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ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Preview: Swamp Rabbits Meet Admirals Before Thanksgiving Meal

November 25, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


THE STORY COMING IN

The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (6-9-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, open a four-game road trip this evening and continue their busiest stretch of the season, in which the team will play five games in seven days in four different cities. Greenville began that stretch on Monday with a nail biter against the Atlanta Gladiators at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Rob Kwiet, Bretton Cameron and Ryan Rashid each scored for the Swamp Rabbits, but Atlanta took the lead with two goals in the second period and never looked back in a 4-3 final. P.J. Musico made 31 saves in just his second career start.

JACK'D UP

The Swamp Rabbits announced today forward Jack Combs has been loaned to the team from Hartford. The seventh-year pro began the season with the Swamp Rabbits and led the team with seven assists and 12 points through the first 13 games. He added five goals during that span and earned at least one point in each of Greenville's first five games. The 27-year-old also served as an alternate captain with the Swamp Rabbits before he was recalled to Hartford on Nov. 16. He played one game with the Wolf Pack.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Road trips have not been friendly to the Swamp Rabbits this season as the club has collected just two of its 13 points away from the Upstate. Greenville is currently 1-5-0 on the road and has not won away from SANDLAPPER Securities Rink since Oct. 24 in North Charleston (3-2 overtime victory). In addition, the squad has yet to win on the road in regulation this season. The Swamp Rabbits current road trip will not make it any easier as the team will travel more than 1,940 miles and bus through eight states including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.  

THE MATCHUP

Tonight's contest marks the second of five meetings between the Swamp Rabbits and Admirals this season, and the second of three matchups in Norfolk, Virginia. The Admirals currently lead the series 1-0-0 after a 4-2 victory at the Scope on Nov. 6. That night, Greenville rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game after two periods, but Admirals' rookies Alexandre Ranger and Connor Rankin each scored their first professional goals in the final frame of the inaugural meeting.

VIEW FROM NORFOLK

The Admirals spent each of the last 15 seasons in the American Hockey League as the top farm team of either the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, or Anaheim Ducks. They reached their peak in 2012 by winning in the AHL's Calder Cup Championship. However, on Jan. 29, 2015, it was confirmed the franchise would be relocated to San Diego (Gulls) and be replaced in Norfolk by the former Bakersfield Condors ECHL team. Led by head coach Eric Veilleux, the Admirals are currently on a six-game slide that has dropped them into the cellar of the Eastern Conference. Norfolk is coming off a 4-2 setback in Manchester on Sunday, in which goaltender Ty Rimmer made 37 saves on 40 shots, but suffered the loss. The Admirals begin a four-game homestand tonight.

BOLSTERING THE OFFENSE

Within the last two days, the Swamp Rabbits have significantly bolstered their offense by adding forwards Jack Combs (from AHL Hartford) and Vinny Saponari (from AHL Lake Erie). The duo boasts a combined 220 games of American Hockey League experience and both attackers are no strangers to Greenville. Combs began the season with the Swamp Rabbits and leads the team in points and assists, despite spending the last nine days with Hartford. Saponari spent the majority of the 2014-15 campaign with Greenville and led the team with 69 points and 51 assists. He added a career-high 18 goals and +17 rating in 68 games. Both are expected to be in the lineup tonight.

QUICK HITS

The Swamp Rabbits are 4-0-0 when allowing two goals or less, but 0-7-0 when scoring two or fewer... Michael St. Croix is four points from his 100th professional tally... Josh Nicholls is five points from his 100th professional tally... Bretton Cameron has scored in two straight games... Today is Brian Hart's 22nd birthday.

GOING STREAKING

Four Swamp Rabbits' skaters are currently enjoying a three-game point streak, dating back to Nov. 17. Those include captain Bretton Cameron, Darian Dziurzynski, Kodie Curran and Richard Nejezchleb. For Curran and Nejezchleb, three games is the longest point-streak of their professional careers.

AFFILIATE REPORT

New York Rangers (16-3-2, 1st Metropolitan): Next vs. Montreal - Tonight, 7 p.m. ET

Hartford Wolf Pack (8-9-2, 5th Atlantic): Next vs. Springfield - Friday, 7:15 p.m. ET

Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits all season long and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team's official Facebook and Twitter pages.

Trolley On Over: Greenville's downtown trolley route has been extended to include a stop at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The expanded route will operate for all Swamp Rabbits' games taking place Thursdays through Sundays during normal trolley service hours.

Call 864-674-7825 or visit SwampRabbits.com for tickets. Bring a group of 15 or more out to a game and receive great discounts, merchandise offers and hospitality opportunities! Call a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive for more information! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear at the "Hop Shop" team store or visit the "Hop Shop" online at SwampRabbits.com/shop to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties!

Check out the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Statistics



ECHL Stories from November 25, 2015


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