ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Hockey Greenville Welcomes a Trio of Former Jackals

Published on June 23, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


GREENVILLE, SC: Greenville's professional hockey team, currently operating as Hockey Greenville, announced today that it has acquired three players from the Elmira Jackals.

Defenseman Wes Cunningham along with forwards Maxime Gratchev and Brendan Connolly have come to Greenville to complete the future considerations portion of a trade that sent the rights to Thomas Beauregard to Elmira last March.

"We were able to add three high-quality players in this trade. Connolly and Gratchev are both second-year forwards with a lot of offensive skill while Cunningham brings a good balance of skill and steadiness from a defensive standpoint," said Greenville President and General Manager Neil Smith, who orchestrated the trade while coaching Johnstown last season.

Gratchev, a fourth-round selection (#106 overall) of the New York Islanders in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, averaged over a point per game for the Jackals in his first pro season. He was second on the team, and 20th in the league, among rookies with 41 points (17G, 24A) in 40 games. Gratchev, 21, excelled in November and December and posted 27 points (11G, 16A) in 21 games including a six assist effort in an 11-3 win at Gwinnett on November 14, 2009. Those months helped earn Gratchev earn a spot on the American Conference All-Star Team. He also appeared in 30 AHL games between Rochester (13) and Binghamton (17) and notched 9 points (4G, 5A). Born in Novosibirsk, Russia but moved to the United States when he was five, Gratchev stands 5-11 and weighs 200 pounds.

Connolly, 24, has shown a mix of skill and grit throughout his career. In his senior season at Ferris State University in 2008-09 he led the nation in penalty minutes with 109 while leading his team in scoring with 28 points (10G, 18A) in 35 games. He brought that same game to Elmira last season with 26 points (12G, 14A) and 81 penalty minutes in 55 games. After completing his collegiate career, Connolly burst onto the ECHL scene on a tryout agreement with Elmira late in the 2008-09 season. The 5-7, 175-pound winger racked up six points (4G, 2A) in his first three pro games including a goal and an assist in his debut on March 13, 2009 against Dayton.

Cunningham, 23, is entering his third year of professional hockey having played each of the last two in Elmira. The Dresden, Ontario native built on a solid 38-point (10G, 28A) rookie season in 2008-09 with 45 points (10G, 35A) last season. In each campaign he was the leading point producer among Jackal defensemen. The 5-11, 185-pound blueliner has also shown three qualities that are highly regarded among defensemen; toughness, reliability, and durability. He has played no fewer than 70 games in a season since turning pro, is a plus-11 over the past two years, and has racked up 160 penalty minutes in that time. Prior to turning pro, Cunningham skated five seasons of junior hockey in the OHL. He piled up 293 games played between Owen Sound, Belleville, and Plymouth and produced 123 points (15G, 108A) along with 407 penalty minutes.

Don't miss out on your chance to be a part of hockey's return to the Upstate! Season tickets for Hockey Greenville's 2010-11 campaign are on sale now and you can reserve yours for as little as $100. To get your season tickets visit the Bi-Lo Center Box Office, point your web browser to www.hockeygreenville.com, or call Hockey Greenville at 864-250-4868.

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