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ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Swamp Rabbits Gear up for Inaugural Meeting with Thunder Tonight

November 14, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


THE STORY COMING IN

The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (4-7-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, continue a stretch of four games in six days tonight when they face the Adirondack Thunder (9-1-0) for the very first time. Greenville is coming off its best offensive performance of the season on Thursday, in which the club combined for six goals from six different skaters in a 6-3 victory against Atlanta. Jordan Knackstedt led the way with a career-best four points (4a), while Ryan Rashid, Sean Escobedo, Jack Combs and Scott Fleming each added a multi-point effort. Rookie defenseman Kodie Curran also chipped in with his first pro goal, which stood as the game-winner. Between the pipes, Jeff Malcolm made 26 saves for the win in his season debut with Greenville. Malcolm's start on Thursday made him the fifth different goaltender to play for the Swamp Rabbits this season.  

REWARDING SUCCESS

The Swamp Rabbits are pleased to reward area students and teachers for their involvement and dedication to this year's Scholars Book Club Program at tonight's contest. All students who completed the "Six for Sticks Challenge," part of the Swamp Rabbits' Scholars Book Club Program, will receive one (1) Buy One Get One Free voucher to the game! In addition, all participating teachers are able to attend the game as guests of the Swamp Rabbits in recognition of their class' participation in the program. The Swamp Rabbits will recognize all students and teachers, and will celebrate with those who achieved their reading goals! The first 2,000 kids 12 and younger through the doors will also receive a Swamp Rabbits' school kit, including a pencil pouch, ruler and more!

THE MATCHUPS

Tonight's contest is the inaugural meeting between the Swamp Rabbits and Thunder, and the first of three matchups this season. After tonight's game, the other two meetings will take place in Glens Falls, New York. On Sunday, Greenville and Atlanta will meet for the third time this season and the first of seven matchups in Duluth, Georgia. That series is currently even (1-1-0) following the Swamp Rabbits' 6-3 victory last Thursday. Greenville went 9-2-0 against the Gladiators last season and leads the all-time series 42-25-5. Atlanta will be the Swamp Rabbits' most common opponent in 2015-16.

VIEW FROM ADIRONDACK

Led by head coach Cail MacLean, the Thunder are off to the best start in the ECHL this season with a 9-1-0 record and a .900 win percentage. The club is ranked second in the Eastern Conference with 18 points, just two behind Florida (which has played four more games). Last night, Adirondack earned a 4-1 victory at Atlanta behind a two-goal performance from Kyle Flanagan. In net, Ken Appleby made 22 saves for his seventh win this year. Appleby is currently sixth among league goaltenders with a 1.74 goals-against-average, fourth with a .940 save percentage and third in wins. Adirondack spent the last five seasons in the American Hockey League as the top farm team of the Calgary Flames. Last January, it was announced that the AHL franchise would relocate to Stockton, California for the 2015-16 campaign and Stockton's ECHL membership would transfer to upstate New York.  

VIEW FROM ATLANTA

Head coach Andy Brandt's club has won five of its last six games on the road, but enters tomorrow's contest on a three-game slide overall. Last night, the Gladiators suffered a 4-1 loss to Adirondack at home despite scoring the game's first goal less than three minutes into the opening frame. Atlanta currently sits third in the South Division standings with a 6-5-1 record (13 points) and is led in scoring by its 33-year-old captain Derek Nesbitt who has notched 12 points (7g, 5a) so far this season. Nesbitt's seven goals also pace the team, and tie him for third among all ECHL goal-scorers.

HE'S GOT HART

Rookie forward Brian Hart collected his team-leading fifth goal of the season on Thursday and has now scored in half of his professional games (5-for-10). The 21-year-old is also tied for third among all league rookies in goal-scoring. Prior to turning pro, Hart spent three seasons at Harvard University and collected 18 goals in 98 career games. He was selected in the second round (#53 overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

TRENDING TOPICS

The Swamp Rabbits are 4-7-0 through their first 11 games this season, but don't hit the panic button just yet. Since the team's relocation in 2010, it's been slow out of the gate more times than not and typically finds momentum as the first half progresses. Greenville began the 2013-14 season with the exact same record through its first 11 games and ranked near the bottom of the league in goals for and shots against. That team went on to make the Kelly Cup playoffs and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

STRENGTHENING THE ATTACK

Greenville acquired hard-nosed forward Darian Dziurzynski from Tulsa on Thursday in exchange for Emerson Clark. A fourth-year pro, Dziurzynski was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 5th round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft (#141 overall) and spent each of the last three seasons with AHL Portland, leading the team in penalty minutes (168) in 2013-14. Dziurzynski collected four points (2g, 2a) and 16 penalty minutes in eight games with Tulsa this season. Prior to turning pro, Dziurzynski played four seasons with the Saskatoon Blades (WHL) and was a teammate of Swamp Rabbits' forward Josh Nicholls. He is expected to make his Swamp Rabbits debut tonight.    

QUICK HITS

The Swamp Rabbits have outshot their opponent in three straight games... Jordan Knackstedt tied a Greenville single-game record for points (4) and assists (4) in Thursday's win... Jack Combs is scheduled to make his 400th pro appearance tomorrow at Atlanta... Bretton Cameron is tied for third in the ECHL with 38 penalty minutes... Adirondack leads the league with seven road wins.

AFFILIATE REPORT

New York Rangers (12-2-2, 1st Metropolitan): Next at Ottawa - Today, 1 p.m. ET

Hartford Wolf Pack (6-8-1, 6th Atlantic): Next vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Sunday, 4 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 expanded to include a stop at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The deviated 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!

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