TOSTI: SWAMP RABBITS WRAP UP WEEK AGAINST ADMIRALS 

TOSTI: Swamp Rabbits Wrap Up Week Against Admirals

Greenville hosts Norfolk to end three-in-three on home ice against only unfaced South Division opponent.

BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

RABBITS TAILS
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (17-14-2-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, take the ice this afternoon against the Norfolk Admirals (12-17-2-1) at 3 p.m. for the first time this season. Norfolk and Greenville will square off six times this year with only two meetings at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Greenville has been riding behind a high scoring offense this season led by Branden Troock and Evan Jasper. Troock has tallied 35 points (15G, 20A) in 31 games while Jasper is one of the league’s top rookies with 26 points (10G, 16A) in 29 contests. The Admirals are led by Brodie Dupont with 34 points (11G, 23A) while rookie Grant Besse has returned from an AHL call-up, bringing 27 points (13G, 14A) in 28 points back to the Norfolk lineup.

HISTORY OF BOUNCING BACK
The Swamp Rabbits have been shut out of a game only once before this season. After falling 3-0 to the Jacksonville Icemen, the Swamp Rabbits came back to score the first two goals against the South Carolina Stingrays the following night. Greenville earned a point in a shootout before winning two of the next three. This year, the Swamp Rabbits are 8-3-1-1 after a regulation loss.

PEAS IN A CREASE
The Swamp Rabbits netminders have shown poise in net. Brandon Halverson and Ty Rimmer have split the last eight starts. The pair has made 270 saves to earn a .928 save percentage and 2.63 goals against average. Halverson is fifth in the ECHL with 627 saves this season while Rimmer is tenth in the ECHL with 10 victories.

HISTORY WITH NORFOLK
Since Norfolk joined the ECHL, the Swamp Rabbits are 6-6-0-0 against the Admirals. Greenville goaltender Ty Rimmer skated for the Admirals and was 2-1-1-0 against Greenville in the 2015-16 season. The Swamp Rabbits held the head to head record last season against Norfolk with a 4-3-0-0 overall record. Greenville eventually made the postseason at the end of the 2016-17 campaign while the Admirals have been held to the bottom of their division in their first two ECHL seasons.

FAMILIAR FACES
Three skaters for Norfolk have played for Greenville in their pro careers. Admirals captain Brodie Dupont played two playoff games in 2017 for the Swamp Rabbits and earned an assist. Domenic Alberga suited up for 13 games before his rookie, netting three goals and adding an assist. The following year, he began the season in Greenville but was traded to the Fort Wayne Komets after collecting two points (1G,1A) in eight games. Thomas Frazee began the season with the Atlanta Gladiators, but in 2014-15 the forward skated in 13 games for Greenville. He made an impact on the team with 10 points (3G, 7A) in 13 games, earning a call-up to the Charlotte Checkers to end his tenure with the Swamp Rabbits.

CARROT BITES

• After today’s game, the Swamp Rabbits will have played every team in the South Division. Greenville is 11-8-1-1 against South Division teams this season.
• Norfolk has not lost in regulation since Dec. 16 and has pushed the last four games to overtime.
• The Admirals have rostered 43 different players this season.
• Greenville will play six of the next eight games on home ice while Norfolk plays 10 of their next 12 games away from home.

NURSES APPRECIATION NIGHT | TONIGHT, January 7 | 3:00 p.m.
As a thank you on Nurse’s Appreciation Night, all nurses get $3 off orange level tickets when you show your medical ID at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena Box Office. After the game, join the team on the ice for a free post-game skate (skate rentals available for $3). Don’t forget about our Bon Secours Family Fun Packs offer to get four tickets, four meals and a Swamp Rabbits souvenir for just $60!

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