TOSTI: SWAMP RABBITS HOST BEAST FOR PAIR OF WILD GAMES  

TOSTI: Swamp Rabbits Host Beast for Pair of Wild Games 

Greenville continues at home tonight, looking to tame Brampton before the New Year.

BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

RABBITS TAILS

The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (15-12-2-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, and the Brampton Beast (13-11-1-2) meet tonight at 7 p.m. for just the second time in franchise history. The Swamp Rabbits are amid a five-game homestand at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and will host the Beast for the first time ever. The non-division contest is the start of a two-game mini-series to wrap up the 2017 calendar year. Greenville earned a point in their last game, falling 3-2 in the shootout against the South Carolina Stingrays. Brampton is looking to bounce back after dropping a 6-2 decision to the Wheeling Nailers, the clubs first loss in four games.
WELCOME TO GREENVILLE
The Swamp Rabbits host Brampton for the first time tonight and will play their 17th game at home this season. The Swamp Rabbits are 7-7-1-1 on home ice this year. Brampton has not left their home in Ontario too frequently to begin the season. The Beast is 4-4-0-2 in 10 games on the road this season. Greenville has compiled a 3-3-1-0 record against the North Division this season and 2-2-1-0 at home against non-divisional opponents.

ALIVE AFTER FIVE
Since the start of the season, Greenville has lost its top-five point producing forwards. Most recently Branden Troock became the Swamp Rabbits fourth call-up to the AHL. Joe Houk currently leads the club with 23 points (7G, 16A) and is among the top five scores among defensemen. Since Dec. 1, both Evan Jasper, Jack Nevins, and Joe Basaraba have taken hold of the opportunity, combining for 24 points (10G, 14A) in the last 11 games. The Swamp Rabbits are still ranked as one of the top offensive teams this season, averaging 3.67 goals per game.

CHRISTMAS GIFT EXCHANGE
Greenville acquired forward Joseph Widmar from the Fort Wayne Komets on Wednesday in exchange for future considerations. The rookie has played 11 games in Fort Wayne this season and recorded three assists. Coupled with his ECHL statistics, Widmar earned an additional nine points (3G, 6A) in 10 games with the Peoria Rivermen of the SPHL. Widmar turned pro this season after playing two seasons of NCAA Division-I hockey at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

NEW MAN ON THE LINE
The Beast hit the transaction wire this week, exchanging rookie forward Kevin Dufour for defenseman Jamie Doornbosch. The Scarborough, Ontario native has played in only 61 ECHL games but made his pro debut on Apr. 8, 2011 with the New York Islanders. Doornbosch’s NHL debut was short lived as the blueliner enrolled at Saint Mary’s University at the start of the 2011-12 season and would remain there for five years. Since signing with Wichita last season, the defenseman has earned three call-ups and logged 11 AHL games with Binghamton, Bakersfield, and Bellville in the last two seasons.

CARROT BITES

• Evan Jasper is Greenville’s top rookie with 20 points (8G, 12A) and ranks 14th among first-year players in the league.
• Greenville is 4-0-1-0 at home when trailing their opponent after the first period.
• The Swamp Rabbits are the only South Division team with more than 100 goals this season (110).
• The Beast is led by Brandon Marino with 26 points (9G, 17A) in 27 games.
• Brampton has a depleted lineup, with only 17 skaters and two goaltenders currently rostered. The Beast has rostered 40 different players this season.

THIRSTY THURSDAY | TONIGHT, December 28 | 7 p.m.
We are throwing ticket prices back TONIGHT for Thirsty Thursday presented by Harbor Inn. Grab two tickets for $20 and enjoy our Hoppy Hour specials including $3 domestic beer, and select $2 concessions from 5-8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased before the game through the Swamp Rabbits office or at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena box office.

YOUTH JERSEY GIVEAWAY | TOMORROW, December 29 | 7 p.m.
Be one of the first 1,000 kids 12 and under to enter the Well TOMORROW night and get a unique Swamp Rabbits youth jersey for free. Children must be present at the time of pick-up to receive a jersey. Friday is also your last chance to score a Goal “Horn-ament” while supplies last when you buy a Bon Secours Family Fun Pack.

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