save. That proved crucial, as Alexander Suzdalev ended the game at 2:59, finishing a passing play from Romain Rodzinski and Jayden Lee on a 3-on-1 rush.

PENALTY SHOT (0:46 – OT): Noah Laaouan (JAX) – stopped by Garin Bjorklund
GOAL (2:59 – OT): Alexander Suzdalev (SC) from Romain Rodzinski, Jayden Lee

Final Game Stats

Final Score: South Carolina 5 – Jacksonville 4 (OT)
Shots: SC 31 – JAX 29

Three Stars of the Game

1. Alexander Suzdalev (SC) – 2 goals
2. Romain Rodzinski (SC) – 1 goal, 2 assists
3. Jordan Klimek (SC) – 1 goal

Savannah Ghost Pirates 5, Greenville Swamp Rabbits 2

First Period

Savannah set the tone early. At 10:02, Devon Paliani opened the scoring, finishing a setup on the rebound from Patrick Guay and Matt Choupani for his 29th of the year.

GOAL (10:02): Devon Paliani (SAV) from Patrick Guay, Matt Choupani

At 12:39, Rylan Van Unen scored his first pro goal on a perfectly placed shot, assisted by Kyle Jeffers.

GOAL (12:39): Rylan Van Unen (SAV) from Kyle Jeffers

The Ghost Pirates weren’t done. With 1:10 left in the period, Josh Davies made it 3–0 off another assist from Jeffers, who tallied his second of the frame.

GOAL (18:50): Josh Davies (SAV) from Kyle Jeffers

End of 1st Period:

Score: Savannah 3 – Greenville 0 |

Shots: SAV 14 – GVL 8

Second Period

Greenville got on the board with a shorthanded tally at 12:00. While killing a penalty to Matt Choupani (high-sticking at 8:03), Tyson Fawcett scored on a breakaway after a stretch pass from Tate Singleton

GOAL (12:00 – SH): Tyson Fawcett (GVL) from Tate Singleton

The Swamp Rabbits pulled within one at 13:25 when Kyle Haskins scored his first as a pro, assisted by Brent Pedersen and John Parker-Jones.

GOAL (13:25): Kyle Haskins (GVL) from Brent Pedersen, John Parker-Jones

Later in the period, Greenville’s Parker-Jones (roughing at 11:06) and Stuart Rolofs (slashing at 19:03) were both penalized, but Savannah couldn’t cash in.

End of 2nd Period:

Score: Savannah 3 – Greenville 2

Shots: GVL 16 – SAV 14
Penalties: Choupani (SAV) – High-sticking (8:03), Parker-Jones (GVL) – Roughing (11:06), Rolofs (GVL) – Slashing (19:03)

Third Period

Savannah locked down defensively and capitalized on Greenville’s late gamble. With the Swamp Rabbits’ goalie pulled, Logan Drevitch scored into the empty net at 19:05, assisted by Kai Schwindt.

GOAL (19:05 – EN): Logan Drevitch (SAV) from Kai Schwindt

Devon Paliani added another with just one second left for his 30th of the season, capping a two-goal performance.

GOAL (19:59 – EN): Devon Paliani (SAV) unassisted

Final Game Stats

Final Score: Savannah 5 – Greenville 2
Shots: SAV 41 – GVL 40

Three Stars of the Game

1. Devon Paliani (SAV) – 2 goals
2. Kyle Jeffers (SAV) – 2 assists
3. Keith Kinkaid (SAV) – 38 saves

The Week Ahead in the South Division

There are no ECHL games scheduled on Monday or Tuesday, but South Division play resumes Wednesday, March 26, with two matchups: the Orlando Solar Bears visit the Atlanta Gladiators for a rare 10:30 a.m. puck drop, while the Jacksonville Icemen face the Florida Everblades in Estero later that evening at 7:30 pm.