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GREENVILLE, SC -  The Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced today that the club had signed defenseman Dan Willett to an ECHL contract ahead of the 2022-23 season. Willett, 26, travels west on Interstate 26 to his new home in Greenville after a brief stint with the South Carolina Stingrays at the end of the 2021-22 season. In his six appearances, the Glen Cove, NY native garnered attention after posting a pair of assists for the Charleston-based club. Before turning pro, the 5'7", 181-pounder recorded 166 games for the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers over a five-year tenure. Captaining the Tigers in his final collegiate season, Willett posted 88 points (14g, 74a) during his collegiate career. In his last two seasons, he led all RIT defensemen in scoring, combining for 36 points (9g, 27a). An alumnus of the United States' Tier I junior league, the USHL, Willett spent five seasons in junior hockey, recording appearances with the Lincoln Stars, the Muskegon Lumberjacks, the Madison Capitals, and finished his pre-collegiate development with the Bloomington Thunder. The Swamp Rabbits open the 2022-23 season, presented by Bon Secours, on Saturday, October 22 at 7:05 p.m. as they take on the newest team in the ECHL, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Single Game Tickets for the 2022-23 season are now on sale by calling (864)-674-7825 or visiting SwampRabbits.com. About the Greenville Swamp Rabbits … Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has provided 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. Additionally, Greenville is an ECHL, Premier 'AA' Hockey League member. GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS HOME Read the full article

BY: Mark Shelley, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC -  The Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced today that the club had re-signed forward Ethan Somoza ahead of the 2022-23 season. Somoza, 26, re-signs with Greenville after rocketing himself into professional hockey by tallying 13 points (2g, 11a) in 11 games for the Swamp Rabbits in the closing stages of the 2021-22 season. In his first seven games for Greenville, the Simi Valley, CA native recorded five multi-point nights and at least a point in each of those seven games. Before turning pro in March of 2022, Somoza captained the Bemidji State Beavers in back-to-back seasons and concluded his collegiate career with his best performance for the Beavers, posting 22 points (10g, 12a) in 38 games. Before his collegiate career, Somoza played two seasons in the USHL with the Bloomington Thunder after two seasons with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the NAHL, who he would help lift the Robertson Cup in 2014. The Swamp Rabbits open the 2022-23 season, presented by Bon Secours, on Saturday, October 22 at 7:05 p.m. as they take on the newest team in the ECHL, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Single Game Tickets for the select "Big 5" promotional games are now on sale by calling (864)-674-7825 or visiting SwampRabbits.com. About the Greenville Swamp Rabbits … Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has provided 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. Greenville is an ECHL, Premier 'AA' Hockey League member. GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS HOME Read the full article

Mariners add to the blue line, trading for Matt Nuttle BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners PORTLAND, ME – February 20, 2020 – The Mariners made a trade with the South Carolina Stingrays on Thursday, acquiring defenseman Matt Nuttle, completing a future consideration deal from September. Nuttle, 24, is in his rookie campaign, having appeared in 32 games for the Stingrays this season after an initial stint of two games at the end of 2018-19. He has one goal and six assists with 32 penalty minutes. Nuttle, who is a native of East Aurora, NY, played college hockey at Cornell University from 2015-19, where he was named ECAC “Best Defensive Defenseman” as a senior and was also on the ECAC All-Tournament Team. Prior to college, Nuttle played juniors in the NAHL with the Wenatchee Wild, and later the USHL’s Bloomington Thunder and Sioux Falls Stampede – where he won a Clark Cup in 2014-15. This trade completes the September 10th transaction that sent defenseman Jordan Klimek to the Stingrays. The Mariners have one more stop on their five-game road trip – Saturday night in Glens Falls against the Adirondack Thunder at 7 PM. They return to the Cross Insurance Arena on Sunday for “Miracle Night,” celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice against Newfoundland at 3 PM. The Mariners will be wearing Team USA inspired jerseys, which are currently up for auction on the Handbid App. There will also be a postgame screening of the Disney movie, Miracle (2004) on the video board. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. All Saturday and Sunday home games feature the Family Four Pack – four tickets, four food and drink vouchers, and four Mariners beverage koozies, starting at $80, and must be purchased in advance. Read the full article

Tosti heads to the AHL after two seasons in Greenville BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE,  S.C. –The Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced that Director of Media Relations / Broadcaster, Brian Tosti, has accepted a position with the AHL’s Texas Stars as club’s Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations. “The last two years in Greenville have been incredible. Being part of this organization and community was an absolute thrill,” said Tosti. “I want to thank everyone from the Swamp Rabbits in the last two years, especially Fred Festa, Chris Lewis, and Brian Gratz for believing in me and bringing me to the Upstate. I wouldn’t have this great opportunity with the Texas Stars without the experience I gained in Greenville.” Last season, Tosti earned recognition from the ECHL for his work and was named a finalist for the league’s 2018 Broadcaster of the Year award. In addition to serving as the voice of the organization, he also generated print and audio content while serving as the team’s liaison to the ECHL’s media department. He took on additional responsibilities which included managing the Swamp Rabbits website, collaborating on social media campaigns and content, generating sales of corporate partners and season tickets, and managing the club’s email marketing campaigns. Tosti’s work and accolades included selections to cover the 2016 NHL Draft as well as the 2015 & 2016 USHL Phase I Draft shows. His work on the 2015 USHL Draft show also earned a nomination at the Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards. Before joining the Swamp Rabbits, the Clifton Park, New York native manned the mic for the Bloomington Thunder in the USHL and began his career in 2013 as a member of the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs broadcast team. Tosti graduated from the State University of New York, at Oswego in 2013 with a BA in Broadcasting and Mass Communication. Tosti becomes the third broadcaster in the organization’s history to earn a position in the AHL. He will join former Greenville broadcasters Andy Zilch (San Diego Gulls) and Alan Fuehring (Bridgeport Sound Tigers) at the ‘AAA’ level this season. The Swamp Rabbits will announce the club’s replacement for the role of Director of Media Relations and Broadcaster tomorrow afternoon. Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages. Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864-674-PUCK (7825) for information on 2018-19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and to secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at SwampRabbits.com/shop to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

ECHL Athletic Trainer of the Year joins AHL club while Swamp Rabbits add a pair to hockey operations staff. BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced that Matt Aiello, the team’s athletic trainer, has accepted a position in the American Hockey League with the Hartford Wolf Pack. The Swamp Rabbits are also pleased to announce the filling of both the equipment manager and athletic trainer vacancies. Brian Riedel has accepted the role of Head Athletic Trainer while Shawn Thorns will join the team as Head Equipment Manager. Aiello, 29, enters his first AHL season after spending the past two years in Greenville. This past season he took home both ECHL honors for Athletic Trainers including an All-Star Classic selection and the 2018 Athletic Trainer of the Year. Aiello has worked more than 450 games behind the bench and was the first Greenville trainer to garner the Athletic Trainer of the Year award. The Cary, Illinois native has over seven years of experience in the field since earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Illinois State University. Aiello began his career in the Central Hockey League with the Bloomington Prairie Thunder. Over the next five seasons, he held the Athletic Trainer position for the CHL’s Bloomington Blaze, SPHL’s Bloomington Thunder, and USHL’s Bloomington Thunder. Riedel, 24, has spent the last year with the Peoria Rivermen as the Head Athletic Trainer. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in May 2017, he accepted his position with the Rivermen and became the club’s second trainer in the SPHL era. In college, Riedel worked closely with the Pointers men’s hockey team. The Sun Prairie, Wisconsin native is also an authorized official in the USA Hockey program. Thorns, 22, held the Head Equipment Manager position with the SPHL’s Macon Mayhem during the 2017-18 season. He was also an assistant equipment manager for four seasons with the South Carolina Stingrays from 2013 to 2017. The Charleston, South Carolina native grew up around the game of hockey, playing as a goaltender and also spending time as an assistant coach of the Wando High School hockey team. Read the full article

Swamp Rabbits medical trainer recognized with league award after second season in the Upstate BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, in conjunction with the ECHL, have announced that Matt Aiello has been selected as the recipient of the 2017-18 ECHL Athletic Trainer of the Year Award, presented by CCM. Aiello takes home both honors for athletic trainers in the ECHL this season after earning a trip to the 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic in January. The winner of the award was determined through a vote of the league’s equipment managers and athletic trainers. Aiello wrapped up his second season with the Swamp Rabbits after being nominated to represent the league in Indianapolis at the annual All-Star Classic. It was the first time that a Greenville athletic trainer has won the award and just the second time a member of the Swamp Rabbits staff has earned an ECHL honor (Ryan Martin – 2011-12 Equipment Manager of the Year). The Cary, Illinois native has over seven years of experience in the field since earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Illinois State University. Aiello began his career in the Central Hockey League with the Bloomington Prairie Thunder. Over the next five seasons, he held the athletic trainer position for the CHL’s Bloomington Blaze, Southern Professional Hockey League’s Bloomington Thunder and United States Hockey League’s Bloomington Thunder. Aiello becomes the 11th winner of the award since its creation in 2008. He is also the fifth trainer to win the award after only two seasons in the ECHL. This season, Aiello worked his 450th career game behind the bench. ECHL Athletic Trainer of the Year 2017-18           Matt Aiello, Greenville Swamp Rabbits 2016-17             Cole Libby, Utah Grizzlies 2015-16             Scott McLay, Alaska Aces 2014-15             Brad Fredrick, Toledo Walleye 2013-14             Steve Ruhmel, Florida Everblades 2012-13             Bob Case, Cincinnati Cyclones 2011-12             Mike Schroeder, Chicago Express 2010-11             Kevin Anderson, Stockton Thunder 2009-10           Bobby Walls, Ontario Reign 2008-09           Bryan Rodgers, Dayton Bombers 2007-08           Brian Grogesky, Reading Royals Read the full article