All-SPHL First Team Announced
March 26, 2010 - SPHL (SPHL) News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC - The Southern Professional Hockey League on Thursday announced its 2009-2010 All-SPHL First Team as selected in a vote of SPHL coaches and media representatives.
2009-2010 All-SPHL First Team (statistics through March 25)
F - Rob Sich, Fayetteville FireAntz (54 gp, 61g, 34 a, 95 pts, +19, 19 ppg, 4 shg, 9 gwg)
F - Kevin Swider, Knoxville Ice Bears (51 gp, 42 g, 48 a, 90 pts, +6, 17 ppg)
F - Chris Leveille, Fayetteville FireAntz (54 gp, 18 g, 62 a, 80 pts, +11, 8 ppg, 3 shg)
D - Steve Weidlich, Mississippi Surge (54 gp, 6g, 36 a, 42 pts, +3, 4 ppg, 1 shg)
D - Mark Van Vliet, Knoxville Ice Bears (49 gp, 6 g, 27 a, 33 pts, +13, 1 ppg, 1 gwg)
G - Bill Zaniboni, Mississippi Surge (34 gp, 22-7-4, 2.55 gaa,.919 save%, 3 so)
Rob Sich of the Fayetteville FireAntz leads the SPHL with 61 goals, 95 points and nine game-winning goals, while his 19 power-play goals and four shorthand goals are second among all players.
Sich set a new record for goals in a season when he scored his 47th on February 20 against the Knoxville Ice Bears, breaking his own record of 46 during the 2006-07 season.
The 2005-06 Rookie of the Year and 2006-07 Most Valuable Player has 17 multi-goal games this season, including a record-tying five against Pensacola on March 6.
Kevin Swider of the Knoxville Ice Bears is currently second in the SPHL in points (90) and assists (48) and third in power-play goals with 17.
Swider, who has led the SPHL in scoring each year since the league formed in 2004, is a two-time league Most Valuable Player and holds more than 15 SPHL scoring records.
He is currently riding a 29-game point-scoring streak, tying his own SPHL record set back in the 2007-08 season.
Chris Leveille of the Fayetteville FireAntz leads the league with 62 assists and is third in points (80) and shorthand goals (3).
Playing on a line with Rob Sich, Leveille has assisted on 41 of Sich's 61 goals so far this season (67%).
His 62 assists is currently the fourth-best single-season total in SPHL history.
Steve Weidlich of the Mississippi Surge leads all defensemen with 42 points, 36 assists and 26 power-play assists.
In seven seasons with the Laredo Bucks, won two Central Hockey League championships (2004, 2006), five consecutive division titles (2004-08), made four appearances in the Ray Miron President's Cup finals (2005-08) and advanced to the second round of the playoffs seven times.
Mark Van Vliet of the Knoxville Ice Bears is tied for third among defensemen with 27 assists, while his 33 points is fifth best among blue-liners.
His +14 rating is second best for defensemen and the fifth-highest rating among all SPHL players.
Bill Zaniboni of the Mississippi Surge currently leads SPHL goaltenders with 22 wins (tied-1st) and three shutouts, while his 2.55 goals-against average and.919 save percentage is second best in the league.
Since January 21, Zaniboni is 16-3-1 with a 2.22 goals-against average.
The SPHL will announce its Rookie of the Year on Monday.
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SPHL Stories from March 26, 2010
- Surge fall to Ice Gators - Mississippi Surge
- Louisiana Winning Streak Gets to Five - Louisiana IceGators
- Swider Sets League Marks With Seven-Assist Night - SPHL
- Weidlich, Zaniboni, Richard, Zultek Named All-SPHL - Mississippi Surge
- Ice Flyers Playoff And All-SPHL Second Team Awards - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- All-SPHL Second Team Announced - SPHL
- First Round Of Havoc Playoffs Set - Huntsville Havoc
- All-SPHL First Team Announced - SPHL
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