(GREENVILLE, S.C.) – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and AHL’s Ontario Reign, announced today via a Swamp Rabbit Moving Transaction that the team has signed veteran defenseman Peter Tischke for the 2026-27 Season.

Tischke, the ninth player announced to the upcoming season’s roster, joins newcomers Blake Bennett, Trevor Janicke, and Cade McNelly, and returners Jake Murray, Jack Brackett, Josh Zary, Neil Shea, and Ryan O’Reilly.

Tischke joins the Swamp Rabbits after playing against the team as a South Division rival for the last three seasons, the most recent pair with the Jacksonville Icemen. The 6’1”, 216-pound blueliner suited up 53 times with the Icemen, logging 15 points (3g-12ast), and played an additional four games with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, earning an assist.

Of all the players announced thus far, Tischke is the first veteran classified player on the roster with more than 260 games recognized by the ECHL. Each team is allowed to carry four.

“As a division rival, I loved playing in Greenville and seeing how the fans supported the team. Over that time, I’ve had a chance to take in the community, and the city of Greenville is absolutely incredible. I talked with former teammates of mine and guys I know that have played here, and from ownership to the fans, and they rave about the organization being top notch. I haven’t been this excited to start a hockey season in a while, so I’m grateful I get to do so as a Swamp Rabbit in a few short months,” Tischke said of coming to the Upstate. “On the ice, I try my best every night to bring a stable, defensive minded game. I’m not going to be flashy, but I’ll be a reliable defenseman with a simple defensive objective and get the puck to the flashy players to create offense for our team.

“This season, our expectation has to be making the playoffs. The team we’re building here is strong, but we can’t get complacent with that,” Tischke concluded. “We need to show up each night and put in an effort the fans deserve to see. If we work hard in that respect, the results will come. Personally, I don’t want to stray from my game that’s gotten me this far. I won’t be someone I’m not: I’m going to stick to simple hockey, shut down the opponent’s top players, and be a great locker room guy. I can’t wait to meet the fans and get started.” 

“Peter is a massive get for our team, both as a human being and as a reliable defenseman in this league. Having him as a Swamp Rabbit makes us better in so many ways,” Chad Costello, Head Coach/GM of the Swamp Rabbits said of his first veteran signing. “Peter’s presence on the blue line is stalwart; he’s a net +21 in the South Division over the last three seasons and shuts down the opposition’s best scorers. Even more beyond the stat sheet, he has nearly 300 professional games and just shy of 100 in the AHL, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience. Lastly, he’s a leader and a phenomenal person who understands the value of the community and how to get the best out of his teammates. He will be a staple in a season where our expectations are sky high.”

From Hinsdale, IL, Tischke, 30, enters his eighth season of professional hockey, and his sixth in the ECHL ranks. As an AHLer, he has 82 games and 12 points to his credit with the Americans and Colorado Eagles, and supplements that experience with 202 ECHL contests, where he’s earned 53 points, a +33 rating, and 137 PIM with the Icemen, Savannah Ghost Pirates, Cincinnati Cyclones, and Utah Grizzlies. Before turning professional, Tischke played four NCAA college hockey campaigns with the University of Wisconsin and three USHL seasons with his home state Chicago Steel. As a Badger, he was named to the Big Ten Honorable Mention All-Star Team twice (2017, 2018), and earned the 2019 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

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About the Greenville Swamp Rabbits …
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 the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's LA Kings and the AHL's Ontario Reign. Greenville is a member of the ECHL, Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League.