TOSTI: SWAMP RABBITS COME UP JUST SHORT IN NORTH CHARLESTON 

Swamp Rabbits Come Up Just Short in North Charleston

Stingrays hang for 4-3 win despite late push from Greenville in the 3rd period.

BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

North Charleston, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (0-2-1-0) proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, traded shots with the South Carolina Stingrays (1-0-0-0) tonight but ultimately fell short in a 4-3 decision at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Swamp Rabbits could not spoil the Stingrays home opener for the second consecutive year, despite netting the opening goal in the game. One goal has been the difference in each of Greenville’s first three games.

BOX SCORE

Swamp Rabbits forward Joe Basaraba opened the scoring nine minutes into the game with a power play goal. Dawson Leedahl and Caleb Herbert connected with a pass from the corner and fed the fourth-year pro in the slot for a quick one-timer. Greenville would go 2-for-7 on the power play in the game.

Greenville held the lead for a little more than three minutes until the Stingrays capitalized on a power play of their own. Steven Whitney scored his first of two goals in the game on the man advantage of a cross-ice pass from Tim McGauley. Whitney’s second goal of the game in the second period proved to be the game-winner.

With time winding down in the first and the teams playing 4-on-4 the Stingrays would manage to take the lead before the break. Tommy Hughes walked in from the blue line and fired a shot from the right circle. The attempt tucked into the net with less than one second left in the period.

After the break, Andrew Cherniwchan and McGauley produced an unlikely goal. McGauley tossed a puck across from the left side of the net, clearing it over the Swamp Rabbits defenseman on the ice, and found his linemate at the top of the crease. Cherniwchan swatted the puck into the net before it could touch the ice to extend the lead.

Another penalty would cost the Stingrays as Allan McPherson fed Adam Chapie on a crisp, rink-wide pass. The second-year forward slammed the pass into the net to cut the lead in half. Chapie currently leads the Swamp Rabbits in scoring, with six points (2G, 4A) in the first three games.

Whitney’s second of the game regained the two-goal advantage for the Stingrays on a fluke bounce. Danny Federico shot the puck toward the net, and it bounced off a defenseman, ricocheting right to Whitney’s stick in the high slot. Hit shot at 12:14 of the second period would make the score 4-2 and hold until the intermission.

Greenville battled back and attempted to tie the game in the third. McPherson completed a two-point game, netting his second goal of the season on a quick pass from Branden Troock. The shot from the left side of the net tucked behind Jeff Jakaitis to bring Greenville within one goal. The Stingrays netminder would end the game with 28 saves and earn his first ECHL win since 2015.

Swamp Rabbits goaltender Ty Rimmer was forced to make a flurry of saves in the third period while the team attempted to tie the contest. The fifth-year netminder would end the game with 35 saves but ultimately take the loss in net.

Greenville is back in action on Tuesday night against the Adirondack Thunder as the team heads north for the first of three games.

BRICK-BY-BRICK NIGHT | Friday, November 3 | 7 p.m.
The Swamp Rabbits celebrate one of the top growing cities in the country! Get your hands on an exclusive Brick-by-Brick Night Jersey during a live post-game auction. Bon Secours Family Fun Packs are available with tickets, food, drinks, and Swamp Rabbits souvenirs for just $60.

OUTDOORS / SCOUT NIGHT | Saturday, November 4 | 7 p.m.
The annual Scout Night returns to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena to recognize the area’s Boy and Girl Scouts. Contact Stacey Wise at swise@swamprabbits.com or (864) 250-4864 to register your pack or troop for the game. To purchase select scout tickets, follow your respected link: Boy Scouts | Girl Scouts.

CLEAR BAG POLICY: The Bon Secours Wellness Arena will be implementing a clear bag policy for all events. Each ticketed guest will be permitted to carry one large clear bag, either a Ziploc style bag or a 12”x6”x12” clear bag, plus a small clutch purse (4.5”x6.5”). For more information on the policy, click here.

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