Week at a Glance: Mayhem Open 2018 with Trio of Games
Published on January 3, 2018 under SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Mayhem News Release
Mayhem Open 2018 with Trio of Games
(Macon Mayhem)
MACON, GA- The Macon Mayhem open the 2018 calendar year with a three-game weekend, with the Thursday and Friday legs of the weekend being hosted at the Macon Coliseum.
WEEKEND RECAP
The Mayhem were victorious in a pair of overtime games on the road this weekend. On Friday, the team came back from multiple two-goal deficits against the Birmingham Bulls to win 4-3 in overtime. Daniel Echeverri scored the game-winning goal on the power play in overtime, while tallying another goal and an assist in the game. Saturday night against Pensacola was a back and forth game, in which Stathis Soumelidis scored goals in the final moments of both the first and second periods. Brandon Pfeil chose a timely moment to score his first goal of the season, as he potted the game-winning goal to give the Mayhem the 4-3 win over first-place Pensacola. Chris Izmirlian led the team with five points - all assists - on the weekend.
WEEKEND PREVIEW
The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs come to Macon on Thursday, and the Mayhem welcome the Evansville Thunderbolts to town on Friday, while they will travel to Huntsville to take on the Havoc on Saturday. Friday night is Ladies' Night and Girl Scouts' Night in the Macon Coliseum, and Friday is Mascot Night, as local mascots will be in attendance to have fun with the fans.
ROANOKE RAIL YARD DAWGS PREVIEW
2017-2018 Team Record: 7-13-3 (17 points; 8th Place)
Season Matchup (Last Meeting): Mayhem 0-0-2 vs. Roanoke this season (6-5 OTL on Nov. 16th)
Leading Scorer: Steve Mele (9 goals, 18 assists, 27 points - T-5th in SPHL)
Goaltending Situation: Brad Barone (14 games played, 4-5-1 record, 3.92 goals against average, 0.906 save percentage); Matt Zenzola (with Roanoke: 6 GP, 1-4-0, 4.15 GAA, 0.870 SV%)
These two teams have matched up twice this season, with Roanoke winning in overtime in both games, but this is the first time they will have matched up with Dan Bremner at the helm for Roanoke. Former head coach Sam Ftorek was relieved of his duties on December 18th, and former Peoria Rivermen captain Dan Bremner was named as the head coach. Since the coaching change, the Rail Yard Dawgs are 2-2-1 in five games. In that stretch, the Dawgs have scored 3.2 goals per game, including a seven-goal outburst against Fayetteville, and have allowed 3.8 goals per game. Leading scorer Steve Mele has been hot, as he has eight goals, four assists and 12 points over his last 11 games.
EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS PREVIEW
2017-2018 Team Record: 13-7-3 (29 points; 3rd Place)
Season Matchup/Last Meeting: Mayhem 2-1-1 vs. Evansville (4-3 SOL on December 8th)
Leading Scorer: Dylan Clarke (12 goals, 16 assists, 28 points - T-3rd in SPHL)
Goaltending Situation: Tomas Sholl (with Evansville: 11 GP, 8-2-1, 2.34 GAA, 0.925 SV%); Jonah Imoo (10 GP, 5-3-1, 3.23 GAA, 0.901 SV%)
Evansville's then leading scorer Justin MacDonald was loaned to the ECHL on December 10th, and the Thunderbolts have not missed a beat, as they have gone 4-2-1 in his absence. They rank in the middle of the pack in both goals for per game and goals against, as they average 3.48 goals per game and 3.17 goals against per game. They sport the league's best power play unit, as they convert on 21.65% of their man advantage opportunities. Forward Dylan Clarke has caught fire in MacDonald's absence, as he has seven goals, eight assists and 15 points over his last 10 games.
HUNTSVILLE HAVOC PREVIEW
2017-2018 Team Record: 12-7-2 (26 points; 5th Place)
Season Matchup/Last Meeting: Mayhem 0-1-0 vs. Huntsville (5-1 loss on October 21st)
Leading Scorer: Sy Nutkevitch (10 goals, 18 assists, 28 points - T-3rd in SPHL)
Goaltending Situation: Keegan Asmundson (15 GP, 9-5-0, 2.68 GAA, 0.917 SV%); Mike DeLaVergne (8 GP, 3-2-2, 3.20 GAA, 0.908 SV%)
The Havoc and Mayhem match up for just the second time this season and the first time since the league's opening weekend. Huntsville has gone 3-2-0 over their past five games, averaging 4.00 goals per game and 2.60 goals against per game. They rank fourth in both goals for and against per game, as they score 3.62 goals per game and allowed 3.05 per game. Their power play ranks third in the SPHL at 20.78%, and their penalty kill ranks sixth at 83.91%.
The Mayhem are back home at the Macon Coliseum on Thursday and Friday night. For ticket information, visit MaconMayhem.com or call the Mayhem Front Office at (478) 803-1592.
Images from this story
 Mayhem Open 2018 with Trio of Games |
SPHL Stories from January 3, 2018
- Darius Cole Signed by Rail Yard Dawgs - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Dodds and Muto Loaned to ECHL, Cameron Returns to Macon - Macon Mayhem
- Week at a Glance: Mayhem Open 2018 with Trio of Games - Macon Mayhem
- Dawgs Fall Short on New Year's Eve - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Roanoke Signs Anthony Parisi - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
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