Voakes leading the Road Warriors into battle

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Every ECHL team needs that one player who will provide leadership both on and off the ice, the Greenville Road Warriors are lucky to have several “leaders” on their roster, one of them being Mark Voakes.
 

Voakes, a forward hailing from St. Thomas, Ontario, has quickly become one of Greenville’s best skaters. In fact, he is leading the team in scoring posting fifteen goals and thirty assists for a total forty-five points, which also has put him at thirteenth in the ECHL in scoring. Voakes, currently in his second ECHL season, broke into the league last season with the Cincinnati Cyclones and finished the season and even saw post-season action with the Bakersfield Condors. Prior to that, Mark Voakes spent four years with the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks of Canada’s CIS collegiate league. Following his senior season in 2008-09, Voakes earned the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) west MVP award, as well as being named to the OUA’s first all-star team for the second time in his collegiate. That season, the Golden Hawks finished the regular season with a 22-5-1 record and finished atop the OUA west. After receiving a first round bye, the team defeated the Lakehead Thunderwolves in three games before falling to the Western Mustangs in two straight in the OUA semifinals.
 
It is not surprising that Voakes has continued his stellar play in the ECHL. He credits his success over the first-half of the 2010-11 season to his Road Warrior teammates. “The guys on the team has been a big part of allowing me to have the type of year I have had so far,” said Voakes. “ We have several good players and when you are surrounded by good players then your own game gets better.” Luckily for Voakes, adjusting to the style of play presented by Head Coach Dean Stork has been easy, as Stork was an assistant coach with Cincinnati last season. “Our game prep and style of play is very similar to what we did in Cincinnati. Coach Stork has implemented his own ideas on the game, but still our style of play is very similar to the Cyclones.”
 
The forward is also very appreciative of the fan support shown to the first year team. “Greenville is a phenomenal city. All of the players on the team feel at home here, and that is due to the great support by our fans, “ said Voakes. Off the ice, Mark enjoys fishing, baseball, and reading. He would like to thank his uncle, Randy Voakes, for all the support he has provided over the years.
Contact author at ryan.kouvolo@prohockeynews.com