2022–23 SPHL season
LeagueSouthern Professional Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 20, 2022 – April 8, 2023
Number of games56
Number of teams11
Regular season
William B. Coffey TrophyPeoria Rivermen
Season MVPJustin MacDonald (Knoxville)
Top scorerJustin MacDonald (Knoxville)
Playoffs
Finals championsRoanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
  Finals runners-upBirmingham Bulls
Playoffs MVPAustyn Roudebush (Roanoke)

The 2022–23 SPHL season was the 19th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The Peoria Rivermen won their fifth William B. Coffey Trophy during the regular season, while the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs earned their first President's Cup, defeating the Birmingham Bulls in four games.

League business

The same 11 teams from the 2021–22 season returned.[1] The Vermilion County Bobcats officially ceased operations on February 9, 2023.[2]

Regular season

Standings

As of April 8, 2023.[3]

TeamGPWLOTLSOLPts GFGA
z–Peoria Rivermen5739143182217137
x–Birmingham Bulls5737162278217162
x–Huntsville Havoc5634192171197162
x–Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs5632193269185161
x–Evansville Thunderbolts5632222066172165
x–Knoxville Ice Bears5732221267221199
x–Fayetteville Marksmen5626228060155166
x–Pensacola Ice Flyers5726253358183190
e–Quad City Storm5723321148136183
e–Macon Mayhem5713394131166257
e–Vermilion County Bobcats30424201059126

 z–  indicates team has clinched William B. Coffey Trophy (regular season champion) and a playoff spot
 x–  indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
 e–  indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention

Statistical leaders

Leading skaters

The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Updated as of April 10, 2023.[4]

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Justin MacDonald Knoxville Ice Bears 46344579+644
Garrett Milan Pensacola Ice Flyers 57264369−1283
Dean Balsamo Knoxville Ice Bears 49273966−716
Sy Nutkevitch Huntsville Havoc 56184563+1016
Alec Hagaman Peoria Rivermen 53243761+20202
Tyler Piacentini Huntsville Havoc 56223961+1226
Michael Gillespie Birmingham Bulls 38273360+2418
Rob Darrar Huntsville Havoc 55233356+431
Nick Ford Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 56163854−276
Ivan Bondarenko Pensacola Ice Flyers 57153954−315

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders with a minimum 1,320 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Updated as of April 10, 2023.[5]

GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes); SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout loss

Player Team GPTOISAGASOGAASV%WLOT
Trevor GorsuchEvansville Thunderbolts 231,3527935122.26.9361580
Eric LevinePeoria Rivermen 341,7718046852.30.9151784
Austyn RoudebushRoanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 422,3131,0369722.52.90624124
Kevin ResopQuad City Storm 402,1451,1399632.69.91614221
Austin LotzBirmingham Bulls 331,9799859012.73.9092472

Postseason

For 2023, the format returned to the top eight teams at the end of the regular season qualifying for the playoffs.[6]

Playoff bracket

Quarterfinals Semifinals President's Cup Final
         
1 Peoria 2
8 Pensacola 0
1 Peoria 1
4 Roanoke 2
2 Birmingham 2
7 Fayetteville 1
2 Birmingham 1
(Pairings are reseeded after the first round)
4 Roanoke 3
3 Huntsville 2
6 Knoxville 0
2 Birmingham 2
3 Huntsville 1
4 Roanoke 2
5 Evansville 0

Quarterfinals

(1) Peoria Rivermen vs. (8) Pensacola Ice Flyers

April 13, 2023 Peoria Rivermen 3 - 2 Pensacola Ice Flyers Pensacola Bay Center Recap  
11:13 - Joseph Widmar (1)
18:21 - pp - Alec Baer (1)
First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
16:00 - Alec Hagaman (1) Third period Garrett Milan (1) - pp - 10:09
Jason Price (1) - 15:49
Jack Berry (23 saves / 25 shots) Goalie stats Brad Arvanitis (31 saves / 34 shots)
April 15, 2023 Pensacola Ice Flyers 1 - 2 Peoria Rivermen Carver Arena Recap  
No scoring First period Alec Hagaman (2) - 11:11
18:04 - Malik Johnson (1) Second period Jordan Ernst (1) - 19:12
No scoring Third period No scoring
Brad Arvanitis (27 saves / 29 shots) Goalie stats Jack Berry (18 saves / 19 shots)
Peoria won series 2–0

(2) Birmingham Bulls vs. (7) Fayetteville Marksmen

April 13, 2023 Birmingham Bulls 2 - 3 OT Fayetteville Marksmen Crown Coliseum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
11:16 - Scott Donahue (1)
17:36 - pp - Michael Gillespie (1)
Third period Matt McNair (1) - 9:59
Matt McNair (2) - pp - 10:59
No scoring First overtime period 2:37 - Carson Vance (1)
Austin Lotz (16 saves / 19 shots) Goalie stats Jason Pawloski (24 saves / 26 shots)
April 15, 2023 Fayetteville Marksmen 2 - 4 Birmingham Bulls Pelham Civic Center Recap  
13:32 - pp - Austin Alger (1) First period Ryan Romeo (1) - 10:25
16:36 - pp - Andrew Lane (1) Second period Carson Rose (1) - pp - 0:50
Mike Davis (1) - pp - 11:41
no scoring Third period Stefan Brucato (1) - 18:50
Jason Pawloski (24 saves / 27 shots) Goalie stats Hayden Stewart (27 saves / 29 shots)
April 16, 2023 Fayetteville Marksmen 0 - 2 Birmingham Bulls Pelham Civic Center Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period Jake Pappalardo (1) - 15:51
No scoring Third period Jake Pappalardo (2) - 15:12
Jason Pawloski (28 saves / 30 shots) Goalie stats Hayden Stewart (30 saves / 30 shots)
Birmingham won series 2-1

(3) Huntsville Havoc vs. (6) Knoxville Ice Bears

April 13, 2023 Knoxville Ice Bears 1 - 5 Huntsville Havoc Propst Arena Recap  
6:59 - Robbie Fisher (1) First period Dean Balsamo (1) - pp - 3:39
No scoring Second period Austin Martinsen (1) - pp - 8:10
Austin Martinsen (2) - sh - 10:25
Sam Hunter (1) - 13:31
Mason Palmer - 19:23
No scoring Third period No scoring
Kristian Stead (37 saves / 42 shots) Goalie stats Max Milosek (20 saves / 21 shots)
April 14, 2023 Huntsville Havoc 3 - 2 Knoxville Ice Bears Knoxville Civic Coliseum Recap  
2:21 - Rob Darrar (1) First period No scoring
No scoring Second period Tanner Salsberry (1) - 12:38
Rasmuz Waxin-Engback (1) - 17:25
6:51 - Austin Martinsen (3)
14:27 - Robbie Fisher (2)
Third period No scoring
Max Milosek (25 saves / 27 shots) Goalie stats Kristian Stead (15 saves / 18 shots)
Huntsville won series 2-0

(4) Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs. (5) Evansville Thunderbolts

April 13, 2023 Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 4 - 2 Evansville Thunderbolts Ford Center Recap  
19:56 - Gehrett Sargis (1) First period No scoring
3:55 - Gehrett Sargis (2)
14:57 - CJ Stubbs
Second period Pierre-Luc Lurette (1) - 12:56
17:25 - Jordan Xavier (1) Third period Matt Dorsey (1) - 13:46
Austyn Roudebush (21 saves / 23 shots) Goalie stats Lucas Fitzpatrick (23 saves / 27 shots)
April 15, 2023 Evansville Thunderbolts 0 - 4 Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs Berglund Center Recap  
No scoring First period Gehrett Sargis (3) - 17:39
No scoring Second period Matt O'Dea (1) - pp - 3:48
Billy Vizzo (1) - 15:57
No scoring Third period Alex DiCarlo (1) - 10:02
Lucas Fitzpatrick (28 saves / 32 shots)
Zane Steeves (7 saves / 7 shots)
Goalie stats Austyn Roudebush (32 saves / 32 shots)
Roanoke won series 2–0

Semifinals

(1) Peoria Rivermen vs. (4) Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs

April 19, 2023 Peoria Rivermen 2 - 3 Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs Berglund Center Recap  
7:32 - sh - Alec Hagaman (3)
14:05 - pp - Marcel Godbout (1)
First period Nick Ford - pp - 14:05
No scoring Second period Jason Lavallee - pp - 9:48
Josh Nenadal (1) - 11:29
No scoring Third period No scoring
Jack Berry (19 saves / 22 shots) Goalie stats Austyn Roudebush (32 saves / 34 shots)
April 21, 2023 Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 3 - 5 Peoria Rivermen Peoria Civic Center Recap  
8:43 - sh - Nick DeVito First period Mitchell McPherson (1) - pp - 7:18
Mike Gelatt (1) - 7:49
Marcel Godbout (2) - 18:52
3:53 - Nick DeVito (2) Second period Alec Baer (2) - pp - 3:30
Jordan Ernst (2) - 11:34
0:17 - Nick DeVito (3) Third period No scoring
Austyn Roudebush (28 saves / 32 shots) Goalie stats Jack Berry (21 saves / 24 shots)
April 23, 2023 Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 5 - 3 Peoria Rivermen Peoria Civic Center Recap  
0:15 - Josh Nenadal (2)
12:39 - Gehrett Sargis (4)
15:39 - Gehrett Sargis (5)
First period No scoring
14:35 - Nick DeVito (4) Second period Austin Wisely (1) - 14:11
19:34 - en - Nick DeVito (5) Third period Alec Baer (3) - pp - 0:20
Nick Neville (1) - 15:37
Austyn Roudebush (37 saves / 40 shots) Goalie stats Jack Berry (9 saves / 12 shots)
Eric Levine (7 saves / 8 shots)
Roanoke won series 2-1

(2) Birmingham Bulls vs. (3) Huntsville Havoc

April 21, 2023 Huntsville Havoc 2 - 3 OT Birmingham Bulls Pelham Civic Center Recap  
19:20 - Rob Darrar (2) First period No scoring
13:01 - Jacob Barber (1) Second period Carson Rose (2) - 5:58
No scoring Third period Jake Pappalardo (3) - 10:27
No scoring First overtime period Carson Rose (3) - 2:21
Max Milosek (42 saves / 45 shots) Goalie stats Austin Lotz (14 saves / 16 shots)
April 22, 2023 Birmingham Bulls 2 - 3 OT Huntsville Havoc Propst Arena Recap  
No scoring First period Sy Nutkevitch (1) - pp - 11:56
0:30 - Zac Masson (1)
8:08 - Scott Donahue (2)
Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period Jordan Fader (1) - 10:43
No scoring First overtime period Jamie Bucell (1) - 12:29
Austin Lotz (29 saves / 32 shots) Goalie stats Max Milosek (26 saves / 28 shots)
April 23, 2023 Huntsville Havoc 2 - 5 Birmingham Bulls Pelham Civic Center Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
12:40 - Austin Martinsen
16:44 - pp - Kyle Clarke (1)
Second period Michael Gillespie (2) - pp - 5:02
Taylor Brierley (1) - 11:05
No scoring Third period Stefan Brucato (2) - 8:08
Michael Gillespie (3) - en - 17:35
Scott Donahue - en - 18:32
Max Milosek (30 saves / 33 shots) Goalie stats Austin Lotz (29 saves / 31 shots)
Birmingham won series 2-1

President's Cup Final

(2) Birmingham Bulls vs. (4) Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs

April 27, 2023 Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 4 - 2 Birmingham Bulls Pelham Civic Center Recap  
4:32 - Stephen Alvo (1) First period Jake Pappalardo (4) - 0:29
6:10 - pp - Jason Lavallee Second period Scott Donahue (4) - pp - 1:23
2:57 - Nick Ford (2)
5:16 - Matt O'Dea
Third period No scoring
Austyn Roudebush (25 saves / 27 shots) Goalie stats Hayden Stewart (19 saves / 23 shots)
April 28, 2023 Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 0 - 2 Birmingham Bulls Pelham Civic Center Recap  
No scoring First period Matt Wiesner (1) - 8:47
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period Artur Terchiyev (1) - 2:08
Austyn Roudebush (26 saves / 28 shots) Goalie stats Austin Lotz (33 saves / 33 shots)
May 1, 2023 Birmingham Bulls 4 - 5 OT Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs Berglund Center Recap  
9:22 - Carson Rose (4)
17:54 - Zac Masson (2)
First period John Stampohar (1) - 10:45
Nick Ford (3) - 17:16
No scoring Second period CJ Stubbs (2) - pp - 2:26
1:27 - Jake Pappalardo (5)
14:23 - sh - Carson Rose (5)
Third period Nick DeVito (6) - 4:55
No scoring First overtime period Billy Vizzo (2) - 11:53
Austin Lotz (35 saves / 40 shots) Goalie stats Austyn Roudebush (27 saves / 31 shots)
May 2, 2023 Birmingham Bulls 1 - 2 OT Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs Berglund Center Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period Josh Nenadal (3) - 14:11
19:49 - Carson Rose (6) Third period No scoring
No scoring First overtime period Mac Jansen (1) - 2:41
Hayden Stewart (33 saves / 35 shots) Goalie stats Austyn Roudebush (18 saves / 19 shots)
Roanoke won series 3-1

Statistical leaders

Skaters

The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Updated as of May 2, 2023.[7]

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Nick DeVito Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 9651144
Nick Ford Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 9371068
Carson Rose Birmingham Bulls 1063908
Jake Pappalardo Birmingham Bulls 954948
Stephen Alvo Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 8189719

Goaltenders

The following goaltenders with a minimum 350 minutes played lead the playoffs in goals against average. Updated as of May 2, 2023.[8]

GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes); SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout loss

Player Team GPTOISAGASOGAASV%WLOT
Austyn RoudebushRoanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 95522662012.18.925720
Austin LotzBirmingham Bulls 63881721512.32.913303

Awards

AwardRecipient(s)
President's CupRoanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
William B. Coffey Trophy
(Best regular-season record)
Peoria Rivermen
Defenseman of the YearZach Wilkie (Peoria)[9]
Rookie of the YearAustin Alger (Fayetteville)[10]
Goaltender of the YearTrevor Gorsuch (Evansville) [11]
Coach of the YearCraig Simchuk (Birmingham)[12]
Most Valuable PlayerJustin MacDonald (Knoxville)[13]
Leading Scorer AwardJustin MacDonald (Knoxville)

All-SPHL selections

PositionFirst Team[14]Second Team[14]All-Rookie[15]
G Trevor Gorsuch (Evansville) Kevin Resop (Quad City) Nick Latinovich (Macon)
D Zach Wilkie (Peoria)
Rourke Russell (Knoxville) (tie)
Nick Neville (Peoria) (tie)
Taylor Brierley (Birmingham)
Dominic Procopio (Huntsville)
Rourke Russell (Knoxville)
Taylor Brierley (Birmingham)
F Justin MacDonald (Knoxville)
Michael Gillespie (Birmingham)
Garrett Milan (Pensacola)
Alec Hagaman (Peoria)
Dean Balsamo (Knoxville)
Sy Nutkevitch (Huntsville)
Austin Alger (Fayetteville)
Brandon Harrogate (Evansville)
Kolten Olynek (Pensacola)

References

  1. "SPHL releases 2022-2023 regular season schedule". thesphl.com. July 13, 2022.
  2. Vermilion County Bobcats [@VCBobcats] (February 9, 2023). "The Vermillion County Bobcats of the SPHL announced today that they have ceased operations, effective immediately" (Tweet). Retrieved February 9, 2023 via Twitter.
  3. "2021\2–23 Regular Season Standings". SPHL. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  4. "Player Stats TheSPHL.com". SPHL.
  5. "Top Goalies - 2022-23 Regular Season - Goals Against Average". SPHL.
  6. "SPHL announces President's Cup first round schedule". thesphl.com. April 8, 2023.
  7. "Skater Stats - Playoffs TheSPHL.com". SPHL.
  8. "Top Goalies - Goals Against Average". SPHL.
  9. "Peoria's Zach Wilkie named SPHL Defenseman of the Year". SPHL. April 17, 2023.
  10. "Fayetteville's Austin Alger named SPHL Rookie of the Year". SPHL. April 19, 2023.
  11. "Evansville's Trevor Gorsuch named SPHL Goaltender of the Year". SPHL. April 18, 2023.
  12. "Birmingham's Craig Simchuk Named SPHL Coach of the Year". SPHL. April 14, 2023.
  13. "Knoxville's Justin MacDonald named 2022-23 SPHL Most Valuable Player". SPHL. April 20, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "All-SPHL First and Second Teams Announced". SPHL. April 13, 2023.
  15. "SPHL Announces 2022-2023 All-Rookie Team". SPHL. April 12, 2023.
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