SPHL Weekly Recap: Top Performances, Standings and What’s Ahead | Week 5

As the SPHL season progresses, the competition is heating up with teams battling for the top spots as we head towards the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The Fayetteville Marksmen continue to lead the standings with an impressive 80% win rate, closely followed by the Huntsville Havoc. Notable performances include high-scoring efforts from players like Nick Ford of Roanoke and Carson Rose of Birmingham. Last week’s games featured thrilling matches and overtime victories, setting the stage for an exciting lineup of upcoming games. With key players making significant impacts, and call ups to the ECHL making waves, things become more intense each week. Let’s take a look at the stats and dive into where the league stands.

Current Standings

Here are the overall results, win percentage, and goals for (GF) and goals against (GA) for each team:

Team Standings

November 15:

• Macon 5 vs. Fayetteville 2
  • Location: Crown Coliseum
• Birmingham 3 vs. Knoxville 4 (OT)
  • Location: Knoxville Civic Coliseum
• Quad City 3 vs. Roanoke 6
  • Location: Berglund Center
• Pensacola 2 vs. Huntsville 3
  • Location: Roto-Rooter Ice at Propst Arena
• Evansville 2 vs. Peoria 3
  • Location: Peoria Civic Center

November 16:

• Macon 2 vs. Fayetteville 6
  • Location: Crown Coliseum
• Quad City 6 vs. Roanoke 7 (OT)
  • Location: Berglund Center
• Huntsville 5 vs. Pensacola 3
  • Location: Pensacola Bay Center
• Peoria 2 vs. Evansville 1 (OT)
  • Location: Ford Center
• Birmingham 7 vs. Knoxville 4
  • Location: Pelham Civic Complex

Goaltending Leaders

1. Brian Wilson (HSV)

• Games Played (GP): 3
• Minutes Played (MINS): 183:51
• Wins (W): 2
• Losses (L): 0
• Overtime Losses (OTL): 1
• Goals Against (GA): 5
• Goals Against Average (GAA): 1.63
• Save Percentage (SV%): 0.951

Summary: We mentioned last week how Brian Wilson has been outstanding for Huntsville, maintaining a stellar save percentage of 0.951 and a low goals-against average of 1.63. His performance has been crucial in securing two wins and one overtime loss for his team. It was no surprise to see Wilson get called up to the ECHL. Wilson made a notable debut for the Jacksonville Icemen on November 16, 2024, in a game against the Atlanta Gladiators. He delivered an impressive performance, making 37 saves on 39 shots, which played a crucial role in the Icemen’s 4-2 victory. He will return to the Havoc now that goaltender Matt Vernon had been returned (11/6) to the Icemen from being on loan to Rochester (AHL).

2. Mike Robinson (HSV)

• Games Played (GP): 7
• Minutes Played (MINS): 420:33
• Wins (W): 5
• Losses (L): 2
• Goals Against (GA): 15
• Goals Against Average (GAA): 2.14
• Save Percentage (SV%): 0.930

Summary: Mike Robinson has been solid in the net for Hurstville, playing in seven games to date and securing five wins. His save percentage of 0.930 and goals-against average of 2.14 reflect his solid performance and ability to handle a high volume of shots.

With Brian Wilson and Mike Robinson anchoring the net, Huntsville boasts formidable strength between the pipes, making them a tough team to beat. Add in Ryan Kenny. Kenny has been a key player, leading the SPHL in wins and shutouts, and ranking high in saves and minutes played. With Kenny’s stellar play, the Marksmen have a strong presence in the net, making them a formidable opponent.

Points Leaders

1. Nick Ford (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) – 19 points
2. Leif Mattson (Quad City Storm) – 15 points
3. Cole Golka (Quad City Storm) – 14 points

Leaders in Goals

1. Carson Rose (Birmingham Bulls) – 8 goals
2. Leif Mattson (Quad City Storm) – 7 goals
3. Gustav Muller (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) – 7 goals

Assists Leaders

Nick Ford (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) – 15 assists

Power-Play Goals

1. Gustav Muller (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) – 4 PPG
2. Jeremy Gervais (Huntsville Havoc) – 3 PPG

Shorthanded Goals

1. Matt Wiesner (Pensacola Ice Flyers) – 2 SHG
2. Nick Ford (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) – 1 SHG

Players Taking the Shots

1. Tyler Barrow (Fayetteville Marksmen) – 38 shots
2. Greg Smith (Pensacola Ice Flyers) – 38 shots
3. Scott Kirton (Evansville Thunderbolts) – 38 shots

Shooting Percentage

1. Joseph Widmar (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) – 50.0%
2. Seth Benson (Birmingham Bulls) – 42.9%
3. Lucas Helland (Knoxville Ice Bears) – 40.0%

Leading Defensemen Overall

The top three defensemen based on points are:

1. Johnny Witzke (QC) – 9 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 PTS
2. Tyler Love (FAY) – 10 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 PTS
3. Carson Vance (KNX) – 10 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 7 PTS

Why They Stand Out:

Johnny Witzke:

• Goals and Assists: Witzke leads with 8 points, showing a balanced contribution in both goals and assists.
• Shooting Percentage: He has a high shooting percentage of 37.5%, making him a leader in converting shots into goals.
• Power-Play Goals: His ability to score during power plays is certainly a bonus for his team.

Tyler Love:

• Consistency: Love has consistently contributed to his team’s offense with 7 points.
• Versatility: His 5 assists highlight his playmaking abilities, making him a crucial part of his team’s offensive strategies.

Carson Vance:

• Playmaking: Vance’s 6 assists show his strong playmaking skills, helping set up goals and putting his team in prime scoring position.
• Shots on Goal: Leading in shots with 37, Vance is actively involved in creating scoring opportunities.

Johnny Witzke of the Quad City Storm leads with eight points, showcasing a balanced contribution in both goals and assists, and boasts a high shooting percentage of 37.5%, highlighting his scoring efficiency. Tyler Love from the Fayetteville Marksmen follows not far behind with seven, demonstrating consistent offensive contributions and strong playmaking abilities with his five assists. Carson Vance of the Knoxville Ice Bears, also with seven points, excels in playmaking with six assists and leads in shots on goal with 37, actively creating scoring opportunities for his team. These players stand out not only for their point totals but also for their overall impact on the game through their scoring efficiency, playmaking skills, and performance in crucial situations like power plays.

Special Teams: The Game Changers

First Goal Advantage

The teams had varied success when scoring first. Birmingham and Huntsville both excelled with a 90% win percentage, each securing nine points from five first goals. Knoxville was perfect, winning all three games where they scored first, resulting in a 100% win percentage. Fayetteville also performed well, achieving an 83.3% win percentage with five wins from their six first goals. Other teams like Macon, Peoria, and Roanoke had respectable win percentages of 66.7%, 60%, and 66.7%, respectively. Evansville struggled more, with a 42.9% win percentage despite scoring first in seven of their games. Overall, the league saw a 70.8% win percentage when scoring first, highlighting the importance of gaining the early lead.

Upcoming Games:

Fines and Suspensions

Nicola Levesque of Quad City was suspended for one game [November 12th] under Rule 28, Supplementary Discipline, due to his actions in Game 37 against Fayetteville, which took place on Saturday, November 9. Levesque received a minor penalty for boarding at 19:57 of the first period. As a result of this, he missed Quad City’s game against Roanoke on Friday.

Charlie Risk from Huntsville has been suspended for one game [November 12th] under Rule 46.22, Instigator or Aggressor in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time, following his actions in Game 38 against Knoxville on Sunday, November 10. Risk was given a major penalty for fighting and a game misconduct under Rule 46.2, Aggressor, at 19:07 of the third period. Consequently, he missed Huntsville’s game against Pensacola on Friday.

What’s Next?

In summary, special teams have played a crucial role in the success of SPHL teams currently in the lead. The Birmingham Bulls host an impressive power play, while the Huntsville Havoc excel in penalty killing. Teams like the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs and Peoria Rivermen show balanced special teams performance, contributing to their strong standings. However, teams such as the Quad City Storm and Pensacola Ice Flyers need to improve their penalty kill and power play, respectively, to climb higher in the rankings. As the season progresses, the effectiveness of special teams will continue to be a key factor in determining the outcomes of games and the overall standings.

As we gear up for another exciting week in the SPHL, be sure to watch those key matchups and emerging talents. Stay tuned for all the action, and join us next week for more highlights and insights.