Swamp Rabbits Ring In New Year With Win Over Stingrays
January 5, 2024 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Josh McKechney bookended a four-goal effort, and led by Ryan Bednard with 39 saves in net, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits took down the in-state rival South Carolina Stingrays by a 4-2 score on Friday night at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The win improves Greenville, leaders of the Eastern Conference to 22-9-1-0 and 45 points through 32 games in the 2023-24 season.
Greenville snuck into the locker room with a lead in an opening period that featured disjointed special teams. With 61 seconds left in the first frame, Josh McKechney threw the puck through traffic from the left circle that whizzed by Stingrays net-minder Garin Bjorklund, putting the Swamp Rabbits up 1-0 heading into the locker room (Carter Souch and Brett Kemp assisted). Ryan Bednard, manning the Greenville net, stoned all 12 shots fired his way.
The Swamp Rabbits went back to their scoring ways quickly in the second period. With just 2:49 played in the middle act, Jake Smith unleashed a howitzer from the left side that rang off the iron and past Bjorklund, doubling the Swamp Rabbits lead to 2-0 (Ethan Cap and Ben Freeman assisted). Not to be outdone, South Carolina struck back on the power play, with Josh Wilkins firing the puck through Bednard in a scramble to cut the Greenville lead to 2-1 at 5:19 of the second (Kevin O'Neil and Nick Leivermann assisted). Brannon McManus got the goal back for Greenville, again in the final two minutes of the frame, rifling a high slot shot off the bar an in to provide a 3-1 cushion heading into the final period (Souch and Joe Leahy assisted). Despite allowing a goal, Bednard stopped all but one of 16 shots faced in the middle 20 minutes.
Connor Moore made things interesting early in the third period, bringing the Stingrays within striking distance once more. With 5:04 gone by in the third frame, Moore finished a slick transition up the ice, led by Josh Wilkins, and buried his cross-ice pass over Bednard to cut the Swamp Rabbits advantage to 3-2 (Wilkins and Patrick Harper assisted). With South Carolina pressuring late, Greenville weathered the storm and received insurance from McKechney, who's empty netter sealed the Swamp Rabbits 4-2 victory in the final minute.
Ryan Bednard, recently named to the 2024 ECHL All-Star Game, stopped a whopping 39 of 41 shots in the win (9-7-0-0).
The Swamp Rabbits continue their "three-in-three" this weekend tomorrow against the defending champion Florida Everblades. PUCK DROP IS 4:05 PM EST at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
ECHL Stories from January 5, 2024
- Americans Win Third Straight - Allen Americans
- Jack Becker Nets Lone Goal in Loss vs. Reading, 2-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Railers Rally to 5-4 Shootout Win Over the Lions - Worcester Railers HC
- Oilers Snap Skid with Big Home Win - Tulsa Oilers
- Heartbreaking Loss in Worcester - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Rush Falter Against Oilers On Friday Night - Rapid City Rush
- Americans Pull Away Late on Friday Night - Wichita Thunder
- Swamp Rabbits Ring In New Year With Win Over Stingrays - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Admirals' Comeback Falls Short Against Indy - Norfolk Admirals
- Bednar Records First Professional Shutout in 4-0 Win - Toledo Walleye
- Stingrays Drop Close Game in Greenville - South Carolina Stingrays
- K-Wings Handle Business, Beat Cyclones in OT Thriller - Kalamazoo Wings
- Cincy Starts Year with Loss in K-Zoo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Three-Goal Third Gives Orlando Series Opener - Wheeling Nailers
- Fuel Find First Win of New Year in Norfolk - Indy Fuel
- Thunder Extend Win Streak In 5-2 Victory Over Mariners - Adirondack Thunder
- Kile Scores Twice as Mariners Fall to Adirondack - Maine Mariners
- Dylan Fitze Delivers Overtime Game Winner for Grizzlies - Utah Grizzlies
- Growlers Fall 4-3 in OT to Grizzlies - Newfoundland Growlers
- Defenseman Cody Haiskanen Loaned to AHL's Ontario Reign - Idaho Steelheads
- Miller Dealt to Norfolk - Wichita Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - January 5 - ECHL
- Know Before You Go Presented by the Current Agency: January 6 - Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Kalamazoo Forward Josh Bloom Recalled by Vancouver - Kalamazoo Wings
- Mark Binetti Named New "Voice of the Swamp Rabbits" - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Series Preview: January 5-7 vs. Utah - Newfoundland Growlers
- Broadcasters Named for 2024 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic Presented by Gulfstream - Jacksonville Icemen
- Simonetta Named Broadcaster for 2024 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Broadcasters Named for 2024 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic Presented by Gulfstream - ECHL
- Game Notes: January 5 - Rush at Tulsa Oilers - Rapid City Rush
- Connor Murphy Recalled by Calgary - Rapid City Rush
- Railers Sign Worcester Native Nick Pennucci to Contract - Worcester Railers HC
- Grizzlies Gameday: Friday Night Battle North of the Border - Utah Grizzlies
- Daniel Walker Loaned to Solar Bears from Syracuse Crunch - Orlando Solar Bears
- Wichita Returns Home for Three vs. Allen - Wichita Thunder
- Connor Murphy Recalled to Calgary - Rapid City Rush
- Americans Play the Thunder Tonight in Snowy Wichita - Allen Americans
- Royals Youth Hockey Clinics - January Update - Reading Royals
- Mavericks Hosting Skills Competition Tonight - Kansas City Mavericks
- Milic Assigned to Norfolk, Ustaski Signs Contract - Norfolk Admirals
- Preview: Royals Suit up for Friday Night Face-off with Steelheads in Idaho - Reading Royals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
