The past week in the SPHL was filled with action and significant movement in the standings. Fayetteville continued to dominate, extending their winning streak to five games and solidifying their position at the top of the league. Huntsville and Birmingham also showcased strong performances, maintaining their spots in the top three. Notable games included Huntsville’s decisive 5-1 victory over Macon and Roanoke’s narrow 2-1 win against Birmingham. As teams battle it out on the ice, fans are treated to intense matchups and standout individual performances, making for an exciting season so far.
Current Standings
Here are the current standings with each team’s current win percentages included:
- Fayetteville (7-1-0-0):
- Points: 14
- Win Percentage: 87.5%
- Huntsville (5-2-1-0):
- Points: 11
- Win Percentage: 68.8%
- Birmingham (4-2-1-0):
- Points: 9
- Win Percentage: 64.3%
- Knoxville (4-3-1-0):
- Points: 9
- Win Percentage: 56.3%
- Evansville (4-4-1-0):
- Points: 9
- Win Percentage: 50.0%
- Quad City (4-3-0-0):
- Points: 8
- Win Percentage: 57.1%
- Peoria (3-2-2-0):
- Points: 8
- Win Percentage: 57.1%
- Roanoke (3-3-1-0):
- Points: 7
- Win Percentage: 50.0%
- Pensacola (2-5-1-0):
- Points: 5
- Win Percentage: 31.3%
- Macon (2-4-1-0):
- Points: 5
- Win Percentage: 35.7%
Results of Last Week’s Games:
- Friday, November 8:
- Macon 1 at Huntsville 5
- Roanoke 2 at Birmingham 1
- Knoxville 4 at Pensacola 7
- Fayetteville 3 at Quad City 1
- Evansville 4 at Peoria 3
- Saturday, November 9:
- Macon 3 at Evansville 4 (OT)
- Knoxville 5 at Pensacola 3
- Fayetteville 2 at Quad City 1
- Sunday, November 10:
- Knoxville 2 at Huntsville 1
Top three teams in the SPHL:
Fayetteville Marksmen
- Strong Record: With a 7-1-0-0 record, they have the best win percentage in the league at 87.5%.
- Balanced Offense and Defense: They have scored 29 goals while only allowing 19, showing strength on both ends of the ice.
- Momentum: Currently on a 5-game winning streak with some strong recent performances.
Huntsville Havoc
- Solid Defense: They have only allowed 15 goals in 8 games, which is one of the lowest in the league.
- Penalty Kill: Despite high penalty minutes, their ability to manage and kill penalties effectively keeps them competitive.
Birmingham Bulls
- High Scoring: With players like Carson Rose leading the league in goals, their offensive firepower is a significant advantage.
- Depth: Multiple players contributing to their points tally indicates a well-rounded team effort.
Goaltending Leaders
Ryan Kenny (Fayetteville Marksmen) has been a workhorse for Fayetteville, playing in seven games and logging 421 minutes and 56 seconds. It was no surprise that Kenny has been named the Warrior SPHL Player of the Week for November 4-10, 2024. This marks his second consecutive week earning this honor. Kenny went 2-0-0 with a remarkable 1.00 goals-against average and a 0.971 save percentage, leading Fayetteville to two road victories over Quad City and extending the team’s winning streak to five games.
On Friday, Kenny stopped 38 of 39 shots in a 3-1 win against the Storm. The following night, he made 30 saves, including 17 in the third period, helping Fayetteville secure a 2-1 comeback victory. Kenny is now a perfect 7-0-0 for the season, leading the SPHL in wins and shutouts (tied with one), and ranking second in saves and minutes played. He also stands fourth in goals against average (2.13) and save percentage (0.938). An SPHL All-Rookie Team selection in 2023-2024, Kenny played collegiately at Stevenson University, where he earned NCAA III (UCHC) First Team All-Conference and Goaltender of the Year honors in his junior and senior seasons.
Austin Lotz (Birmingham Bulls) has been a strong presence in goal for Birmingham, playing three games and totaling 177 minutes and 36 seconds. He has a record of 2-1-0, a GAA of 2.03, and a SV% of 0.942. Lotz’s ability to keep the puck out of the net has been instrumental in Birmingham’s competitive edge this season.
Mike Robinson (Huntsville Havoc) has been solid in the net for the Huntsville Havoc. Over five games, Robinson has accumulated 300 minutes and 33 seconds of ice time, securing three wins and two losses. He has maintained a solid goals against average (GAA) of 2.00, allowing only 10 goals while facing 158 shots. With a save percentage of 0.937, Robinson has proven to be a formidable presence in the net, making 148 saves and contributing significantly to Huntsville’s defensive strength. His consistent performance has been instrumental in keeping the team competitive this season.
Points Leaders
- Cole Golka (Quad City Storm): 7 GP, 5 G, 6 A, 11 PTS
- Leif Mattson (Quad City Storm): 7 GP, 5 G, 6 A, 11 PTS
- Carson Rose (Birmingham Bulls): 6 GP, 8 G, 2 A, 10 PTS
- Grant Loven (Fayetteville Marksmen): 8 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 PTS
- Matthew Barnaby (Evansville Thunderbolts): 7 GP, 6 G, 3 A, 9 PTS
Assists Leaders
- Nick Ford (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs): 7 GP, 8 A
- Grant Loven (Fayetteville Marksmen): 8 GP, 7 A
Goals Leaders
- Carson Rose (Birmingham Bulls): 6 GP, 8 G
- Matthew Barnaby (Evansville Thunderbolts): 7 GP, 6 G
Power-Play Goals
Gustav Muller (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) leads the league with 3 power-play goals, showcasing his ability to capitalize on man-advantage situations. Several other players are tied with 2 power-play goals, indicating a competitive edge in special teams play across the league.
Shorthanded Goals
Drake Glover (Birmingham Bulls), Giovanni Procopio (Huntsville Havoc), Tommy Tsicos (Quad City Storm), and Matt Wiesner (Pensacola Ice Flyers) each have one shorthanded goal.
Power-Play Goals
Tao Ishizuka (Macon Mayhem) leads with three power-play points.
Players Taking the Shots
Greg Smith (Pensacola Ice Flyers) leads the league with 36 shots, followed by Brendan Harrogate (Evansville Thunderbolts) with 34 shots, and Tyler Barrow (Fayetteville Marksmen) with 33 shots. Noah Finstrom (Huntsville Havoc) has 32 shots, and several players are tied with 31 shots. These players are consistently putting pucks on net, creating scoring opportunities for their teams.
Shooting Percentage
John MacDonald (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) has the highest shooting percentage at 40.0%, scoring 2 goals on 5 shots. Michael McChesney (Peoria Rivermen) and Seth Benson (Birmingham Bulls) both have a shooting percentage of 33.3%, each scoring 2 goals on 6 shots. Matt Wiesner (Pensacola Ice Flyers) and Gustav Muller (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) both have a shooting percentage of 30.8%, each scoring 4 goals on 13 shots. These players are highly efficient in converting their shots into goals.
First Professional Goal
On November 10, Logan Vande Meerakker (Evansville Thunderbolts) scored his first professional goal against the Macon Mayhem. In addition to this milestone, he has contributed two assists, bringing his total to 3 points.
Upcoming Games:
Friday, November 15:
- Macon at Fayetteville – 7:00 PM EST
- Birmingham at Knoxville – 7:05 PM EST
- Quad City at Roanoke – 7:05 PM EST
- Pensacola at Huntsville – 7:00 PM CST
- Evansville at Peoria – 7:15 PM CST
Saturday, November 16:
- Macon at Fayetteville – 6:00 PM EST
- Quad City at Roanoke – 7:05 PM EST
- Knoxville at Birmingham – 7:05 PM CST
- Peoria at Evansville – 7:05 PM CST
- Huntsville at Pensacola – 7:05 PM CST
Recent Fines and Suspensions
Nicola Levesque of Quad City has been suspended for one game following an incident in Game 37 against Fayetteville on November 9. Levesque was assessed a minor penalty for boarding at 19:57 of the first period. As a result, he will miss Quad City’s upcoming game against Roanoke on Friday. This suspension falls under Rule 28, Supplementary Discipline.
Charlie Risk from Huntsville has also been suspended for one game due to his actions in Game 38 against Knoxville on November 10. Risk received a major penalty for fighting and a game misconduct for being the aggressor at 19:07 of the third period. Consequently, he will miss Huntsville’s game against Pensacola on Friday. His suspension is in accordance with Rule 46.22, Instigator or Aggressor in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time.
Transactions By Team
(Alphabetically Listed)
Birmingham Bulls
The Birmingham Bulls signed defenseman Trevor Thurston to a PTO on November 6, 2024.
Evansville Thunderbolts
The Evansville Thunderbolts activated defenseman Nolan McElhaney from IR on November 8, 2024, and placed left winger Myles Abbate on 14-day IR. They also released right winger Carson Gallagher from his PTO on November 4.
Fayetteville Marksmen
On November 6, 2024, the Fayetteville Marksmen claimed defenseman John Aonso off waivers and signed goaltender Mason Beaupit to an SPC. They waived goaltender Daniel Davidson and defenseman Aiden Wagner. Additionally, on November 5, they signed forward Curtis Judd to a PTO. These moves should bolster their defensive and goaltending depth while adding to their offensive potential.
Huntsville Havoc
The Huntsville Havoc signed goaltender Dysen Skinner to an SPC on November 10, 2024, and loaned goaltender Brian Wilson to ECHL Jacksonville. With 183 minutes and 51 seconds of ice time, Wilson had wins and one overtime loss, maintaining an GAA of 1.63. He has faced 103 shots and made 98 saves, resulting in a save percentage of 0.951. Wilson’s ability to consistently stop pucks and keep the opposition at bay has been crucial for Huntsville, highlighting his importance to the team’s defensive success, and earning him the well deserved call up to the ECHL.
Knoxville Ice Bears
On November 10, 2024, the Knoxville Ice Bears signed right winger Mike Egan to an SPC. Earlier, on November 6, they activated right winger Lucas Helland from IR, placed defenseman Seth Ensor on 30-day IR, and waived center Connor Graham. These changes aim to strengthen their forward lines while managing those recent injuries.
Macon Mayhem
The Macon Mayhem made several roster changes, including signing defenseman Parker Allison from Birmingham on November 5, 2024. They also signed goaltender Reid Cooper and right winger Conor Witherspoon to SPCs, and activated center Dominic Dumas and defenseman Tristen Wells from IR. They placed multiple players on IR, waived left winger Colin Ratt after signing him, and released defenseman Andrey Simonchyk from his PTO.
Pensacola Ice Flyers
Pensacola Ice Flyers signed defenseman Dante Fantauzzi and right winger Carson Gallagher to SPCs on November 7, 2024. They placed left winger Tyler Adams on 14-day IR and loaned left winger Kolby Johnson to ECHL Worcester on November 5. Kolby Johnson has had an eventful start to the 2024-2025 season with the Pensacola Ice Flyers. In the three games he’s played, Johnson has scored one goal and accumulated 30 penalty minutes. His physical style of play is evident, showing he’s not afraid to get involved in the action. Overall, Kolby is proving to be a valuable player and may be a nice addition to the Worcester lineup.
Peoria Rivermen
Peoria Rivermen signed left winger Frank Trazzera to an SPC on November 4, 2024, and loaned right winger Tyler Kobryn to ECHL Florida on November 10. They also waived defenseman John Aonso.
Quad City Storm
Quad City Storm activated defenseman Michael Greco from IR on November 4, 2024, and added goaltender Roni Salmenkangas as an emergency backup on November 7. They waived defenseman Connor Mullins and suspended right winger Jan Salak.
What’s Next?
This weekend’s SPHL games feature some exciting matchups to watch. On Friday, November 15, Fayetteville will look to extend their winning streak against Macon, while Pensacola faces a tough challenge against Huntsville’s strong defense. Saturday, November 16, brings another round of thrilling action with Knoxville taking on Birmingham in a crucial game for both teams’ standings. Additionally, Huntsville and Pensacola will meet again in a back-to-back matchup, where Pensacola will aim to bounce back or Huntsville will seek to solidify their defensive stand. These games promise intense competition and could significantly impact the league standings.
Fayetteville’s impressive winning streak and strong overall performance have set a high bar for the rest of the league, while Huntsville and Birmingham remain formidable contenders among them. As the season progresses, fans can look forward to more captivating matchups and additional player achievements, making this SPHL season one to continue to watch.
