TOSTI: SWAMP RABBITS TAKE FIRST TRIP TO GEORGIA 

Tosti: Swamp Rabbits Take First Trip to Georgia

Greenville and Atlanta square off for the second of 11 games this season. Tonight is also the 100th game between the Swamp Rabbits and Gladiators in franchise history.

BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

RABBITS TAILS
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (12-9-2-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, travel to Duluth, Georgia tonight for the first time this season. The club takes the ice at the Infinite Energy Arena at 7:35 p.m. against the Atlanta Gladiators (12-8-1-1). Greenville topped its I-85 rival on Nov. 15 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, the only meeting between the clubs this season. The Swamp Rabbits are ready to turn the page after a three-game set with the South Carolina Stingrays while the Gladiators seek a third straight victory in divisional play.

HAPPY AT HOME
Just over a minute into the game last night, Branden Troock recorded his 11^th goal of the season. The fourth-year pro has scored ten of his goals on home ice and has recorded seven goals in Greenville’s last six games at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Troock is tied for fifth in the ECHL with 25 points (11G, 14A) and ranks third among Swamp Rabbits skaters. Last night was the Edmonton, Alberta native’s 50^th career ECHL game as he notched his 41^st point (21G, 20A) to open the scoring.

PERSONAL BEST
Swamp Rabbits winger Jack Nevins is on the longest point streak of his professional career after netting a goal last night. The Stittsville, Ontario native has earned a point in each of the last four games and scored three goals in that stretch. Nevins has recorded nine points (3G, 6A) and leads Greenville with 89 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound forward is fourth in the ECHL in penalty minutes. The third-year pro has tallied 33 points (14G, 19A) in 84 career ECHL games.

WITHOUT THE TOP MEN
Last game, both the Gladiators and Swamp Rabbits were without their top scorers this season. Greenville has missed Caleb Herbert in the lineup for two games, while Atlanta recently lost its top point-producer, Phil Lane, to an AHL call-up. Herbert has led the ECHL and is the reigning ECHL Player of the Month with 33 points (15G, 18A) but has been on the shelf with an injury. Lane signed a professional tryout with the Milwaukee Admirals on Tuesday and has since played one game in the AHL. Lane led the scoring effort for Atlanta this season, with 20 points (12G, 8A) in 21 games. Without the sixth-year pro, the Gladiators narrowly escaped with a 2-1 win over Jacksonville on Wednesday night on a late third-period goal.

99 GAMES IN THE BOOKS WITH THE GLADS
Tonight is the 100^th game between the Swamp Rabbits and Gladiators in franchise history and the second of 11 games between the teams this year. Since Greenville relocated from Johnstown in 2010, the South Carolina based team has earned a 57-34-8 record against its rival from the South had its best success against Atlanta in the 2014-15 season. The team achieved a 9-2-0-0 record against the Glads that season. The Swamp Rabbits have not finished a campaign against Atlanta with a sub-500 record in seven straight seasons. This season’s 11 scheduled games ties 2014-15 for the least between the clubs in a single year.

CARROT BITES

• Greenville has been limited to two goals or less only six times this season. Five of those six outings have come in the last eight games.
• Three of the top six scorers in the ECHL skate for the Swamp Rabbits (Caleb Herbert, Allan McPherson, and Branden Troock).
• Atlanta has played the last eight of nine games at home while Greenville has been on the road for six of the last ten contests.
• Former Swamp Rabbits forward Lindsay Sparks leads the Gladiators with 15 assists.
• Gladiators’ owner, Steve Chapman was announced as a member of the 2018 ECHL Hall of Fame Class. Chapman has been involved in the ECHL since 1992 and helped bring hockey to Gwinnett County in 2003.
• Brady Vail has adjusted well since being traded to Atlanta. The forward enters tonight’s game with a six-game point streak (4G, 3A).

THIRSTY THURSDAY | Thursday, December 14 | 7 p.m.
We are throwing ticket prices back for Thirsty Thursday presented by Harbor Inn. Grab two tickets for $20 and enjoy our Hoppy Hour specials including $3 domestic beer from 5-8 p.m.

TEDDY BEAR TOSS | Friday, December 15 | 7:30 p.m.
The Swamp Rabbits eighth annual Teddy Bear Toss presented by Bon Secours is sure to bring some holiday cheer! Bring new stuffed animals to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena that night to donate to Toys for Tots. After the Swamp Rabbits score their first goal of the game, throw them out onto the ice to be collected. For tickets and info on the annual Teddy Bear Toss,  visit us on the web at SwampRabbits.com.

WINTER WONDERLAND PACKAGE
The Swamp Rabbits are offering a Winter Wonderland experience! Get your four tickets for the team’s Dec. 23 game, four passes to Ice on Main, and a Dave and Buster’s gaming package, a $140 value for only $65! The package is ONLY available for purchase through the Swamp Rabbits office at (864) 674-PUCK or online at SwampRabbits.com.

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