ORLANDO, FLA – The 29th season of the ECHL is now chugging along into its third week of play already and fans are having to get used to some teams in new divisions as well as seeing some familiar teams atop the early standings.
Manchester Monarchs (2-1-0-1, 5 points)
Just as they did a year ago, the Monarchs are making the North Division a two team race. Last week, Manchester picked up two victories.
Last Friday, the Monarchs headed into Reading to take on the Royals and came away with a convincing 5-1 win. Leading the way was Cory Ward who notched a goal and two assists to pace the balanced offensive attack. Alex Guptil, Derek Arnold, Matt Leitner and Joe Pendenza each lit the goal light once while goalie Colin Stevens stopped 33of the 34 shots he faced.
On Saturday, Manchester went north to face their arch rivals in Adirondack. The contest went to overtime where Ward scored with four seconds left in the extra period to secure a 4-3 victory. Pendenza was the scoring star, netting a pair of goals and adding an assist while Guptil scored his second goal in as many nights. Justin Agosta and Justin Gutierrez each chipped in with a pair of assists in the win.
Next Up: Friday – Cincinnati, Saturday – Cincinnati, Sunday – Cincinnati
Adirondack Thunder (2-0-1-0, 5 points)
The Thunder were the early leaders last season and appear ready to challenge again. Adirondack had a light schedule with just one game last week, falling in that affair to Manchester.
Despite getting goals from Mathieu Brodeur, Brett Pollock and Brian Ward, the Thunder could not hold off the visiting Monarchs who took the game in overtime.
Next Up: Tuesday – Elmira, Friday – at Elmira, Saturday – Elmira
Reading Royals(2-1-0-0, 4 points)
The Royals split a pair of games last week, chopping down Wheeling before falling to Manchester.
On Thursday, Reading went to visit the Nailers and left with a 4-3 victory. Olivier Labelle led the way with a goal and an assist while Chris McCarthy, Matt Wilkins and Michael Pelech contributed a goal apiece. All told, ten different Royals came away with a point in the game.
The next day, Manchester came calling in Reading and were not pleasant house guests. Steven Swavelys cored the lone goal for the hosts as the Monarchs won the game 5-1.
Next Up: Wednesday – at Idaho, Friday – at Idaho, Saturday – at Idaho
Brampton Beast (1-0-1-1, 4 points)
A much improved Beast squad took the ice twice last week in a home-and-home set against Toledo. Despite the Walleye taking both contests, Brampton showed its offensive firepower in two high-scoring affairs.
On Friday in Brampton, David Vallorani was the offensive star with a goal and two assists while teammates Luke Pither, Scott Jacklin, David Pacan and Brandon MacLean all tallied in regulation time. The game went to a shootout where Mike Vernace scored the lone goal for the Beast as they came up just short by a final of 6-5.
The next night in Toledo, Pacan and Brandon Marino each posted a goal and an assists in a 6-5 overtime loss. Mathieu Gagnon, Yannick Veilleux and Justin Barker had the other scores for the Beast.
Next Up: Friday – Missouri, Sunday – Missouri
Elmira Jackals (1-2-0-0, 2 points)
The Jackals have struggled out of the gate so far, looking good in a win over Norfolk before being shutout by the Admirals one night later.
Daultan Leveille scored the game-winning goal in the third period on Friday as the Jackals posted a 3-2 win. Tyson Fawcett chipped in with a goal and an assist while Paul Geiger added a lamp-lighter of his own. Goalie John Muse stopped 38 of 40 shots to post the victory.
Goalie Andy Iles was the lone bright spot in Saturday’s loss, turning away 29 of the 30 shots he faced as Norfolk blanked Elmira 2-0.
Next Up: Tuesday – at Adirondack, Friday – Adirondack, Saturday – at Adirondack
Wheeling Nailers (0-2-1-0, 1 point)
The defending conference champions have not found their rhythm yet, losing two very tough games to Reading and Cincinnati last week.
On Thursday, Jordan Kwas picked up a goal and an assist to pace the Nailers’ offense. Garrett Meurs and Josh Shalla each scored a goal but it was not enough to tackle the Royals as Wheeling fell 4-3.
The next night, the Nailers visited the Queen City and the welcome they received was not friendly. Meurs scored the lone goal and goalie Doug Carr made 27 saves but the host Cyclones came away with the 2-1 victory.
Next Up: Friday – at Kalamazoo, Saturday – Kalamazoo
Florida Everblades (3-0-0-0, 6 points)
Once again the Everblades find themselves atop the South Division after another hot start.
Florida played just one game during the week but it was a big one against their in-state rivals from Orlando. Mike Aviani, John McCarron and Matt Berry all lit the goal light as the Everblades edged the Solar Bears 3-2. Goalie Anthony Peters made 26 saves to post the win.
Next Up: Friday – South Carolina, Saturday – South Carolina
Atlanta Gladiators (2-2-1-1, 6 points)
The Gladiators have started off well, picking up points in four of its first six games. Atlanta spent the week in Allen, Texas and Toledo, Ohio where the Gladiators came away with three of a possible six points.
On Wednesday, Mike Koules paced the offense with a goal and an assist while Eric Neiley and Colin Jacobs netted a goal each in a 3-2 win over the defending Kelly Cup champions. Goalie Dan Vladar stopped 31 shots to earn the victory. On Friday, Thomas Frazee picked up the lone tally for the visitors and netminder Matt Ginn has 38 saves in the 3-1 victory by Allen.
The Gladiators finished the weekend in Toledo where Justin Buzzeo and Neiley each had a goal and an assist while Frazee picked up another tally but the host Walleye came away with a win in overtime.
Next Up: Thursday – at Wichita, Friday – at Orlando, Saturday – at Orlando
Greenville Swamp Rabbits (2-2-0-0, 4 points)
The Swamp Rabbits rebounded from a tough opening weekend in Florida to even their record with a pair of victories last week.
On Wednesday, Trevor Gerling and Brandon Alderson provided the offense with a goal each while goalie Brandon Halverson did the rest, making 27 saves in a 2-0 win over Norfolk.
On Saturday, the Swamp Rabbits visited their in-state rivals the South Carolina Stingrays and came away with a 4-3 overtime win. Allan McPherson had a goal and an assist while Alderson and Angelo Miceli lit the lamp in regulation before Joe Houk won the contest in the extra period.
Next Up: Friday – Wichita, Sunday – Wichita
Norfolk Admirals (1-4-0-0, 2 points)
Despite a slow start, the Admirals ended the week on an up note as the team picked up the first win for new head coach Rod Aldoff.
Goalie Connor Knapp was the lone bright spot on Wednesday night, making 28 saves in a 2-0 loss to Greenville. Two nights later, the Admirals traveled to Elmira where Mike Krieg and Mike Seidel each scored once but it was not enough as the host Jackals scored a 3-2 win.
On Saturday, Admirals goalie Eetu Laurikainen was spectacular, making 24 saves as Norfolk posted a 2-0 shutout victory over Elmira. Domenic Alberga and Maxime St. Cyr had the two scores for the Admirals.
Next Up: Friday – Toledo, Saturday – Toledo
Cincinnati Cyclones (1-3-0-0, 2 points)
The Cyclones managed to split a pair of games, losing early in the week to Toledo before coming up with an improbably victory over Wheeling.
Tuesday’s game against the Walleye was certainly not one that the coaching staff would want to rerun in the video room. Toledo controlled from start to finish, blanking the Cyclones 5-0.
On Saturday, Cincinnati was forced to cobble together a roster when a case of food poisioning among the Nashville Predators cause a flurry of callups from both AHL Milawukee and the Cyclones. Dominic Zombo scored the game winning-goal late in the third period and goalie Michael Houser made 39 saves to push Cincinnati to victory. Craig Dalrymple had the other goal for the Cyclones.
Next Up: Friday – at Manchester, Saturday – at Manchester, Sunday – at Manchester
South Carolina Stingrays (0-0-1-0, 1 point)
The Stingrays finally got their regular season underway by hosting Greenville but the Swamp Rabbits spoiled the party.
Danny New had a goal and an assist while John Parker and Joe Devin each scored once but it was not enough on this night. The Swamp Rabbits were able to eek out the 4-3 victory in overtime, leaving the Stingrays still looking for their first win.
Next Up: Tuesday – Wichita, Thursday – at Orlando, Friday – at Florida, Saturday – at Florida
Orlando Solar Bears (0-1-0-0, 0 points)
Like South Carolina, the Solar Bears got their season started later than the rest of the division, doing it against in-state rival Florida.
On an emotional night honoring the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting with rememberances and a $70,000 donation to a fund set up to help the victims, the Solar Bears looked to feed off the emotion. Rookie Nikolas Brouillard scored the game’s opening goal for Orlando but the Everblades answered back with three tallies of their own on the way to a 3-2 win for the visitors.T.J. Foster scored the other goal for the Solar Bears while rookie netminder Kasimir Kaskisuo made 34 saves in his first ever ECHL start.
Next Up: Thursday – South Carolina, Friday – Atlanta, Saturday – Atlanta
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