ORLANDO, FLA – Weekend one of the 2015-2016 ECHL regular season was filled with intriguing story lines and big efforts.
Since the playoff format has gone back to a conference-based system, every game and every point is important from game one to game 72. Add in the new three-division lineup and new teams (or in the case of Norfolk, a returning team) joining the fray and the recipe for an exciting run of hockey is definitely in the cards.
Here is how the eastern conference teams fared to open the season:
East Division
Manchester Monarchs (1-0-0-0, 2 points) Friday: def. Brampton 2-1
One of the new entries in the ECHL, the Monarchs are coming off a year that saw the former AHL franchise win the Calder Cup before heading west, allowing the Ontario, California ECHL franchise to move to New Hampshire.
Manchester played just one game last weekend but it was a successful debut. After falling behind the Brampton Beast, Matt Leitner tied the game 12:29 into the third period before Derek Arnold netted the game-winner just 30 seconds later for a 2-1 victory. Goalie Michael Houser stopped 23 of 24 shots he faced to earn the win in front of an appreciative home crowd.
Next up: Saturday – at Adirondack, Sunday – Adirondack
Adirondack Thunder (1-0-0-0, 2 points) Friday: def. Elmira 4-1
The second of the new ECHL teams, Adirondack (which relocated from Stockton, California) began life in its new league Friday night by travelling to Elmira, New York to take on the Jackals.
Louick Marcotte scored the first goal of the ECHL regular season and added a second tally later as the Thunder made a successful debut with a 4-1 win. Mathieu Brodeur and Ryan Lomberg score the other Adirondack goals while Rob Bordson added two assists in support of goalie Ken Appleby who made 29 saves.
Next up: Friday – at Brampton, Saturday – Manchester, Sunday – at Manchester
Elmira Jackals (1-1-0-0, 2 points) Friday: loss to Adirondack 4-1, Saturday: def. Brampton 4-2
The Jackals came into this season with high hopes but split a pair of weekend contests.
On Friday night, Elmira hosted Adirondack and the visitors were anything but kind. Scott Jacklin had the lone goal in a 4-1 loss to the Thunder. Saturday night was a much different outcome against Brampton. Allan McPherson had a goal and two assists while Mike Seidel, Matt Garbowsky and Cason Hohmann each lit the goal light once in a 4-2 win over the Beast.
Next up: Friday – Reading, Saturday – at Reading
Reading Royals (1-1-0-0, 2 points) Saturday: loss 2-1 at South Carolina, Sunday: win 6-0 at South Carolina
Reading travelled south to open its season against the defending conference champion South Carolina Stingrays and split the two contests.
Saturday’s game was a tight, defensive affair won by the Stingrays 2-1. Adam Comrie scored the lone Royals goal while goalie Connor Knapp stopped 23 of 25 shots. Sunday was a complete turnaround as Reading’s offense went wild. Cam Reid scored twice while Robbie Czarnik, Joe Rehkamp, Kevin Goumas and Justin Crandall each had a score. Martin Ouelette stopped all 20 shots he faced to earn the shutout.
Next up: Friday – at Elmira, Saturday – Elmira
Norfolk Admirals (1-1-0-0, 2 points) Friday: loss to Wheeling 3-0, Saturday: def. Wheeling 4-2
After 15 years away from the ECHL, the Admirals returned with a pair of home games at the Scope.
Friday night, the Admirals dominated play in the first period but failed to score and looked on as Wheeling controlled the final forty minutes of play. Goalie Ty Rimmer was Norfolk’s star, making 34 saves to keep his team in the game. Rimmer stopped another 38 shots on Saturday but this time his offense gave him a hand. Michael Pelech, Greg Chase, Mathieu Brisbois and Maxime Legault all scored goals in the 4-2 win over the Nailers.
Next up: Wednesday: at Florida, Thursday: at Orlando, Saturday: at Orlando
North Division
Wheeling Nailers (1-1-0-0, 2 points) Friday: win 3-0 at Norfolk, Saturday: loss 4-2 at Norfolk
The Nailers began play in the newly constructed North division with a pair of road games in Norfolk.
Friday night was the Ty Loney show as he scored twice in support of goalie Franky Palazzese who spun a 23-save shutout over the Admirals. Jarrett Burton scored the third goal for the visitors. Burton was at it again on Saturday, scoring both Wheeling goals but it was not enough to prevent a loss.
Next up: Saturday – Brampton, Sunday – at Brampton
Toledo Walleye (0-1-0-1, 1 point) Friday: shootout loss 3-2 at Indy, Saturday: loss 5-1 at Cincinnati
Last year’s regular season top dog came out of the blocks in 2015-2016 on the slow side.
On Friday night, AJ Jenks and Evan Rankin each lit the goal light in regulation but that was all the Walleye could muster. Goalie Jeff Lerg played well in defeat, making 21 saves on 23 shots. Saturday in Cincinnati did not go well at all. Alden Hirschfeld netted the lone Toledo goal in a bad loss.
Next up: Friday – at Kalamazoo, Saturday – at Evansville
Kalamazoo K-Wings (0-2-0-0, 0 points) Friday: loss 5-3 at Fort Wayne, Saturday: loss 3-1 at Fort Wayne
The K-Wings started off with two losses, both coming on the road at Fort Wayne.
Friday’s contest saw David Gilbert notch a goal and an assist while Charlie Vasaturo and Eric Kattelus each added a score in the loss. Goalie Joel Martin starred on Saturday, stopping 38 shots and giving Kalamazoo a chance. Adam Phillips had the lone tally for the K-Wings.
Next up: Friday – at Toledo, Saturday – at Cincinnati
Brampton Beast (0-2-0-0, 0 points) Friday: loss 2-1 at Manchester, Saturday: loss 4-2 at Elmira
The ECHL’s lone Canadian entry did not fare well last weekend.
Yannick Tifu scored the Beast’s first goal of the new season but it was not enough to defeat the Monarchs. Netminder Bryan Pitton was strong between the pipes, making 31 saves. Mathew Malone and Travis Brown each netted a goal on Saturday but again the defense fell prey to its opponents who scored four times.
Next up: Friday – Adirondack, Saturday – at Wheeling, Sunday – Wheeling
South Division
Florida Everblades (2-0-0-0, 4 points) Friday: def. Atlanta 4-3 (OT), Saturday: def. Atlanta 6-1
The high-powered Everblades came out of the blocks firing, picking up two home wins along the way.
On Friday night, Evan Bloodoff was the overtime hero, scoring the game-winner. Kevin Lynch, Brendan O’Donnell and Kevin Montgomery score the Florida goals in regulation. The next night, the Everblades put a hurting on the Gladiators as Ethan Werek scored two goals to pace a balanced attack. Lynch, Mike Aviani, Matt Willows and Gabriel Desjardines each added a score in support of goalie Anthony Peters who stopped 29 of the 30 Atlanta shots he faced.
Next up: Wednesday – Norfolk, Friday – at Atlanta, Saturday – at Atlanta, Sunday – at Greenville
Orlando Solar Bears (1-0-0-0, 2 points) Saturday: def. Greenville 6-3
The Solar Bears opened their tenth season of existence (six in the IHL and fourth in the ECHL) with an emotional ceremony and an impressive victory.
Loaded with Toronto Maple Leaf prospects, Matt Rupert scored two goals in his Orlando debut while Brady Vail added a goal and three assists to the cause. Brett Findlay, Eric Baier (short-handed) and TJ Foster (short-handed empty net) also scored for the Solar Bears.
Next up: Thursday – Norfolk, Saturday – Norfolk
South Carolina Stingrays (1-1-0-0, 2 points) Saturday: def. Reading 2-1, Sunday: loss to Reading 6-0
The defending Eastern conference champions began their season with two home games, splitting the pair.
Brett Cameron was the star on Saturday, scoring both goals in a victory over Reading. His game-winner late in the third period secured the victory for goalie Mark Dekanich who made 28 saves. Nothing went right for the host Stingrays on Sunday as the Royals shut them out.
Next up: Friday – at Greenville, Saturday – Greenville, Sunday – Atlanta
Atlanta Gladiators (0-1-1-0, 1 point) Friday: loss 4-3 (OT) at Florida, Saturday: loss 6-1 at Florida
Sporting a new name, the Gladiators began the season in Southwest Florida with a heart-breaking overtime loss and a not-so-good performance.
On Friday night, Brock Higgs scored twice and captain Tyler Murovich lit the goal light once in regulation but it all went for naught when the host Everblades won in overtime. Max Everson scored the lone Gladiators goal on Saturday in a loss.
Next up: Friday – Florida, Saturday – Florida, Sunday – at South Carolina
Greenville Swamp Rabbits (0-1-0-0, 0 points) Saturday: loss 6-3 at Orlando
The Swamp Rabbits had their regular season debut on Saturday, hanging tough before falling to Orlando.
Scott Fleming, Emerson Clark and Jack Combs scored the three goals for Greenville. The Swamp Rabbits fought back from being down three goals to within one before the Solar Bears sealed the win with two late short-handed goals.
Next up: Friday – South Carolina, Saturday – at South Carolina, Sunday – Florida
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