#NickSaracino

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TRUST: GAME PREVIEW - SWAMP RABBITS at ICEMEN

BY: Matt Trust, Greenville Swamp Rabbits Greenville, SC – Tonight, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits visit the Jacksonville Icemen for the final time in the 2020-21 regular season. After tonight, both teams are set to play twice more at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on May 28-29.

#RABBITSRISING#

Greenville Swamp Rabbits (31-17-11-3) at Jacksonville Icemen (31-24-3-3) May 19, 2021 | 7 PM | Game #63 | VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena Referees: Nolan Bloyer (31) Linesmen: Brady Fagan (89), Kilian McNamara (90) ECHL Standings Broadcast Information: (Pre-game 6:45 p.m.) WATCH LIVE: https://www.flohockey.tv/ LISTEN LIVE: https://mixlr.com/swamp-rabbits Voice of the Swamp Rabbits, Matt Trust on the call

LAST TIME OUT:

Six different Swamp Rabbits scored on Sunday afternoon en route to a 6-3 road victory against the Wheeling Nailers. Graham Knott started the scoring only 17 seconds into the first period after deflecting a shot from Frank Hora. Liam Pecararo tallied on the power play at 17:33 before Ben Finkelstein grabbed his eighth goal of the season at 19:32. Greenville carried a 5-2 advantage into the second intermission with additional strikes from Max Zimmer and Frank DiChiara. At 13:08 of the third, Alec Rauhauser registered his second goal of the weekend to complete his club’s scoring line. The Jacksonville Icemen return to action after squeezing out a 2-1 victory last night against Orlando. Nick Saracino opened the scoring with an unassisted breakaway goal midway through the first period. Tied 1-1 early in the third, Brandon Gignac converted his eighth goal of the season for the eventual game-winning marker.

CAREER-NIGHT FOR DICHIARA

Swamp Rabbits forward, Frank DiChiara recorded a career-best four points (one goal, three assists) in Sunday's 6-3 win at Wheeling. Since acquired from the Allen Americans on April 12, DiChiara has posted nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 15 games with Greenville. The Ronkonkoma, New York native's goal on Sunday marked the 50th of his ECHL/pro career. DiChiara’s four-point game scored the third by a Swamp Rabbit this season, joining Matt Bradley and Ben Finkelstein.

POINTS IN SEVEN STRAIGHT FOR FINK

Rookie blueliner Ben Finkelstein enters tonight with points in seven consecutive games (four goals, four assists). Finkelstein returned to Greenville’s lineup on April 30 versus Jacksonville after missing 29 games due to injury. The South Burlington, Vermont native, has totaled 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in 26 games. Finkelstein’s active point streak ties the longest by a Swamp Rabbit this season, previously set by Samuel Jardine, Greg Meireles, and Max Zimmer.

REINFORCEMENTS INCOMING

Prior to this week's slate of games, goaltender Ryan Bednard has been reassigned to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits from the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch. In two starts with Syracuse, Bednard posted a 1-1-0 record accompanied by a 2.61 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. Bednard won his first AHL game of the season on May 2 after denying 36 of 38 shots against the Utica Comets. The Macomb Township, Michigan native, currently sits first among ECHL goaltenders in shutouts (4), second in wins (19) and third in goals-against average (2.46). In his sophomore professional season, Bednard possesses a 19-6-7 record with the Swamp Rabbits. Additionally, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits have regained rookie forward Shawn Cameron, on loan from the Utica Comets. Cameron made his AHL debut on April 9 and dressed in 11 games for the Comets. The Sherbrooke, Quebec native totaled seven points (three goals, four assists) in 13 tilts with Greenville earlier in 2020-21. Cameron, 25, scored his first AHL goal on April 19 against the Syracuse Crunch. With Greenville, Cameron debuted on January 15 at South Carolina before notching his first pro goal on February 11 versus Orlando.

BITS BULLETS

Frank DiChiara’s goal on Sunday was the 50th of his ECHL/professional career…Greenville is 9-3-3-0 in their current season series against Jacksonville…The Rabbits set a new season-high on Saturday with 46 shots on goal against Wheeling…With a victory tonight, the Swamp Rabbits would match their longest winning streak of the season (four straight) for the third time…Greenville’s record in May is 6-1-1-0, and 5-1-0-0 on the road…The Bits are the only team in the ECHL without a win when trailing after 40 minutes.

SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Rise With Us and join us at Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the return of professional hockey in the United States! Single Game Tickets are available to purchase today here.

GEAR UP!

Represent the Swamp Rabbits for the 2020–21 season by heading to our online store, the Hop Shop, to purchase your Bits gear. On sale now!

ABOUT US

Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has provided family-friendly, live entertainment at Bon Secours Wellness Arena since 2010. Formerly the Greenville Road Warriors, the Swamp Rabbits are the highest level professional minor league franchise in South Carolina. The Swamp Rabbits are proud affiliates of the NHL’s Florida Panthers and AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. Greenville is a member of the ECHL, Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League. Since the conclusion of the 2019-20 NHL Season, 678 former ECHL players have debuted in the NHL. Nine former Greenville Road Warriors/Swamp Rabbits have later made their NHL debut. GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS HOME Read the full article

#AllenAmericans #AmericanHockeyLeague #BonSecoursWellnessArena #CharlotteCheckers #ECHL #FloridaPanthers #GreenvilleRoadWarriors #GreenvilleSwampRabbits #JacksonvilleIcemen #MattBradley #NickSaracino #SyracuseCrunch #WheelingNailers

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KEELEY: WALLIN’S PAIR HELP MARINERS EDGE NAILERS

Wallin gets two, Chase finds game-winner, LaCouvee sharp in 3-2 win BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  WHEELING, WV – February 28, 2020 – Greg Chase broke a 2-2 tie at the 13:08 mark of the third period to give the Mariners their first, last and only lead of the night as they defeated the Wheeling Nailers 3-2 on Friday night at WesBanco Arena. Terrence Wallin scored the other two Mariners goals, while Connor LaCouvee earned his 20th win. The Mariners extended their lead to four points over Brampton for 2nd place in the North Division playoff race. At the end of a scoreless first period, Terrence Wallin was called for tripping, giving the Nailers a power play to start the 2nd. Jan Drogz snuck down backdoor and finished a pass from Barry Almedia at 1:58 of the period to break the scoreless tie. The Mariners remained in a goal drought until the 14:01 mark when the Nailers did them a favor. Defenseman Aaron Titcomb, attempting to wrap the puck around behind his own net, inadvertently shot it past Nailers goaltender Alex D’Orio to tie the game at one. Terrence Wallin, the closest Mariner to the puck, was credited with the goal. The Nailers jumped back ahead at 16:13 when Brandon Hawkins took a pass from Nick Saracino and beat LaCouvee’s glove to make it 2-1. Before the period ended, Wallin struck again, sweeping a puck around D’Orio with one hand on his stick after a Greg Chase shot his the Nailers goalie in the chest. The game headed into the third tied at two. The Mariners caught a break when Nailers defenseman Matt Abt broke his stick on a point shot, producing a 2-on-1 in the other direction, with Connor Bleackley and Greg Chase entering the zone. Bleackley fed Chase, who one-timed the go-ahead goal past D’Orio to give Maine a 3-2 lead. The Mariners had a chance to add on when Titcomb and Abt took back-to-back penalties, awarding the Mariners a long two-man advantage. Despite failing to score, the 3-2 lead was enough for Connor LaCouvee, who with the help of several key shot blocks in the third, locked down the one-goal win. The Mariners' “magic number” to clinch a playoff spot fell to 19 – the combination of points accumulated by the Mariners and failed to gain by Adirondack. Additionally, the Mariners padded their third-place cushion to four points over Brampton, which lost to Worcester. The Mariners are back home on Sunday to start a four-game homestand, hosting the ECHL-leading South Carolina Stingrays at 3 PM. The ECHL championship trophy, the Kelly Cup will be in the building, and the Mariners will award the Captain Joel Barnes Community Service Award on the one-year anniversary of his tragic passing in the line of duty. Fans are also invited to skate with the Mariners after the game. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. All Saturday and Sunday home games feature the Family Four Pack – four tickets, four food and drink vouchers, and four Mariners beverage koozies, starting at $80, and must be purchased in advance of game day. Read the full article

#CHL #ConnorLaCouvee #CrossInsuranceArena #ECHL #GregChase #KellyCup #MaineMariners #MichaelKeeley #NickSaracino #SouthCarolinaStingrays #TerrenceWallin #WesBancoArena #WheelingNailers

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CRAWFORD: GILMOUR LEADS PACK TO 4-3 OT WIN OVER THE DEVILS

BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack Hartford, CT, March 13, 2019 – John Gilmour’s second goal of the game, and 20th of the season, at 2:20 of overtime lifted the Hartford Wolf Pack to a 4-3 win over the Binghamton Devils Wednesday night at the XL Center. On the winning play, Binghamton’s Josh Jacobs fumbled the puck just inside the Wolf Pack blue line, allowing Gilmour to spring out the other way on a breakaway.  He moved to his backhand and slipped a shot through the legs of Devil netminder Cam Johnson (24 saves). "I had a lot of space, and did a move I've never done before, and got lucky," said Gilmour.  “The first period was definitely ours, but we let off the gas pedal a little bit in the second and parts of the third." “Real Credit to John he’s playing excellent hockey for us,” Wolf Pack head coach Keith McCambridge said of Gilmour, who now has 51 points on the season, tops among AHL blueliners.   "He's a solid two-way defenseman. His progression has not only been as a player on the ice but on the bench, he's become a real leader." Vinni Lettieri had tied the game for the Wolf Pack with a power-play goal in the third period, and he also had an assist.  Tim Gettinger also had a goal and an assist for Hartford, and Steven Fogarty added two assists.  Alex Krushelnyski, Nick Saracino and Egor Sharangovich had the Binghamton goals. Brandon Halverson made 21 saves for the Wolf Pack, for his AHL career-high fourth straight win. The Wolf Pack had a strong opening period, outshooting the visitors 13-5 and taking a 1-0 lead. Gilmour opened the scoring at 12:07 with his 19th goal of the season, a new franchise record for a defenseman.  On a rush, Fogarty fired a hard shot off of left wing, and the puck went off of the pads of Johnson right to Gilmour in the right circle, and he blasted it into the goal. The Devils’ fourth line had a great shift early in the second period, and a Krushelnyski goal tied the score only 63 seconds into the middle frame.  Nick Sorkin was upended by Brandon Crawley to the left of Halverson, but Sorkin was able to tip the puck to Krushelnyski in the faceoff circle.  He snapped a shot behind Halverson high on the glove side. Binghamton then took the lead on a power play at 7:44, with Matt Beleskey off for high-sticking.  Ryan Schmelzer worked the puck off the right-wing boards to Saracino along the goal line, and he stepped into the slot and fired.  Halverson stopped Saracino’s first bid, but he was able to grab his own rebound and put the puck in on the second chance. The Wolf Pack got that goal back at 13:14, with two seconds left on a hooking penalty to Sam Kurker.  Ryan Gropp fed a pass from the right-wing corner to Fogarty near the point, and Gettinger deflected his shot past Johnson’s catching glove. The Devils went ahead again, though, with only 4.7 seconds left in the second, on a penalty-shot goal by Sharangovich.  Darren Raddysh spilled Sharangovich on a semi-breakaway, bringing the penalty shot call, and Sharangovich converted.  He faked a forehand shot and then put a backhander in on Halverson’s glove side. The Wolf Pack tied the score, and forced overtime, on a 4-on-3 man advantage at 11:17 of the third, just seven seconds after Kurker was called for slashing.  Gettinger won a faceoff from Schmelzer in the circle to Johnson’s right, drawing the puck back to Gilmour.  He sent a feed to Lettieri at the top of the left circle, and he one-timed a shot past the stick side of Johnson, who was screened by Devil defenseman Eric Gryba. "It's a good feeling to win,” Gilmour said, “but at the same time we have 10 games left here, so we want to build on it." The next action for the Wolf Pack is the first of four straight road games this Friday night, March 15 at Syracuse.  The Wolf Pack and Crunch face off at 7:00 PM and all of the action can be heard live on News Radio 1410 AM, and 100.9 FM, WPOP, and online at newsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio.  Video streaming is available at theahl.com/AHLTV. The Wolf Pack’s next home game is Friday, March 29, a 7:15 PM contest vs. the Charlotte Checkers.  As at all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 beers and fountain sodas, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest. Tickets for all 2018-19 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, online at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at [phone].  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $13 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. Season ticket information for the Wolf Pack’s 2018-19 AHL season can be found online at hartfordwolfpack.com.  To speak with a representative about all of the Wolf Pack’s many attractive ticketing options, call [phone], or click here to request more info. Binghamton Devils 3 at Hartford Wolf Pack 4 (OT) Wednesday, March 13, 2019 - XL Center Binghamton  0 3 0 0 - 3 Hartford        1 1 1 1 - 4 1st Period-1, Hartford, Gilmour 19 (Fogarty, Lettieri), 12:07. Penalties-Lettieri Hfd (tripping), 12:49. 2nd Period-2, Binghamton, Krushelnyski 1 (Sorkin, Kurker), 1:03. 3, Binghamton, Saracino 4 (Schmelzer, Ramage), 7:44 (PP). 4, Hartford, Gettinger 13 (Fogarty, Gropp), 13:14 (PP). 5, Binghamton, Sharangovich 9   19:55 (PS). Penalties-Beleskey Hfd (high-sticking), 6:44; Schmelzer Bng (slashing), 9:00; Kurker Bng (hooking), 11:16; Ronning Hfd (tripping), 16:39. 3rd Period-6, Hartford, Lettieri 22 (Gilmour, Gettinger), 11:17 (PP). Penalties-Edwardh Bng (tripping), 1:00; Sissons Bng (slashing), 10:40; Fogarty Hfd (slashing), 10:40; Kurker Bng (slashing), 11:10; Krushelnyski Bng (high-sticking), 17:19. OT Period-7, Hartford, Gilmour 20   2:20. Penalties-No Penalties Shots on Goal-Binghamton 5-11-8-0-24. Hartford 13-6-6-3-28. Power Play Opportunities-Binghamton 1 / 3; Hartford 2 / 5. Goalies-Binghamton, Johnson 8-13-2 (28 shots-24 saves). Hartford, Halverson 7-4-3 (24 shots-21 saves). A-1,775 Referees-Jeremy Tufts (78), Jordan Deckard (14). Linesmen-Robert St. Lawrence (10), Paul Simeon (66). Read the full article

#AHL #BinghamtonDevils #BrandonCrawley #BrandonHalverson #CamJohnson #CharlotteCheckers #HartfordWolfPack #Howlings #JohnGilmour #KeithMcCambridge #MattBeleskey #NickSaracino #NickSorkin #RyanGropp #StevenFogarty #TimGettinger #VinniLettieri #XLCenter