Catching Up

Hey Road Warriors nation! It's Radio Ray checking in here on Sunday night, and I owe you all an apology. It has been nearly a month since my last entry and that's too long. It was not my intention when I started this blog to check in sporadically, but to use it as a regular medium to keep you informed and up-to-date on what is going on with your team. The truth of the matter is that starting up the season with six consecutive home games, and 12 of the team's first 15 games at home, has been more taxing on my time than I thought it would be. Take for example the last four days. As we prepared for the three-in-three against Florida there was much to do to get ready for the games. With coordinating interview requests from the media, helping to execute a school appearance, having multiple meetings on many different items, preparing all the game-day materials, and working the games, I was spending upwards of 14 hours at the BI-LO Center offices each day. Even on non-game days you can find me on the third floor for about 10 hours a day on average. It's no reason, though, to neglect the blog so now that I'm better settled into the routine I'll be posting more regularly. On with the entry:


THOUGHTS ON THE WEEKEND:
This was the best weekend that the Road Warriors have had in the early stages of this season. And that's not solely because the team won three straight over a divisional opponent. This was the best weekend for the Road Warriors because of progress. On Thursday we saw some disturbing trends from early in the season continue. Greenville built up a substantial lead with good play over the first two periods only to see its opponent battle back and nearly sent the game to overtime. On Friday the lead was built up big again with good play through the first two periods and most of the third. But the Warriors backed off, maybe lost focus, late in the third and allowed Florida to battle back to within three. A little bit better on Friday but still not all the way there. Finally on Saturday we saw Greenville put together a full 60-minute performance. A shorthanded goal in the first followed by a pair of second period goals and then solid defence and goaltending in the third to seal the win. I think this young team grew together a good deal over these three games and really learned how to put a full game together.

Nic Riopel is the real deal. The rookie goalie out of Beloiel, Quebec earned his first pro shutout in the win yesterday and is tied for the league lead with six wins. If Nic keeps playing this way and Dov Grumet-Morris finds his groove Greenville will undoubtedly have the best goaltending duo in the ECHL.

Scoring is a team effort. Greenville has more active players averaging a point per game or better than any other team in the ECHL. Six players are at that threshold which is very impressive. Look at the goal scoring leaders on the team for proof of how deep the talent is. The leading goal scorer, Brendan Connolly, centers the "third line" and in second is Julien Brouillette who is a defenceman. And I put third line in quotation marks because some teams could probably use the Road Warriors' third line as their top unit. If the balance stays consistent on this team it will be very dangerous all season.

Hockey fans in Greenville are great. I have been impressed by the energy and enthusiasm at the BI-LO Center so far this season. It's easy to tall that hockey fans in the Upstate are glad to have a hockey team back and that they're very into this Road Warriors team. It's a lot of fun to be in the building with a loud, energetic crowd that enjoys cheering for its home team. I've got to give props to the folks up in The War Room, too. You guys have some great chants and cheers, and I love that you ask how much time is left in the period each period around the 1:00 mark. I'm really looking forward to enjoying the rest of the season with all of you.

The win streak. Yes the Road Warriors have won six in a row on home ice and lead the league with seven home wins on the season. However, I urge you all to talk about it as little as possible. I've seen the broadcaster jinx happen too many times before so let's all do our part to help the streak continue by not talking about it. It's the same reason you don't say the word shutout until it actually happens.

Looking back the only thing I would change about this weekend, if I could, would be the second half of the Penn State - Ohio State football game. It was exciting with PSU leading 14-3 at halftime but things went south quickly. Oh well, I guess you can't always have everything you want. With that being the case, I'll gladly take three straight Road Warriors wins any day,

I'm going to get gone and watch the second half of the Steelers - Patriots game here and hope my hometown team (the black and gold) can come back and pull out a win. Check back later this week for a recap of Tuesday's game against the South Carolina Stingrays and a preview of this weekend's games against Wheeling and Gwinnett.

Radio Ray out.