SPHL Weekly Recap: Top Performances, Standings and What’s Ahead | Week 6

As the season progresses, the competition heats up, and the standings reflect the intense battles on the ice. Here’s a comprehensive look at the overall results, win percentages, and goal statistics for each team. From the top contenders to those striving to climb the ranks, these numbers tell the story of the season so far.

Current Standings:

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

Last Week’s Game Results

Goaltending

Dysen Skinner (Macon Mayhem): Dysen Skinner has been exceptional, boasting a minuscule goals-against average of 0.44 and a stellar save percentage of 0.986. His performance earned him the SPHL Player of the Week honors, thanks to his crucial saves and a shutout that significantly contributed to his team’s success. In his 3 games played, he has secured 2 wins and no losses, with one shutout, spending a total of 135 minutes and 52 seconds on the ice.

Brian Wilson (Huntsville Havoc): Brian Wilson has been a rock in the net for Huntsville, maintaining a goals-against average of 1.63 and a save percentage of 0.951. His consistent performance has been key in securing wins for his team, with 2 wins, 0 losses, and 1 overtime loss in his 3 games played, totaling 183 minutes and 51 seconds on the ice.

Colby Muise (Peoria Riverman): Colby Muise has been a standout for Peoria, with a goals-against average of 1.88 and a save percentage of 0.933. His reliability in goal has been a significant factor in his team’s strong performance this season. Over 8 games, he has accumulated 6 wins, 1 loss, and 1 overtime loss, playing a total of 479 minutes and 23 seconds.

Mike Robinson (Huntsville Havoc): Mike Robinson has been solid for Huntsville, with a goals-against average of 2.12 and a save percentage of 0.928. His ability to handle a high volume of shots has been crucial for his team’s defense. In his 8 games played, he has secured 6 wins and 2 losses, spending 480 minutes and 10 seconds on the ice.

Top Performers and Key Stats 

Points Leaders

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

Leaders in Goals

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

Assists Leaders

• Nick Ford (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) – 15 assists

Power-Play Goals

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

Shorthanded Goals

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

Players Taking the Shots

• Tyler Barrow (Fayetteville Marksmen) – 38 shots
• Greg Smith (Pensacola Ice Flyers) – 38 shots
• Scott Kirton (Evansville Thunderbolts) – 38 shots

Shooting Percentage

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

Leading Defensemen Overall

• Johnny Witzke (Quad City Storm) – 9 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 PTS
• Tyler Love (Fayetteville Marksmen) – 10 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 PTS
• Carson Vance (Knoxville Ice Bears) – 10 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 7 PTS

Top Three Standouts and Why

1. Nick Ford (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) – Forward
   • Why: Nick Ford leads the league in points with 19, showcasing his exceptional playmaking and scoring abilities. His 15 assists highlight his vision and ability to set up teammates, making him a crucial offensive force for Roanoke.
2. Gustav Muller (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) – Forward
   • Why: Gustav Muller stands out for us as the top rookie in league as he now stands with 11 points, including seven goals. His performance on the power play, with four power-play goals, demonstrates his ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Muller’s contributions have been vital for Roanoke, earning him recognition as a key player.
3. Johnny Witzke (Quad City Storm) – Defenseman
   • Why: Johnny Witzke has been a standout defenseman, contributing eight points in nine games with a balanced mix of three goals and five assists. His high shooting percentage of 30.0% and ability to perform in crucial situations, such as power plays, make him a significant asset to Quad City.

The Special Teams Edge

These three teams have demonstrated exceptional skill and strategy in both power play and penalty kill scenarios, making them tough opponents on the ice. Their ability to excel in these critical areas has been a significant factor in their success this season. Let’s take a closer look at how each team has performed and why they stand out.

Peoria Rivermen

The Peoria Rivermen have shown exceptional performance in special teams play. Their power play is highly effective, with a 24.0% success rate overall, including a strong 27.6% at home. Their penalty kill is also impressive, particularly on the road where they have a 93.3% success rate. Overall, they maintain an 85.7% penalty kill rate. Additionally, Peoria has managed to score two shorthanded goals while only allowing one, demonstrating their ability to capitalize on both ends of the ice. This balanced and effective special teams play has been a significant factor in their success this season.

Birmingham Bulls

The Birmingham Bulls excel in power play situations, boasting a remarkable 35.7% success rate overall, with an outstanding 60.0% on the road. Their home power play is also solid at 22.2%. While their penalty kill is less dominant, with a 76.5% success rate overall, they have managed to keep their shorthanded goals against to zero, both at home and on the road. Birmingham’s ability to convert on power plays and maintain a strong defensive presence during penalty kills makes them formidable.

Huntsville Havoc

The Huntsville Havoc have demonstrated strong special teams performance, particularly in penalty killing. They lead the league with a 92.3% success rate at home and maintain an overall penalty kill rate of 87.2%. Their power play is consistent, with a 17.4% success rate overall. Huntsville has also scored one shorthanded goal on the road while keeping their shorthanded goals against to a minimum. This combination of effective penalty killing and reliable power play contributes significantly to their competitive edge.

Players on Streaks

Goals

Nikita Kozyrev (Birmingham Bulls)

• Streak: 3 games
• Goals: 3
• Dates: 11/15 to present
• Summary: Nikita Kozyrev is currently on a 3-game goal streak, adding 3 goals to his tally. His recent form has provided a significant boost to Birmingham’s offense.

Assists

Mike Gelatt (Peoria Rivermen)

• Streak: 4 games
• Assists: 5
• Dates: 11/15 to present
• Summary: Mike Gelatt is currently on a 4-game assist streak, with 5 assists to his name. His recent playmaking has been a significant factor in Peoria’s success.

Points

Alec Baer (Peoria Rivermen)

• Streak: 11 games
• Points: 13
• Dates: 10/19 to present
• Summary: Alec Baer has been a consistent offensive force, accumulating 13 points over an 11-game streak. His ability to contribute both goals and assists has been crucial for Peoria.

Tyler Kobryn (Peoria Rivermen)

• Streak: 4 games
• Points: 4
• Dates: 10/29 to present
• Summary: Tyler Kobryn is currently on a 4-game point streak, adding 4 points to his season total. His consistent play has helped Peoria maintain their competitive edge.

Teams on Streaks

Winning Streaks

Peoria is currently on a remarkable winning streak, having secured four consecutive victories since November 15th. This impressive performance highlights their strong form and determination on the ice. Huntsville is also showing great consistency, with three wins in a row since November 15th, demonstrating their competitive edge and resilience.

Home Winning Streaks

Peoria continues to dominate at home, boasting three consecutive home wins since November 15th. Their ability to leverage home advantage is clearly paying off. Similarly, Knoxville has also achieved three home wins in a row since November 15th, showcasing their strength and confidence when playing in front of their home crowd.

Road Winning Streaks

On the road, Peoria is proving to be a formidable opponent, with three consecutive road wins since October 29th. Their success away from home underscores their versatility and adaptability in different playing environments.

Points Streaks

Peoria is on a roll, accumulating points in four consecutive games since November 15th. This streak is a testament to their consistent performance and ability to secure crucial points. Huntsville has also been impressive, earning points in three straight games since November 15th. Evansville and Birmingham are not far behind, each with three points streaks starting from November 16th and November 15th, respectively, highlighting their competitive spirit and drive.

Evansville Thunderbolts

On November 22nd, Robin Eriksson (D) was placed on a 14-day IR. On November 22nd, Myles Abbate (LW) was activated from IR.

Fayetteville Marksmen

On November 21st, Ryan Nolan (RW) was placed on a 14-day IR. On November 23rd, Curtis Judd (LW) was signed to an SPC.

Huntsville Havoc

On November 18th, Dysen Skinner (G) was waived (Later signed by Macon Mayhem) and Brian Wilson (G) returned from the Jacksonville Icemen.

Macon Mayhem

On November 21st, Alex Cohen (C) was activated from IR, Reid Cooper (G) was waived, Trent Grimshaw (RW) was placed on a 14-day IR, and Dysen Skinner (G) was signed to an SPC. On November 24th, Nicholas Favaro (D) was placed on a 14-day IR, and Trent Grimshaw (RW) was activated from IR.

Peoria Rivermen

On November 18th, Griffen Fox (C) was placed on a 14-day IR. On November 20th, Ryan Hunter (LW) was traded from Roanoke and added to the team. On November 21st, Brendan Ronan (LW) was signed to an SPC. However, on November 24th, both Ryan Hunter and Brendan Ronan were waived.

Pensacola Ice Flyers

On November 22nd, CJ Hayes (RW) was loaned to ECHL Tahoe.

Quad City Storm

On November 18th, Doug Blaisdell (D) was placed on a 14-day IR, and Filip Hlavac (D) was traded from Roanoke. On November 19th, Brendan Ronan (LW) was waived, and Mike Wilson (C) was placed on a 14-day IR. On November 20th, Matt Ustaski (C) returned from the Iowa Heartlanders. On November 21st, Lukas Lacny (RW) was signed to an SPC, Brent Moran (G) was activated from IR, and Roni Salmenkangas (G) was waived.

Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs

On November 18th, Filip Hlavac (D) was traded to Quad City, and Ryan Hunter (LW) was traded to Peoria. On November 19th, Justin Gortman (G) was waived, and John MacDonald (D) returned from the Reading Royals. On November 20th, Cameron Clark (LW) was signed to a PTO, and CJ Valerian (D) was activated from IR. On November 21st, John MacDonald (D) was loaned to the Reading Royals, Tobias Odjick (LW) and Brenden Stanko (C) were activated from IR, and Joe Widmar (C) was loaned to the Bloomington Bison.

Suspensions (11/18-11/24)

Evansville’s Aiden Wagner
Evansville’s Aiden Wagner has been suspended one game under Rule 28, Supplementary Discipline, as a result of his actions in Game 251, Evansville at Quad City, played on Friday, November 22. Wagner was assessed a major penalty for boarding at 15:26 of the third period. Wagner will miss Evansville’s game tonight against Quad City.

Quad City’s Michael Greco
Quad City’s Michael Greco has been suspended one game under Rule 28, Supplementary Discipline, as a result of his actions in Game 55, Quad City at Evansville, played on Saturday, November 23. Greco was assessed a game misconduct under Rule 23.4 at 8:51 of the third period. Greco will miss Quad City’s game against Evansville on Wednesday.

Pensacola’s Jake Hamilton
Pensacola’s Jake Hamilton has been suspended one game under Rule 28, Supplementary Discipline, as a result of his actions in Game 56, Pensacola at Peoria, played on Saturday, November 23. Hamilton was assessed a game misconduct under Rule 23.4 at 4:45 of the second period. Hamilton will miss Pensacola’s game against Huntsville on Wednesday.

Upcoming Games

What’s Next?

As we look ahead to the upcoming games, the focus remains on the standout performances and strategic plays that have defined the season so far. Special teams have been pivotal, with the Birmingham Bulls showcasing a formidable power play and the Huntsville Havoc excelling in penalty killing. Teams like the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs and Peoria Rivermen have demonstrated balanced special teams performance, contributing to their strong standings.

Key players to watch include Nick Ford of the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, who leads the league in points, and Gustav Muller, also from Roanoke, who has been a standout rookie with significant contributions on the power play. Johnny Witzke of the Quad City Storm has been a crucial asset on defense, with his high shooting percentage and ability to perform in critical situations.

As the season progresses, the effectiveness of special teams will continue to be a decisive factor in the outcomes of games and the overall standings. Teams like the Quad City Storm and Pensacola Ice Flyers will need to improve their penalty kill and power play, respectively, to climb higher in the rankings.

This week’s matchups promise to be thrilling, with key games such as Knoxville at Fayetteville, Birmingham at Huntsville, and Peoria at Quad City. Keep an eye on the emerging talents and strategic plays that will shape the standings in the weeks to come.

Stay tuned for all the action, and join us next week for more highlights!