Cottonmouths, Surge Lead SPHL All-Rookie Team
March 26, 2012 - SPHL (SPHL) News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC - The Southern Professional Hockey League on Monday announced its 2011-2012 All-Rookie Team as selected by a vote of SPHL coaches and media representatives.
2011-2012 SPHL All-Rookie Team
F - Jordan Chong, Pensacola Ice Flyers (56 gp, 21-33-54, 9 ppg, 3 gwg)
F - Brayden Metz, Louisiana IceGators (56 gp, 23-33-56, 14 ppg)
F - Greg Beller, Columbus Cottonmouths (34 gp, 16-20-36, +17)
D - Andrew Krelove, Columbus Cottonmouths (54 gp, 8-16-24, 4 ppg, 3 gwg)
D - James Isaacs, Mississippi Surge (56 gp, 8-12-20, +13, 4 ppg, 3 gwg)
G - Kiefer Smiley, Mississippi Surge (19-10-2, 2.49 gaa, .907 save%, 2 shutouts)
Jordan Chong of the Pensacola Ice Flyers tied for the lead in assists by a rookie (33, with Brayden Metz), was second in both points (54) and power play goals (9), while his 21 goals ranked third among first-year players. Chong played his collegiate hockey at St. Scholastica (MN), where he led the team in scoring his senior season.
Brayden Metz of the Louisiana IceGators led all SPHL players with 14 power play goals. Metz was also tops among first-year players in scoring (56 points, 8th overall) and goals (23) and was tied for the lead in assists (33, with Jordan Chong). Last season, Metz scored 73 points in 53 games with Melfort and Melville of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Greg Beller of the Columbus Cottonmouths scored 36 points in 34 games (16 g, 20 a) despite missing more than a month with a broken jaw. His +17 rating and .186 shooting percentage (16 goals on 86 shots) were both fourth-best among rookies. Beller played the previous three seasons with the University of Manitoba where he averaged a point-per-game in 2010-11.
Andrew Krelove of the Columbus Cottonmouths finished the season tied for the lead in points by rookie blueliners with 24 while his eight goals were tied for second-best. Krelove also finished tied for first among all SPHL defensemen with three game-winning goals and was third among defensemen in power play goals (4). Krelove spent the previous four seasons with the Bowling Green State University Falcons.
James Isaacs of the Mississippi Surge led all rookie defensemen with a +13 rating and finished tied for second in goals with eight. Isaacs also finished tied for first among all SPHL defensemen with three game-winning goals and was third among defensemen in power play goals (4). Isaacs previously spent two seasons with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Kiefer Smiley of the Mississippi Surge led the SPHL with a 2.49 goals against average, while his 19 wins were second-most in the league. Among all goaltenders, Smiley finished tied for second with two shutouts and tied for third in save percentage (.907), while his minutes played (1858:21) were fourth-best. Smiley spent the last two years stopping pucks for the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL where he won 36 games.
The league will announce its First-Team All-SPHL and Second-Team All-SPHL rosters on Tuesday.
SPHL Stories from March 26, 2012
- Augusta RiverHawks and James Brown Arena Announce "Golden Puck Hunt" - Augusta RiverHawks
- RiverKings Announce Playoff Broadcasting Information - Mississippi RiverKings
- Cottonmouths, Surge Lead SPHL All-Rookie Team - SPHL
- Havoc Gain Momemtum Heading Into Playoffs - Huntsville Havoc
- SPHL Announces First Round Playoff Schedule - SPHL
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