JOHNS ISLAND, SC—Last year at this time nine teams competed in the South Division of the ECHL’s American Conference. Today, five teams are skating in the division after the early season demise of the Augusta Lynx, the off season shutdowns of the Columbia Inferno, and Pensacola Ice Pilots and the sale and transformation of the Texas Wildcatters into the Ontario, (Ca) Reign.
The five remaining teams are all in solid markets and each team is competitive. The folding of the Lynx, causing the ECHL to rework the schedule will have an impact on what looks to be a tough season long race for the division’s four playoff spots.
Since there is so much intra division play for the remainder of the schedule and all teams are competitive when one playoff spot competitor loses, the points usually go to another team which is either a point or so ahead of your team or just behind them.
For example, South Carolina has no out of division opponents left on their schedule, while Mississippi and Gwinnett have only two games outside the South later in the season. So, almost every loss will mean that the points will go to a divisional playoff spot competitor. Thus, for fans it can be difficult to choose which team to root for in games not involving their own home team.
Currently, the Florida EverBlades have opened up a seven point lead going into the holiday break that began after games on December 21, 2008. Play in the ECHL resumes on December 26, 2008. Going into the last weekend of 2008 Florida has a healthy lead but otherwise only seven points separate the second through fifth place teams in the hunt for the playoffs. The race currently shapes up as follows:
Florida EverBlades (40 Points)
The EverBlades averaging 5,899 fans per game have amassed 40 points in 26 games and a record of 19-5-1-1. They have scored 110 goals this season to lead the league in this category and have won their last four games. Overall, in their last ten games they are 7-2-0-1 and except for dropping two straight games to South Carolina two weekends ago, they have won on a consistent basis.
Forward Kevin Baker, a former Texas Wildcatter, leads the team and the ECHL in scoring. He has 41 points on 22 goals and 19 assists. Eleven of his goals have come on power-plays. Yannik Tifu, in his third full ECHL season with 28 points including six goals and Ernie Hartlieb, also a third year pro, with 11 goals and 25 points round out the team’s top three scorers.
The Blades goaltending tandem of David Leggio and Anton Khudobin rank within the top ten in the ECHL in their goals against averages. Thus the team is thriving with strong offense and excellent goaltending. They face Gwinnett in a single game next Saturday and then play four straight games against the Charlotte Checkers as they move into the 2009 portion of the schedule.
South Carolina Stingrays (33 Points)
Averaging 4,632 fans per game, the Stingrays have played the fewest games in the division recording 33 points in 25 games and a record of 15-7-1-2. Defense and goal tending have been a reason for the good record to date with goaltenders Bobby Goepferth and Michal Neuvirth both having goals against averages (GAA) under 2.0 and ranking number one and two in the ECHL.
Accordingly, the Stingrays have allowed 56 goals, the lowest total in the league, and a low number even given the fewer number of games they have played. The team has had ten call-ups of players which has been somewhat disruptive especially over the past ten games.
During this stretch the team has managed five wins, four losses in regulation and a loss in a shootout. Second year player Travis Morin currently leads the team in scoring with 26 points on 8 goals and 20 assists. Rookies Michael Dubic and Maxime Lacroix are tied for the team lead in goals with ten each. Oddly enough the Stingrays have a lopsided winning record on the road of 10-2-0-1 and a losing record at home of 5-5-0-1.
South Carolina resumes play next Friday with a game at Gwinnett and then plays three straight at home against Mississippi. The Rays will need to continue their excellent defensive play in support of their goaltenders if they are to remain near the top of the division.
Charlotte Checkers (30 Points)
The Checkers are drawing 4,348 fans on average and reeled off three straight wins going into the holiday break. This streak moved them into third place in the division standings. They have played 28 games to date going 14-12-1-1. Mike Bayrack, a third year pro leads the Checkers in scoring. Newcomer Peter Tsimkalis, who came over after Columbia folded, has 19 points with 8 goals and rookie Matthew Ford is the team’s leading goal scorer with 12 goals while playing in just 12 games.
Jeff Jaikitis, (2.43 GAA) another Columbia Inferno player last year is sharing the goaltending duties with Maxime Daigneault (2.99 GAA). Each goalie has played about half of the scheduled games. While the Checkers struggled earlier in the season especially, against the Stingrays losing five straight games to South Carolina, recently, they appear to have hit their stride. They have won the last two meetings with South Carolina and accordingly are making a run for second place.
Next up they have four straight games against first place Florida which will help confirm if the Checkers have indeed come alive.
Mississippi Sea Wolves (29 Points)
The Sea Wolves have played 29 games this season with a record of 13-13-3-0. They have averaged 2,951 at gate in 19 home games in their second year back after the suspension of operations two years ago due to the massive Gulf Coast Hurricane. They have allowed 110 goals while scoring 88.
Goalie Ryan Munce has played in 18 games winning nine and losing eight while posting a GAA of 3.48. Rookie Ryan Cruthers leads the team in scoring with 35 points including 18 goals. He also leads all ECHL rookies in scoring. Mathieu Melanson, with 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points and Alexandre Parent, with 9 goals and 15 assists also with 24 points round out the list of leading scorers for the team.
The Sea Wolves are in the middle of a rough patch having lost five straight games including one loss in overtime. Four of the five losses came against Florida. They have an opportunity to recover ground however, as ten of their next eleven games come against teams above them in the division standings. This includes six matches with South Carolina, two with Florida and two with Charlotte. This stretch will allow Mississippi to gain some valuable ground if they can roll off some consecutive wins.
Gwinnett Gladiators (26 Points)
Gwinnett has lost three straight games and seven of their last ten games including one loss in a shootout. Still, their average attendance of 5,369 is good for fifth place in the ECHL. Historically a strong and winning franchise, the Gladiators have compiled a record of 11-12-0-4 in the 27 games they have played. They are the most penalized team in the South Division.
The Gladiators have two players among the top ten penalized players in the league in Daniel Sullivan with 106 minutes and Myles Stoesz with 92 penalty minutes. Veteran Jordan Fox, has 29 points including 12 goals to lead the Gladiators in scoring. Pat Bateman with 10 goals and 23 points along with veteran Brad Schell, 9 goals and 21 points are leading the team’s offense.
Schell has been a big contributor on power plays scoring six power play goals. Gwinnett acquired goal tender Josh Johnson in a trade earlier this year and he has responded by posting a 2.71 GAA and posting a record of 8-6-0-1. Kevin Nastiuk in his third ECHL season is 5-6-0-3 with a 3.01 GAA.
As mentioned above they do not play outside their division until March 21st so every game for them is an opportunity to create playoff momentum.
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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