#BrendanHarms

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KUHNS: SWAMP RABBITS RELEASE PROTECTED LIST

BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, led by head coach Kevin Kerr and assistant coach Kahlil Thomas, have released the 2019 Protected List. The list contains players whose rights are retained by the team until the submission of the Season Ending Roster on June 15, 2019. Any player not on the protected list that finished the season with the team would immediately become an Unrestricted Free Agent. Additionally, any future considerations trades must be completed between now and the release of the Season Ending Roster. Any team can protect as many players as they would like, pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players' Association (PHPA), as long as they meet the following qualifications: The player signed a Standard Player Contract (SPC) in 2018–19 with the team, and has not been traded or released. The player signed an SPC in 2018–19, and was recalled to an NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released. The player had received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current season, did not sign an SPC, and has not been traded or released. The player has not been suspended by the team or league and has not been traded or released. The player signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2018–19 regular season, and then subsequently signed an NHL or AHL contract, and has not been traded or released. The player has executed the ECHL retirement form and has not been traded or released. Below is the Protected List for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. G - Garrett Bartus (ECHL) G - Kyle Hayton (ECHL/Rookie) D - Clint Lewis (ECHL) D - Luke Ripley (ECHL) D - Jake Bolton (ECHL) D - Chad Duchesne (ECHL) D - J.C. Brassard (ECHL) D - Adam Larkin (ECHL) D - Dan Milan (ECHL) D - Trevor Owens (ECHL) D - Matt Prapavessis (Qualifying) F - Kamerin Nault (ECHL/Rookie) F - Daniel Perez (ECHL/Rookie) F - Stephen Pierog (ECHL) F - Dylan Vander Esch (ECHL) F - Michael Pelech (ECHL/Veteran) F - Danny Elser (ECHL)/Rookie) F - Austen Brassard (ECHL/Veteran) F - Zach Franko (ECHL/Rookie) F - Tyler Bird (ECHL) F - Brendan Harms (ECHL) F - Thomas Ebbing (ECHL) F - Erik Robichaud (ECHL/Rookie) F - Chris Izmirlian (ECHL) F - Johno May (ECHL) F - Travis Howe (ECHL) F - Evan Jasper (Qualifying) F - Allan McPherson (Qualifying) Stay tuned to SwampRabbits.com, and follow the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all of the latest information throughout the offseason. Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2018–19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHNS: SWAMP RABBITS WEEKLY #26

2018–19 season comes to its conclusion BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC - The final week of the season brought the Greenville Swamp Rabbits to Norfolk, Virginia, where the club took on the Admirals to close out the 2018–19 campaign. What awaited them there was a team already eliminated from Kelly Cup Playoffs consideration, but with pride and jobs on the line, plenty to play for. The Swamp Rabbits closed out the season successfully, picking up two points, and scoring 14 goals in the three games. Greenville never trailed in Wednesday's game. Sure, there were ties, but never were the Swamp Rabbits behind. Even while being wildly outshot 41-29 in the game, and 13-7 in the third period, the Swamp Rabbits endured. The top line of Michael Pelech, Austen Brassard and Kamerin Nault stole the show on Wednesday, posting three goals and four assists. Up 4-3 heading into the third period, the Admirals tied the game early in the third, and the game went into overtime. A neutral zone kerfuffle led to a two-on-one break, and Jake Bolton buried the biscuit for his 13th goal of the season and the game-winner. Greenville took advantage of a struggling goaltender on Friday night. Jeremy Brodeur entered his last start of the season without a win. It stayed that way. The line of Stephen Pierog, Brendan Harms and Daniel Perez dominated this game, with four goals and five assists. Fittingly, all three of them received a star. Norfolk struck first, but the Swamp Rabbits scored six of the final eight goals of the game. That included a 3-1 lead after the first period and a 5-2 lead after two. While Norfolk made it a two-goal game late, Brassard put the game away for good with a few minutes to go. The last game showed the fight and resiliency that the Swamp Rabbits have possessed all season. Down 3-0 after one period of play, Greenville erased that deficit with a goal from J.C. Brassard in the second period, and goals from Pelech and Harms in the third period, both power play goals, to even the score at three apiece. Norfolk's leading scorer, Ben Duffy, arrived on the scene when they needed him most, and at 12:34, scored the game-winning goal. The Swamp Rabbits dominated the shot count (37-23), had more power play opportunities (6) than the Admirals (3), but ultimately fell just short in the season finale. 4/3 at Norfolk Admirals - W 5-4 4/5 at Norfolk Admirals - W 6-3 4/6 at Norfolk Admirals - L 4-3 FAMILY DENTAL HEALTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK Michael Pelech - 3 GP | 3 G - 3 A - 6 P The captain put forth one of his best weeks of the season with points in all three games and critical goals at critical times. His six points led the team on the week. His three-point effort on Wednesday helped the club to the 5-4 win. Michael Pelech ended the season with 65 points, good for ninth in the league, and 47 assists, good for fourth in the league. RABBIT TAILS The Swamp Rabbits saw improvement over the past season. They finished with more wins, more home wins, a better penalty kill, fewer goals against, more shots per game, and fewer shots against per game. Greenville ended the season with wins in three of the last five games. The Greenville Swamp Rabbits ended with eleven double-digit goal scorers—ten of them on the active roster at the end of the season. Forwards Michael Pelech, Austen Brassard, Johno May, Brendan Harms, Chris Izmirlian, Thomas Ebbing, Will Merchant, Kamerin Nault, and Dylan Vander Esch hit 10 or more goals. The only defenseman to hit that mark was Jake Bolton. The offseason begins! Stay tuned to SwampRabbits.com, our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on everything with our team. Thank you for reading all season long. Enjoy the Kelly Cup Playoffs! SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS xy Florida Everblades (50-16-6) - 106 pts x Orlando Solar Bears (41-25-6) - 88 pts x South Carolina Stingrays (35-31-6) - 76 pts x Jacksonville Icemen (36-32-4) - 76 pts Atlanta Gladiators (31-30-11) - 73 pts Norfolk Admirals (37-36-9) - 63 pts Greenville Swamp Rabbits (25-41-6) - 56 pts x - clinched playoff spot y - clinched division *standings as of 10:00 a.m. on April 8, 2019 Read the full article

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KUHNS: (SAT) SWAMP RABBITS FALL IN FINALE

Valiant comeback in the third period falls just short BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE NORFOLK, Va. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits put everything on the line in the third period of a game once down 3-0 and pulled the game even, but one mistake in the defensive zone late in the third led to the home team, Norfolk Admirals, coming through with the win. Ben Duffy scored the game-winner at the 12:34 mark of the final frame to give the Admirals a 4-3 win over Greenville on Saturday night at The Scope. Duffy, Norfolk's leading scorer, sliced through the defense on a feed from Alex Rodriguez and pitched a backhander over the glove of goaltender Kyle Hayton to establish the lead for good. Greenville pulled Hayton for the extra attacker in the final moments but they were unable to get the puck past Ty Reichenbach. Norfolk raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first period but saw it collapse over the course of the game. J.C. Brassard gave the Swamp Rabbits life with a tally at the 17:34 mark of the second period. Kamerin Nault and Michael Pelech teamed up to find the defenseman streaking off the bench for the scoring chance. Back-to-back power plays put Greenville at an even 3-3 tie. First, already on the power play and with a delayed penalty call coming up to Don Olivieri, the aforementioned defenseman was indecisive in touching up for the penalty call, and Pelech swiped the puck from him and whipped the puck from below the goal line and into the goal. 54 seconds later, on the ensuing power play, Brendan Harms took a shot from the left circle that deflected off of a Norfolk defender and into the goal to tie the game. Adam Larkin and Clint Lewis picked up assists on the goal. Norfolk utilized a strong offensive foray in the opening five minutes with two goals on the game's first six shots. Rodriguez converted just over two minutes into the game on the opening part of a double minor power play. Then, after the back half of the penalty expired, it took a few seconds for Christian Horn to convert at 4:41. Rodriguez added his second of the night on a tic-tac-toe passing play in the late stages of the first period to extend the lead to 3-0. The Swamp Rabbits put everything but the kitchen sink on net in the third period, outshooting Norfolk 16-4 in the final frame. However, just one of those four shots was enough for Norfolk to eke out the one-goal win over Greenville. The Swamp Rabbits closed out the 2018–19 season with a 25-41-6 record, and 56 standings points.

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Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2018–19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHN: SWAMP RABBITS TORPEDO ADMIRALS

Greenville scores six times on beleaguered Norfolk defense BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE NORFOLK, Va. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits took advantage of their top-flight opportunities and trailed just once throughout regulation. Six goals on 38 shots gave the Swamp Rabbits a convincing 6-3 win over the Norfolk Admirals on Friday night at The Scope. It was Greenville's second win in a row, and Norfolk's sixth consecutive loss. Eight combined points from the line of Stephen Pierog, Danny Perez and Brendan Harms carried the day, with Perez's two goals leading the way early. The Swamp Rabbits trailed first and gave up the first goal thanks to an early power play. With Michael Pelech in the box for hooking, Darik Angeli took advantage on a one-timer from the left point to open the scoring. Greenville scored three unanswered goals in response for good measure past goaltender Jeremy Brodeur, who had, up until this point, had not won an ECHL game this season. Perez and Pierog worked magic on the forecheck with hard work to cause all three goals. The first, with work from Pierog, forced a turnover that Perez jumped on and scored with a short-side wrist shot at 5:11. Pierog returned the favor on the power play after evading traffic high in the zone and sifting to a soft area in front of the goal, as Brodeur made initial save on Harms, Pierog bashed home the rebound to establish a lead. Six minutes later, the Swamp Rabbits made the Admirals pay on a comical turnover from behind the goal, and it was Perez who was the last to touch the puck before going over the line. While Norfolk utilized a fluky goal in the middle frame to cut the lead to one thanks to a point shot from Brandon Rumble, the Swamp Rabbits' attack was unrelenting. Tyler Bird did the work on the forecheck to get the puck to Zach Franko at the side of the net. Franko pulled the puck into a high-percentage scoring area and fired the puck home at 15:18 to keep the lead. 52 seconds later, Harms converted on a 2-on-1 break, with assists from Pierog and Perez to put the game out of reach heading into the third period. Both teams exchanged goals in the third—one from pesky defenseman Don Olivieri late, but the Swamp Rabbits found a response of their own late in the period, with Pelech setting up a wide-open Austen Brassard in the slot for his 23rd goal of the season. Greenville's hot shooting streak continued, after shooting 17% the night before, they shot 15.8% on Friday night to lead to the win. The Swamp Rabbits outshot the Admirals 38-35 for the game, and behind 32 saves from Garrett Bartus, picked up win 25—one better than last season—with a chance to get one more. The 2018–19 season comes to a close on Saturday, April 6 against the Norfolk Admirals. The puck drops from The Scope at 7:00 p.m.

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Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2018–19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHNS: BOLTON'S GOAL CAPS OFF THRILLING WIN IN NORFOLK

Swamp Rabbits survive a high-scoring affair BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE NORFOLK, Va. — 2:01 into overtime, Jake Bolton converted a 2-on-1 break, and the Greenville Swamp Rabbits started a three-game swing in Norfolk in victorious fashion. Greenville never trailed in a 5-4 win over the Admirals in overtime. Bolton dug the puck out of a scrum in the neutral zone during the 3-on-3 session and began an odd-man rush with Zach Franko. Bolton's shot tipped off of a Norfolk defender over the glove of goaltender Ty Reichenbach to close out the victory for the visitors. The top line was all over the beleaguered Norfolk defense, who averaged nearly four goals against per game. Michael Pelech finished the game with two goals and an assist, Austen Brassard with a goal and an assist, and Kamerin Nault two assists, one of them of the truly spectacular variety. Additionally, as a team, the Swamp Rabbits shot a strong 17.2%. Kyle Hayton picked up his second win in a Greenville uniform with 37 saves on 41 Norfolk offerings. He contended with all three periods in regulation where the Admirals outshot the Swamp Rabbits. The Swamp Rabbits held several leads, including the opening salvo over three minutes into the first period. The power play came alive thanks to defenseman Clint Lewis, who took a cross-ice dish from Brendan Harms to strike on one of three Greenville power plays. As seemed to be tradition all night, Norfolk had a response. Nine minutes later, Darian Romanko scored his first professional goal on a wraparound. It didn't take long for the Rabbits to make Norfolk pay for a defensive zone miscue. Pelech found Brassard flying the zone, and he converted on the breakaway for his 22nd goal of the season and a 2-1 lead after the first. Both teams exchanged a pair of goals in the middle frame. Pelech posted both of his goals, tap-ins from the crease, in different ways. His first came off of a blocked shot from Nault, and his second on the most spectacular play of the season. Nault entered the offensive zone flying on a pass from Lewis. First, he pulled a silky toe drag through Don Olivieri, twirled a 360 shot on goal, and the rebound spat right out to Pelech who stashed home the easy-peasy rebound to give the Swamp Rabbits a 4-2 advantage. Norfolk utilized special teams to claw even. First, a shorthanded goal—the 20th given up by Greenville this season—scored by Eric Roy, pulled the score to 4-3. Then, a power play early in the third period saw leading scorer Ben Duffy convert on a fluky shot to tie the score. Wednesday's game at the Scope was the first one between these two teams since Halloween. The Swamp Rabbits' trip in Norfolk continues after a day off on Thursday. Friday, the two teams rematch at 7:00 p.m.

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Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2018–19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHNS: GLADS SURGE, TOP SWAMP RABBITS

Hayton shines, but offense falls just short BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE DULUTH, Ga. — For the third consecutive game, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits opened the scoring. However, also for the third consecutive game, the opposition caught fire. Three unanswered goals, including two goals to start the third period, powered the Atlanta Gladiators past the Swamp Rabbits 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Infinite Energy Arena. Joseph Widmar scored on the power play, and Matt Lane added a necessary insurance goal in the closing moments of the third period to stave off Greenville's comeback attempt. Widmar's goal came on a carryover roughing minor penalty on Michael Pelech. Brady Fleurent posted his first career pro point on a seeing-eye seam pass to Widmar on the back door for the go-ahead goal. With Kyle Hayton looking to go to the bench for the extra attacker, the transition was snuffed out, and the Glads began a 2-on-1 break. Lane streaked down the left wing and snapped a shot top shelf to add the insurance goal. With 15 seconds left, the Swamp Rabbits made it interesting. A net-mouth scramble led to hacks and whacks from Tyler Bird and Adam Larkin, and eventually, to the stick of Brendan Harms, who stashed home the rebound to get within one. However, on the ensuing set play, the Greenville offense was snuffed out. The Swamp Rabbits picked up the first goal of the game in the first period on a creative offensive play from below the goal line. Pelech spun a backhand pass to the blue line, where J.C. Brassard punched a touch pass to Danny Elser off the bench. He kicked the puck skate-to-stick and powered a backhander through Sean Bonar's blocker and into the goal to open the scoring. It was Elser's first pro goal, and it came 12 days after signing a contract with the Swamp Rabbits. Atlanta tied the game midway through regulation time. With a delayed penalty call on the way, Brett McKenzie, the thorn in the side of the Swamp Rabbits all season long, found Jake Flegel at the point, who powered a one-timer into the back of the net to even the game at one. Hayton made 26 saves in the game, many of them top quality, as he continues to search for his first win in a Swamp Rabbits uniform. He made all 12 saves in the first period to secure the Swamp Rabbits' lead. It was a game that featured a fair amount of rough stuff, but only a few power plays. Greenville's only opportunity came up short. Atlanta went 1-for-2 on the man advantage. The Swamp Rabbits return home on Thursday, March 28 to take on the Jacksonville Icemen at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, go to SwampRabbits.com.

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Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2018–19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHNS: NAULT'S HAT TRICK POWERS SWAMP RABBITS TO VICTORY

Greenville survives shot barrage, powers through for the win BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE GREENVILLE, S.C. — Up against the Kansas City Mavericks for the first and only time of the season, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits were aided by a hat trick from Kamerin Nault in his return to the lineup. His added offense pushed the Swamp Rabbits over the Mavericks 5-3 on Thursday night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Nault posted a goal in the first period, the second period, and the third period, to complete his hat trick, and give him 11 goals in his first 13 games as a professional. It was his first game since suffering an injury on February 23. His goal, that capped the trick, along with Brendan Harms' goal in the third, pushed the team forward in the midst of a 3-3 tie. Harms converted on a pass from Thomas Ebbing on a defensive zone turnover, and Nault on a three-way passing play between longtime linemates Austen Brassard and Michael Pelech to post goals four and five on the night. It was a game that featured four lead changes, including two Kansas City leads. The Mavs responded to Nault's opening tally halfway through the first period with quick strikes. Jordan Klimek fired away from the point to tie the game at one, and Darian Dziurzynski posted his 26th goal of the season on a pretty toe drag on the power play. It was the first power-play goal scored against the Swamp Rabbits since February 17. Down 2-1 late in the first period, Greenville pounced on a neutral zone turnover to score the equalizer. Erik Robichaud and Zach Franko sent defenseman Adam Larkin on his way on a partial breakaway, and his snap shot bested Mason McDonald to tie the game at two. The Mavs and Rabbits exchanged goals in the middle frame on the same power play. With C.J. Eick in the box for tripping, a defensive turnover by the Swamp Rabbits ended up in the back of the net, with Rocco Carzo burying the biscuit. Under two minutes later, Nault snapped a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that found the back of the net to tie the game at three. It was a second period that saw Kansas City post 21 of their 48 shots on goal, in which Garrett Bartus stood tall with 45 saves, a season high. He also had to stand tall against six Mavs power play chances, as the team killed off five of them. In contrast, a slumping Swamp Rabbits' power play went 1-for-5 on the night. The home stretch continues against the South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, go to SwampRabbits.com.

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Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2018–19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHNS: SWAMP RABBITS WEEKLY #22

Schedule hits a slow point in mid-March BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC - This week's recap starts with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits traveling to Jacksonville for the last time in the 2018–19 season. Unfortunately for Greenville, they ran into a desperate team in need of points to compete for home ice in the first round of the playoffs. The Icemen survived two comeback efforts to sweep the weekend. The Swamp Rabbits were able to salvage a point from the weekend but fell further behind in the race for fourth place in the South Division. Friday saw the Rabbits play to a scoreless first period with the Icemen, but the second period is where the game turned. The Icemen scored twice on eleven shots to stake out a 2-0 lead after two periods of play. On the plus side, the Swamp Rabbits had played stronger in disadvantageous situations when trailing after two periods of play, and thanks to goals from Brendan Harms and Adam Larkin, the game went to a thrilling overtime, and then a shootout. Tyler Bird gave Greenville a chance to win with a goal in the second round, but Kris Newbury scored in the third round, and Dajon Mingo followed it up with the eventual game-winner in the fourth round to give Jacksonville the win. Saturday saw a similar situation, with a two-goal deficit after two periods of play. The Icemen capitalized on an early gaffe by the Swamp Rabbits in the defensive zone for a goal on their first shot on goal from Everett Clark. David Broll found a way to continue the fluky bounces in Jacksonville's favor, as his backhander deflected off of Larkin's stick and into the goal to extend Jacksonville's lead. With goaltender Kyle Hayton at the bench for the extra attacker, the Swamp Rabbits responded with a late goal. Newcomer Zach Franko converted on a centering pass from Michael Pelech to cut the Icemen's lead in half. However, it was too little, too late, and Jacksonville came away with the sweep. 3/8 @ Jacksonville Icemen - OTL 3-2 3/9 @ Jacksonville Icemen - L 2-1 FAMILY DENTAL HEALTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK Garrett Bartus - 1 GP | 0-0-1 | 1.85 GAA | .938 sv% While he got the losing decision in Friday night's game, goaltender Garrett Bartus followed up his ECHL Goaltender of the Week runner-up performance with another gem. He made 31 saves throughout the 65 minutes of play time, and two saves in the shootout, to keep the game within reach. Bartus has posted .900+ save percentages in seven of his last eight starts dating back to February 9. RABBIT TAILS The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have released defensemen Matt Donnelly and Jake Faiella from their Standard Player Contracts as of Monday. Six of the last ten games of the season will be at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, and that includes six of the next seven. The regular season comes to a close with three straight games against the Norfolk Admirals at the beginning of April. The Rabbits are 11-15-4 at home this season. The penalty kill continues to be a bright spot in the past few weeks. The Swamp Rabbits have gone eight consecutive games without allowing a power-play goal. The PK success percentage has risen from 73.0% to 77.9% in the process. Tyler Bird continues to be a find for the Swamp Rabbits in the latter part of the season. The 6'2" power forward has four points in his first four games, and that does not include his shootout goal on Friday night. Prior to his acquisition from Reading, Bird scored five points in 31 games. This next week will be the closest thing to a bye week. The Swamp Rabbits will have seven days off between the last game on March 9, and the next game on March 17 vs. Jacksonville. UPCOMING GAMES Sunday, March 17 | vs. Jacksonville Icemen | 3:00 p.m. | St. Patrick's Day Game Tickets | Watch | Listen SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS x Florida Everblades (42-15-5) - 89 pts Orlando Solar Bears (33-21-4) - 70 pts Jacksonville Icemen (32-26-4) - 68 pts South Carolina Stingrays (28-28-5) - 61 pts Atlanta Gladiators (25-25-9) - 59 pts Norfolk Admirals (23-30-8) - 54 pts Greenville Swamp Rabbits (21-35-6) - 48 pts *standings as of 10:00 a.m. on March 11, 2019 Read the full article

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KUHNS: SWAMP RABBITS FALL IN SHOOTOUT

Bartus' insane performance gifts Greenville a point (PHOTO: Gary McCollough) BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Down 2-0 and buoyed by 26 saves in regulation from goaltender Garrett Bartus, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits fought back to tie the game and send it to overtime. However, the Jacksonville Icemen ended the game in a shootout in the fourth round and defeated the Swamp Rabbits 3-2 on Friday night at the Veterans Memorial Arena. The Swamp Rabbits had an opportunity to win the game twice, but Bartus could not stop Kris Newbury in the third round, and after a magnificent deke from Dajon Mingo, the game-winner, Michael Pelech could not respond in the bottom of the fourth. Tyler Bird scored the lone goal in the shootout for Greenville in the second round. Without Bartus' performance, the game would have ended long before the shootout. He made five incredible saves throughout the course of overtime just to force a shootout, and two big saves in the shootout to keep it within reach. Adam Larkin's tying goal at the 17:36 mark of the third period came off of a faceoff win at 4-on-4. Bird and Dylan Vander Esch helped win the draw to the back, and Larkin fired away for his second goal in as many games to get the game tied. Brendan Harms started the comeback effort with a goal of his own midway through the third period. With the Icemen scrambling, Thomas Ebbing put the puck to the net mouth, and Harms stashed it home for his 12th of the season. Jacksonville and Greenville played to a scoreless first period, even after a spirited tilt between Austen Brassard and noted enforcer Garet Hunt. It was Jacksonville that ended up with the momentum from another tilt in the second between Kris Newbury and Stephen Pierog and took off from there. Cody Fowlie converted on some chaos in the Greenville defensive zone. Chris Rygus and Christophe Lalancette worked the puck in the offensive zone until Fowlie found himself open. His initial bid was denied by Bartus, but he converted on the rebound early in the second to give Jacksonville the lead. The Icemen broke the Swamp Rabbits' collective hearts after Brassard was denied by Jacksonville goaltender Kevin Appleby right on the doorstep. At the other end, Newbury set up Hunt for an insurance marker on a shot from the slot at the 17:42 mark of the second. Both teams' special teams were silent in the game, but it was the Swamp Rabbits who forced seven power-play opportunities in the game and could not convert. For the seventh straight game, Greenville's penalty kill held the opponent off of the board. Shots favored Jacksonville 33-27 for the game. The back-to-back with Jacksonville concludes on Saturday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. Catch all of the action on the Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network, or on ECHL.TV.

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Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2018–19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHNS: SWAMP RABBITS WEEKLY #21

March starts in like a lion for Swamp Rabbits BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC - What a week. The Greenville Swamp Rabbits recovered from a shaky weekend in Orlando with a hectic stretch of four games in five days. The Swamp Rabbits took three of the four games, all against teams desperate to get into the Kelly Cup Playoffs in the South Division. Greenville swept the South Carolina Stingrays and split with the red-hot Atlanta Gladiators over the week. Each game featured playoff-style intensity against South Division rivals, and the Swamp Rabbits are not out of it yet. The week started with a morning game in Charleston against a Rays team in the midst of a historic struggle. Greenville jumped out to two separate leads and held on to their second one thanks to a strong performance in net from Garrett Bartus. Folk hero Travis Howe gave the Swamp Rabbits the lead in the closing moments of the second period with a blast from the right circle, and Brendan Harms gave Greenville the insurance they needed to hold on for their first win of the week. The Rays' struggles hit a high and historic point on Thursday evening in Greenville, as the Swamp Rabbits pulled the reversal. South Carolina took a 1-0 lead into the third period on a goal from Andrew Cherniwchan. Heading into the game, the Swamp Rabbits had a record of 0-31-2 when trailing after two periods of play. Thanks to Will Merchant and Michael Pelech, the Swamp Rabbits picked up their first win in that situation. Both goals came within inches of the blue paint, and Pelech's dagger came with just a minute to go in the third period. The Rays' losing streak hit 11 games—the longest in franchise history. The Swamp Rabbits then took on their I-85 rival, the Atlanta Gladiators, on Friday. Goaltender Kyle Hayton put on the performance of a lifetime in a losing cause with 40 saves, including double-digit saves in all three periods. The Swamp Rabbits almost overcame the massive discrepancy in puck possession by getting to within a goal late in the third period, but mistakes in the defensive zone and Atlanta's seven power-play chances added to Greenville's woes in the one-goal loss. Jake Bolton and Austen Brassard scored for the Swamp Rabbits. Following the one-goal loss, the Swamp Rabbits needed to dig deep and find a way against the Gladiators at home, who found themselves on the doorstep of overtaking South Carolina for the fourth and final playoff spot in the South Division. In perhaps the most entertaining game of the season, the Swamp Rabbits battled the Gladiators stride for stride. Tied at two after 20 minutes of play, Greenville outscored Atlanta 3-1 the rest of the way, including goals from Dylan Vander Esch and Brassard to pull away. Stephen Pierog's late power play goal ended a personal 20-game goal drought and put the game away in front of a raucous crowd at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. 2/26 @ South Carolina Stingrays - W 3-2 2/28 vs. South Carolina Stingrays - W 2-1 3/1 @ Atlanta Gladiators - L 3-2 3/2 vs. Atlanta Gladiators - W 5-3 FAMILY DENTAL HEALTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK Garrett Bartus - 3 GP | 3-0-0 | 2.00 GAA | .938 sv% Nominated for ECHL Goaltender of the Week, Garrett Bartus was absolutely sensational in net for the Swamp Rabbits, with a perfect 3-0-0 week, and three wins against potential playoff teams. The Swamp Rabbits were in a position where they needed to bank as many points as possible. Bartus made 90 saves on 96 shots faced over the week and held the fort with two one-goal wins, and a season-high in save percentage in a game, .968, against South Carolina on Thursday night. RABBIT TAILS The Swamp Rabbits are not out of it yet. They will likely need to win a vast majority of their 12 games remaining (of which 11 are against South Division foes), but they are 10 points out of a spot down to the wire and a potential photo finish. During the course of the six-games-in-eight-days stretch, the Swamp Rabbits' penalty kill was perfect. This past week, the Swamp Rabbits' PK went 15-for-15. What could have been unknown commodities in a new environment have become found gold? Goaltender Kyle Hayton, acquired from the Allen Americans off of waivers, made his Swamp Rabbits debut on Friday and made a career-high 40 saves. In Brian Morgan's first six games as a Swamp Rabbit, he has three assists. Tyler Bird, acquired from the Reading Royals, has a goal and two assists in two games since joining the club. Michael Pelech led the way in scoring for Greenville with a goal and four assists on the week. His 54 points are tied for eighth in ECHL scoring, and his 39 assists are sixth in the league. UPCOMING GAMES Friday, March 8 | @ Jacksonville Icemen | 7:30 p.m. Watch | Listen Saturday, March 9 | @ Jacksonville Icemen | 7:00 p.m. Watch | Listen SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS Florida Everblades (39-15-5) - 83 pts Orlando Solar Bears (31-20-4) - 66 pts Jacksonville Icemen (30-25-4) - 64 pts South Carolina Stingrays (26-27-5) - 57 pts Atlanta Gladiators (24-23-8) - 56 pts Norfolk Admirals (23-28-7) - 53 pts Greenville Swamp Rabbits (21-34-5) - 47 pts *standings as of 10:00 a.m. on March 4, 2019 Read the full article

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KUHNS: SWAMP RABBITS WEEKLY #20

South Division ahoy! Four games in five days ahead BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC- This week Greenville traveled to Orlando to start what is a hectic week to end February and begin March. The Swamp Rabbits took on an Orlando Solar Bears team that sat in second place in the South Division, and in need of wins to stave off the Jacksonville Icemen, who were right behind them in the standings. They got what they needed at the expense of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, who needed wins to get into the thick of the South Division race. Saturday's game was in reach, even after surrendering the game's first goal 90 seconds in. The Swamp Rabbits tied the game both at one due to Thomas Ebbing, and at two on a shorthanded goal by Brendan Harms, but the Solar Bears' third-period push put them ahead. Two quick goals within 16 seconds put Orlando ahead for good. The Swamp Rabbits' penalty kill was the star on Saturday night, erasing all seven of Orlando's power-play opportunities. Sunday's game was a quick turnaround for both clubs, and the Greenville Swamp Rabbits were faced with adversity right off the bat. The loss of May on a knee-on-knee hit just five minutes into the game put the Swamp Rabbits on a major power play, and they converted, thanks to Dylan Vander Esch. Orlando's line of Otto Somppi, Alex Schoenborn and Trevor Olson took the game over in the second period. Somppi scored to get the first goal, and Schoenborn converted on a pass from Somppi to give Orlando the lead. Olson gave the Solar Bears an insurance goal in the third. Greenville would get within a goal late thanks to Austen Brassard, but Orlando held on for the win. 2/23 @ Orlando Solar Bears - L 5-3 2/24 @ Orlando Solar Bears - L 3-2 FAMILY DENTAL HEALTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK Chad Duchesne - 2 GP | 0 G - 2 A - 2 P The longtime Greenville Swamp Rabbit continues to have a career year in 2019. Now ten games away from being tied for 7th all-time in games played in a Swamp Rabbit sweater, Chad Duchesne's two assists on the weekend helped spark the offense on both Saturday and Sunday. His 18 points are more than his two prior seasons' offensive outputs combined (11). RABBIT TAILS As mentioned prior, the Swamp Rabbits' penalty kill went a perfect 12-for-12 against the Orlando Solar Bears over the past weekend and increased its success percentage by three percent. Two players are officially off of the schneid. Thomas Ebbing ended a 17-game goal drought with a goal on Saturday, and Brendan Harms ended an 11-game drought of his own with a goal on Saturday as well. Greenville made a pair of moves with the trade of Sean Flanagan and the recall of Chris Nell to the AHL. Goaltender Jason Pawloski and defenseman Matt Donnelly joined the club. Donnelly made his pro debut on Sunday afternoon. Pawloski has yet to make his first start as a Swamp Rabbit. Harms' shorthanded goal on Saturday night made Greenville one of the most prolific teams while shorthanded. It was the eighth goal scored by the Swamp Rabbits while down a man, which now ranks tied for the fifth-most in the league. UPCOMING GAMES Tuesday, February 26 | @ South Carolina Stingrays | 10:30 a.m. Watch | Listen Exclusively on ESPN Upstate Thursday, February 28 | vs. South Carolina Stingrays | 7:00 p.m. | Folds of Honor Business Power Play, presented by Bud Light Tickets | Watch | Listen Friday, March 1 | @ Atlanta Gladiators | 7:35 p.m. Watch | Listen Saturday, March 2 | vs. Atlanta Gladiators | 7:00 p.m. | College Night (MORE INFO HERE) Tickets | Watch | Listen SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS Florida Everblades (37-13-5) - 79 pts Orlando Solar Bears (29-19-4) - 62 pts Jacksonville Icemen (28-23-4) - 60 pts South Carolina Stingrays (25-24-5) - 55 pts Atlanta Gladiators (23-21-8) - 54 pts Norfolk Admirals (23-26-7) - 53 pts Greenville Swamp Rabbits (18-33-5) - 41 pts *standings as of 10:00 a.m. on February 25, 2019 Read the full article

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KUHNS: (SAT) SWAMP RABBITS FALTER IN THIRD IN SOLAR BEARS WIN

Orlando strikes three times in the final frame (PHOTO: Fernando Medina) BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Solar Bears scored three times in the third period, capitalized on the fatigue of penalty trouble and turned the tides. Orlando defeated the Greenville Swamp Rabbits 5-3 on Saturday night at Amway Center. While the Solar Bears did not strike on their seven power play opportunities, they slowly and surely wore down the Swamp Rabbits with repeated and extended time in the offensive zone. After the Swamp Rabbits outshot Orlando 13-12 in the first period, Orlando outshot Greenville 26-11 the rest of the way. The Bears' lead was established in quick fashion. Jackson Playfair took one of three Otto Somppi assists on the night out in front of the goal and took a one-timer that gave them the lead for the third time that night. On the ensuing shift, 16 seconds later, Trevor Olson scored from a bad angle to extend Orlando's lead to 4-2 that quickly. While Greenville would get a goal in response from Johno May, a power play tally on an exceptional slap pass from the left circle by Kamerin Nault at 7:08, just under a minute after Olson's goal, the Solar Bears re-established their two-goal lead 45 seconds later on a shot off the draw by Mike Monfredo. Greenville responded from two deficits and got outstanding goaltending from Garrett Bartus to keep things locked down. Even after Orlando took the lead 95 seconds into the game after a one-time blast by Playfair off of a faceoff, Thomas Ebbing pulled the game even on a Greenville faceoff win, and a shot from Chad Duchesne. The goal ended a 16-game goal drought for Ebbing. Orlando took the lead in the second thanks to Zach Frye, but again, Greenville to the rescue. Brendan Harms on a scored shorthanded breakaway on a feed from Michael Pelech, and that ended a 10-game drought for him. The penalty kill, while detrimental to the flow of the game, stood letter perfect at 7-for-7, including 5-for-5 in the second period alone. Bartus ended the game with 33 saves. Ouellette stopped 21 Greenville bids. The rematch with Orlando comes early, a 1:30 p.m. faceoff at Amway Center on Sunday, February 24. Catch the action on the Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network, or on ECHL.TV.

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Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2018–19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHNS: SWAMP RABBITS DETHRONE MONARCHS

Greenville erases three deficits in second consecutive win BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE MANCHESTER, N.H. — In a game that saw five first period goals and three Manchester leads, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits stuck to the game plan and turned the tides. Greenville struck for four goals in the third period and toppled the Manchester Monarchs 7-3 on Sunday afternoon at SNHU Arena. Austen Brassard struck twice, and Kamerin Nault and Dylan Vander Esch added tallies in the third period to pull away from the Monarchs. Brassard, with help from Brendan Harms and Chris Izmirlian, who scored four points on the day, forced a Manchester turnover and snapped the puck through Cole Kehler to grab their first lead of the day. The key to the game was pressure. All four of the goals were forced by pressure and net-front traffic, with Nault, Vander Esch, and Brassard's second, forced by pressure and traffic. The first period saw five goals scored overall, and four of them scored in the game's first six minutes and three seconds. The Swamp Rabbits were also forced into penalty trouble in the first period, having taken three penalties, but Manchester was unable to convert on any of them. Cory Ward started the scoring for the home club on a rebound opportunity just as a penalty to J.C. Brassard had expired. Under a minute later, Jake Bolton found a way on a drop pass from Izmirlian on the rush, and his slap shot found a way through. Just over a minute later, Spencer Watson scored his first of two goals in the first period with a nifty deke to the backhand to take the lead again. And, like the last time, Izmirlian had an answer with a deflection out in front of the goal. Watson eventually gave Manchester the go-ahead goal late in the first period, but as always, the Swamp Rabbits had a response. A tremendous individual effort from Nault, with assists from Michael Pelech and Johno May, converted on his own rebound and tied the game at three. The Swamp Rabbits held the team who averages the most shots on goal per game, the Manchester Monarchs, to well below their average, and pumped 39 shots on goal in a constant barrage, all at even strength. The Swamp Rabbits were only granted one chance on the power play. 11 players scored points in the game, and six of them posted multi-point efforts. The win cemented four out of a possible six standings points in the books for Greenville. The Swamp Rabbits will have the rest of the week to prepare for a rematch with the Atlanta Gladiators on Friday, February 15 at 7:30 p.m. Catch all of the action on the Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network, or on ECHL.TV.

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Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2018–19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KEELEY / KUHNS: (SAT) MARINERS SWAMPED BY RABBITS

Greenville continues the weekend onslaught BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners PORTLAND, ME – February 9, 2019 – A six-goal second period put Saturday night’s game out of reach as the Mariners fell to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits by a final score of 8-2 on Saturday night at the Cross Insurance Arena. The game’s first goal was scored by Chris Izlmirlian, as he deflected Dylan Vander Esch’s offering past Connor LaCouvee at 6:23 of the opening period. As the Mariners went to the power play about five minutes later, Will Merchant skated away on a breakaway and deked LaCouvee to double the Swamp Rabbits lead. It marked the third game in a row with a shorthanded goal allowed by the Mariners. Izmirlian scored a pair in the first 5:15 of the 2nd to complete the hat trick and make it 4-0. It appeared the Mariners would make a comeback bid when Jason Salvaggio and Dillan Fox (PPG) scored at 5:32 and 8:11, but a sloppy defensive sequence resulted in a Michael Pelech goal to stall the Mariners momentum. Merchant got his 2nd goal with a power play tally at 12:45 and then Johno May and Izmirlian scored 58 seconds apart to blow the game wide open. The final two goals came against Hannu Toivonen, appearing in his first game since January 13th. The Mariners buckled down defensively in the 3rd, and outshot Greenville 12-0 (31-28 for the game), but didn’t get any closer than 8-2. Dillan Fox had a goal waived off in the third when he drove the net and was dragged down, the whistle apparently blowing before the puck went in the net. The Mariners finish the weekend with a Sunday matinee against the Wheeling Nailers at 3:00 PM tomorrow. The game features a postgame skate with the team, sponsored by Redbank Village. Fans must bring their own skates and those under the age of 18 will need a helmet. Any fans who attend all three games this weekend and check in at the Promotions Port are eligible to win a Mariners prize pack. General admission tickets can be purchased at MarinersofMaine.com or by visiting or calling the Trusted Choice Box Office: 207-775-3458. ______________________ BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE PORTLAND, Maine — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits shot nearly 30% on the night, took a lead, and never looked back. Four goals from Chris Izmirlian and a six-goal second-period outburst highlighted an offensive explosion for Greenville in an 8-2 rout over the Maine Mariners on Saturday night at Cross Insurance Arena. The eight goals scored by the Swamp Rabbits matched a season-high, scored on November 15 against the Norfolk Admirals. It was also the second consecutive night that the Mariners had given up eight goals, having done so last night against the Cincinnati Cyclones. Izmirlian had been held quiet since his return to the lineup, but his offensive output, on six shots on goal, was a career-high, and a season highlight. He started the scoring at the 6:23 mark of the first, scored two more to complete the hat trick in the second period and capped the team's scoring at the 15:42 mark of the third. The Swamp Rabbits built a 4-0 lead nearing the halfway point of the second period. Izmirlian scored his hat trick by then, opening the scoring on a pass from Dylan Vander Esch. Will Merchant scored his first of two tallies shortly thereafter on an unassisted shorthanded tally to double the lead. The second period saw the fireworks. Maine found a way to cut Greenville's lead in half with quick strikes. Their first, from Jason Salvaggio, was just 17 seconds after Izmirlian's third goal, and Dillan Fox's rebound goal came at 8:11. After that though, it was all Greenville. The captain, Michael Pelech, converted on a bad bounce in the Maine zone and found himself out in front to shorten the leash on Mariners goaltender Connor LaCouvee. Merchant provided the final dagger in his night with a power play goal from the right circle. In came former NHL goaltender Hannu Toivonen, and he was welcomed to the game with a goal against on his first shot faced. Thomas Ebbing won the faceoff back to Johno May, who wrapped the goal and scored for the first time in 12 games. Izmirlian ended his four-goal night with a tic-tac-toe passing play from Austen Brassard and Brendan Harms. While there was plenty of offensive firepower to solidify the win, the Swamp Rabbits received a quality outing from goaltender Garrett Bartus, who slammed the door shut on the road. His 29 saves, buoyed by a set of outstanding saves on the penalty kill, and a great lunging save in the final moments, kept Maine off the board and gave the Swamp Rabbits confidence to keep pressing. It was also a return to form for the Swamp Rabbits' power play, which had been held largely silent for the past month. Greenville generated goals on two of three power-play chances they had on the night. The Swamp Rabbits now have wins in two of three games before concluding the weekend set. The three-game weekend concludes in Manchester to take on the Monarchs on Sunday, February 10. Catch all of the action on the Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network, or on ECHL.TV.

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Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2018–19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHNS: SWAMP RABBITS WEEKLY #15

Swamp Rabbits hit All-Star break with tough mission ahead BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC - This week's recap starts with the bump in the road continuing for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, who hosted the Atlanta Gladiators at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena for a pair of games. Unfortunately, the Swamp Rabbits ran into the Glads at the highest point of their season. Goaltender Sean Bonar stole the show throughout the weekend by stopping 52 of 53 shots fired towards the Atlanta net and keeping Greenville's struggling offense at bay. The Glads utilized a strong defensive effort throughout Friday night's game and struck twice in the second period to pull ahead and stay ahead. Bonar was a perfect 30-for-30 to pick up the win for the Gladiators, and it was his second shutout of the season. Greenville broke the ice in the second period of Saturday's game thanks to Brendan Harms and cut the Atlanta lead in half. But it was the Glads who held on to the Swamp Rabbits' final push, 13 shots on goal and picked up the weekend sweep. 1/18 vs. Atlanta Gladiators - L 3-0 1/19 vs. Atlanta Gladiators - L 2-1 FAMILY DENTAL HEALTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK Garrett Bartus - 1 GP | 0-1-0 2.04 GAA .943 sv% While he did not get the win on Saturday night, Garrett Bartus did just about everything for the Swamp Rabbits to be in that position. He stopped 33 of 35 shots fired his way in about 59 minutes of action, including several big saves to keep it close throughout. RABBIT TAILS Johno May is set to take part in the 2019 ECHL All-Star Classic tonight (televised on the NHL Network at 7:00 p.m.) from the Huntington Center in Toledo. The All-Star Classic features a 3-on-3 tournament and a skills competition between rounds. May will compete in the hardest shot contest. The Swamp Rabbits are aided by a home-heavy portion of the schedule. Five of the next six games will be at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, with the one exception being just 90 minutes down the road in Duluth, Georgia. The new year has been kind to forward Brendan Harms. Since the turn of the calendar, Harms has scored five goals and two assists, giving him 16 points in 22 games since his acquisition from Utah. His next game on Friday will be the 100th of his ECHL career. UPCOMING GAMES Friday, January 25 | vs. Norfolk Admirals | 7:00 p.m. | Manufacturing Night Tickets | Watch | Listen Sunday, January 27 | vs. South Carolina Stingrays | 3:00 p.m. | Stomper's Birthday Tickets | Watch | Listen SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS Florida Everblades (28-8-5) - 61 pts Jacksonville Icemen (23-16-1) - 47 pts South Carolina Stingrays (22-17-2) - 46 pts Orlando Solar Bears (20-17-3) - 43 pts Norfolk Admirals (16-21-5) - 37 pts Greenville Swamp Rabbits (14-24-5) - 33 pts Atlanta Gladiators (12-19-6) - 30 pts *standings as of 10:00 a.m. on January 21, 2019  Read the full article

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KUHNS: SWAMP RABBITS WEEKLY #14

Swamp Rabbits look to hit the reset button vs. Atlanta BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC - This week, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits ran into the best team in the ECHL last week and felt the full force of their wrath on their turf, which they had only lost four times prior. The Florida Everblades, now the best offensive team in the league, put their exploits on display, scoring 22 goals in three games. The 'Blades, now an astounding 14-2-2 at Hertz Arena, with a +40 goal differential, continue to be the hardest team in the league to deal with for just about anyone. They also own a 25-6-5 mark against the division. Goes to show it has been everyone that has felt victimized by their insane amount of firepower. They rode a 22.5% shooting percentage all weekend. League average is around 9%. Last week was a setback, capped off by a season-high in goals against in a single game—10—in a game that was within reach. In fact, two of the three games were tied or within reach at times. However, it was Florida's ability to respond with goals at key times, and get performances from their best players to score at key times, that put them ahead. The four-game losing streak has put the Swamp Rabbits back a bit in the standings, but still within striking distance. They find themselves back eight points of the Orlando Solar Bears for the fourth spot, and just two back of Norfolk for the fifth spot. This week, the last-place Glads come to town with two wins in a row in their pocket, but the Swamp Rabbits have a 4-1-1 record against the Gladiators this season. 1/9 @ Florida Everblades - L 7-3 1/11 @ Florida Everblades - L 5-0 1/12 @ Florida Everblades - L 10-4 FAMILY DENTAL HEALTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK Austen Brassard - 3 GP | 2 G - 3 A - 5 P The month of December was a quiet time for the ever-talented forward Austen Brassard. January seems to have rekindled the fire, as he has posted points in three of his last four games, including two multi-point efforts. Brassard posted a three-point game on Saturday, which was a new season-high, and tied a career-high that he had only hit once. His efforts lately have him closing in on 100 career ECHL points, with 92 heading into the weekend. RABBIT TAILS The plus side in the schedule is that the Swamp Rabbits have time to enjoy the comforts of home. Seven of the next eight games will be at home, with one trip to Atlanta sandwiched in on January 30. The Rabbits have picked up standings points in 13 of the 20 games played at home. Johno May returned to the Swamp Rabbits after suiting up for the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. He missed the first two games due to an illness but returned to action on Saturday. May enters the weekend tied for the most goals by rookies, and sixth in rookie point scoring. January has been quite the month for Brendan Harms. After going a bit quiet in December, Harms has points in three of his last four games, including 3 goals and 2 assists. After just posting three points in 11 games in Utah, he has 15 points in 20 games as a Swamp Rabbit. UPCOMING GAMES Friday, January 18 | at Atlanta Gladiators | 7:00 p.m. | Stick it to Cancer Night Tickets | Watch | Listen Exclusively on ESPN Upstate Saturday, January 19 | vs. Atlanta Gladiators | 7:00 p.m. | Dave & Busters Night Tickets | Watch | Listen SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS Florida Everblades (26-7-5) - 57 pts South Carolina Stingrays (20-15-2) - 42 pts Jacksonville Icemen (20-15-1) - 41 pts Orlando Solar Bears (19-15-3) - 41 pts Norfolk Admirals (15-19-5) - 35 pts Greenville Swamp Rabbits (14-22-5) - 33 pts Atlanta Gladiators (10-19-6) - 26 pts  *standings as of 10:00 a.m. on January 14, 2019  Read the full article