GAME PREVIEW (1/1/2021): SWAMP RABBITS vs. STINGRAYS, 2:05 PM

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits will welcome the South Carolina Stingrays to Bon Secours Wellness Arena for a New Year’s Day showdown. Join us for Tailgate on the Terrace for pregame $3 craft beer specials, as well as $4 Bloody Mary’s.

Greenville Swamp Rabbits (2-3-0-1) vs. South Carolina Stingrays (3-0-2-0)

January 1, 2021 | 2:05 PM | Game #7 | Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Referees: J.R. Stragar (2)

Linesmen: Shane Gustafson (87), Ben Shiley (92)

ECHL STANDINGS

Promotion:

Tailgate on the Terrace – New Year, Cold Beer

Pregame $3 beers and $4 Bloody Mary’s

Ticket Information:

https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/2D005971BD99181D

Broadcast Information:

WATCH LIVE: https://www.flohockey.tv/

LISTEN LIVE: https://mixlr.com/swamp-rabbits

LAST TIME OUT:

John Lethemon recorded his first professional win with 30 saves, and Ben Finkelstein provided overtime heroics to lift Greenville to a 3-2 win over South Carolina last Sunday. Garrett Thompson opened the scoring at 5:29 of the second period after deflecting home a centering pass from Jack Sadek. The Upstate’s lead was short live, however, courtesy of Justin Florek going hard to the net on a semi-breakaway chance and scoring on the rebound. In the third period, Stingrays captain Andrew Cherniwchan put his team in front with a power play marker at 3:20, followed by a Bryan Moore equalizer at 8:10. The 2-2 draw after 60 minutes set the stage for Ben Finkelstein to score his second overtime winner of the season. Liam Pecararo cut to the net on a breakaway, and Finkelstein potted a loose rebound in the blue paint to give Greenville the victory.

HAPPY NEW YEAR:

The Greenville Swamp Rabbits will be in action on New Year’s Day for the first time since 2012, and the second time overall since relocating from Johnstown in 2010. Nine years ago, the Swamp Rabbits, then Road Warriors, kicked off 2012 on a high note with a 4-2 road victory over the Chicago Express. Current Swamp Rabbit Brendan Connolly tallied an assist at 12:38 of the second period.

DEJA VU:

Only 16 days after Ben Finkelstein’s memorable professional debut, the rookie nearly replicated his performance to peculiar perfection. On December 11, Finkelstein scored his first pro goal in the third period to draw Greenville even with South Carolina at 2-2. In overtime, Mike McNamee drove the net on a breakaway and Finkelstein cleaned up a loose puck in the blue paint. On December 27, overtime was again required after a 2-2 deadlock through 60 minutes in Charleston. This time, Liam Pecararo went to the net on a breakaway, and nearly identical from 16 days prior, Finkelstein buried a loose puck in the blue paint to win the game.  

LIAM LETS LOOSE:

Swamp Rabbits forward Liam Pecararo cracked the scoresheet for the first time this season with two helpers on Sunday. Last season, Pecararo led Greenville in goals (23) in his 39 game rookie season. In his career against the Stingrays, the Canton, Massachusetts native has four points, all assists , in eight games.   

CERTFIED G:

Garrett Thompson hit paydirt for the first time this season to open the game’s scoring on Sunday. Thompson’s tally marked the first time in six games Greenville salvaged the first goal of the game. Prior to Sunday, the last time Thompson scored a goal in an ECHL game was on March 24, 2018. The Traverse City, Michigan native scored a hat-trick for the Fort Wayne Komets in a 5-4 overtime win over Wichita. The forward’s career-high for most goals scored in a single season is 29, captured in 67 games with Fort Wayne in 2017-18.   

GREENVILLE NEWCOMERS:

On Tuesday, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced the additions of forward Jake Slaker and defenseman Luke Martin from the University of Michigan. Slaker, 24, registered 104 points (47 goals, 57 assists) in 143 career games with Michigan from 2016-2020. An alternate captain during his senior campaign, the San Diego, California native led his team in scoring with a career-best 14 goals and added 17 helpers in 2019-20. Martin, 22, armed the blueline at Michigan from 2016-2020 and served as an alternate captain in his 2019-20 senior season. The rugged 6-foot-3, 215-pound stay-at-home defenseman totaled 30 points (three goals, 27 assists) in 139 games with the Blue. The St. Louis, Missouri native was drafted in the 2nd round, 52nd overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2017 NHL Draft.

#RABBITSRISING#

SINGLE GAME TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!

Rise With Us and join us at Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the return of professional hockey in the United States! Single Game Tickets are available to purchase today here.

GEAR UP!

Get ready for the 2020–21 season by heading to our online store, the Hop Shop to purchase your brand new jerseys. On sale now!

ABOUT US

Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team have been providing family friendly, live entertainment at Bon Secours Wellness Arena since 2010. Formerly the Greenville Road Warriors, the Swamp Rabbits are the highest level professional minor league franchise in South Carolina. The Swamp Rabbits are proud affiliates of the NHL’s Florida Panthers and AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. Greenville is a member of the ECHL, Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League. Since the conclusion of the 2019-20 NHL Season, 678 former ECHL players have debuted in the NHL. Nine former Greenville Road Warriors/Swamp Rabbits have later made their NHL debut