GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors‘ inaugural season in the ECHL came to an end on Wednesday, April 27 in overtime of Game Seven against the Wheeling Nailers. The Eastern Conference semifinal series was the 22nd series in the history of the ECHL to go seven games.
Kelly Cup Playoffs Record: 6-5-0
Regular Season Record: 46-22-4, 96 pts., 1st place South Division
Kelly Cup Playoffs Leaders:
Goals –Brendan Connolly: 7
Assists – Justin Bowers: 12
Points – Justin Bowers: 13
+/- – Brad Cole: +6
PIMs – T.J. Reynolds: 43
PPG –Brandon Wong/Brendan Connolly: 2
SHG – None
Wins – Nic Riopel: 4
GAA – Chris Beckford-Tseu: 1.59
SVP – Chris Beckford-Tseu: .920
Regular Season Leaders:
Goals –Marc-Olivier Vallerand: 28
Assists – Jimmy Kilpatrick: 44
Points – Jimmy Kilpatrick: 63
+/- – Brendan Connolly: +28
PIMs – T.J. Reynolds: 206
PPG – Jimmy Kilpatrick: 12
SHG – Marc-Olivier Vallerand: 4
Wins – Nic Riopel: 24
GAA – Dov Grumet-Morris: 2.32
SVP – Dov Grumet-Morris: .922
Dates to Remember This Summer:
ECHL Board of Governors Meeting – June 20, 2011 in Las Vegas
Teams’ Protected Lists submitted – June 1, 2011
Teams’ Season-Ending Rosters submitted – June 15, 2011
Teams’ Qualifying Offers submitted – July 1, 2011
Training Camps Open – September 30, 2011
Recapping the Final Week:
4/26 vs. Wheeling: W 6-3
The Road Warriors used the same pattern as in Game Four and came away with the victory that forced Game Seven. A three-goal first period, which included two power play goals, allowed Greenville to build a lead it would not relinquish. Andrew Carroll (4:56) and Andrew Rowe (12:25) registered the power play scores while Brendan Connolly potted his first of the night at even strength 6:32 into the game. That goal chased Wheeling starter Peter Delmas and left Patrick Killeen to finish the game. Connolly touched him up for a goal in the second, but a pair of goals by Doug Rogers 29 seconds apart left Wheeling down by two heading into the third. There the Road Warriors picked up scores by Chris McKelvie and Marc-Olivier Vallerand to keep their distance from Wheeling despite Dan Henningson’s tally at 16:07. Nic Riopel won his fourth game of the playoffs with 27 saves.
4/27 vs. Wheeling: OTL 3-4
The Road Warriors were twice able to stave off elimination in the series, but the third time proved to be the charm for Wheeling as the Nailers claimed their third overtime win of the playoffs. A power play goal by Joey Haddad at 12:31 of the first gave Wheeling a 1-0 lead for the first time in four games. Greenville erased the advantage with a reply from Marc-Olivier Vallerand with 2:54 to play in the first. Haddad chipped in his second of the night 5:51 into the second which was followed by Paul Crowder at 7:26 as Wheeling took a 3-1 lead. Brendan Connolly’s centering pass was tipped in by Andrew Rowe at 16:27 of the second and pulled Greenville within one. Despite multiple efforts to tie the score earlier in the frame, Greenville saw the time whittle down to 2:15 remaining in the game before the Road Warriors were awarded a power play. With just 23 seconds left in regulation, Connolly hammered a slap shot past Peter Delmas to send the game to overtime. In the extra session, Haddad pounced on a loose puck and created a 2-on-1 with Chris Kushneriuk who slipped the winning shot past Nic Riopel at 8:23 of overtime.
Quick Hits:
· The Road Warriors and Nailers Eastern Conference semifinal series was the only second round series that did not end in a sweep. It was the 22nd Game Seven in the history of the ECHL.
· Road Warriors were just the second team in the history of the ECHL to win the regular season conference title. The other team to accomplish the feat was San Diego in the 2003-04 season.
· Greenville forward Jimmy Kilpatrick set career highs during the 2010-11 season in games played (64), assists (44), and points (63).
· The Road Warriors’ 46 wins during the regular season were the most in the history of the organization including the 22 years it operated at the Johnstown Chiefs. The previous high was 45 in 2003-04. The Road Warriors’ 96 points were one shy of the 97 from the 2003-04 Chiefs.
· Road Warriors goalie Nic Riopel had more wins, 24, than any rookie goalie in the ECHL and finished fourth among all goaltenders in that category.
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
Top picks
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
WOLF PACK TAKE ON CHARLOTTE CHECKERS IN FIRST ROUND
All Three Games to Take Place in North Carolina By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT—The Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers will face off in an Atlantic Division first-round series to kick off the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Due to the distance traveled,…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
WOLF PACK TAKE ON CHARLOTTE CHECKERS IN FIRST ROUND
All Three Games to Take Place in North Carolina By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT—The Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers will face off in an Atlantic Division first-round series to kick off the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Due to the distance traveled,…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
ANDREW LORD NAMED ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR
Fourth-year bench boss becomes first in both franchise and Greenville hockey history to receive recognition By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The ECHL announced today that Andrew Lord, Head Coach/General Manager of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, a proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los…
SWAMP RABBITS ANNOUNCE 2024 KELLY CUP PLAYOFF ROSTER
23 players begin the quest to hoist Patrick Kelly’s Cup in the Upstate By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoff Roster with the ECHL. Earlier…
SWAMP RABBITS AND LA KINGS EXTEND AFFILIATION
Los Angeles’ pipeline will continue to start in the Upstate through 2026 By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, 2024 South Division Champions, announced today that the organization is proud to continue its affiliation with the NHL’s Los Angeles…