NEW OWNERS FOR ROAD WARRIORS

BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

The Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL have been sold to Chestnut Street Sports, LLC, which is solely owned by Fred Festa, the club announced today.

WARRIOR PLAYOFF DATES ANNOUNCED

BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

The Greenville Road Warriors announced today that they have determined home dates for the opening round of the 2012 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

For the second straight season the Road Warriors have qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs and have secured home ice advantage for the first round. The Eastern Conference quarterfinal series is a best-of-five series in which the Road Warriors will play the final three games at home. Game Three will be held at the BI-LO Center on Friday, April 6 at 7:35 p.m. with Game Four to follow on Saturday, April 7 at 7:05 p.m. and Game Five on Monday, April 9 at 7:35 p.m. Games Four and Five will be played as necessary. The dates for playoff home games are set regardless of opponent.

STINGERS STUNG

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BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

The Greenville Road Warriors locked up home ice for the first round of the Kelly Cup playoffs by beating the South Carolina Stingrays 4-3 at the BI-LO Center on Tuesday night. The win improved Greenville to 41-23-6 on the season.

Click here for tonight’s box score.

TWO CHANCES – NO WINS – ROAD WARRIORS LOSE SECOND STRAIGHT TO GLADIATORS

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BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

The Greenville Road Warriors lost in their final meeting of the season with the Gwinnett Gladiators, 3-2, on Saturday night at the BI-LO Center. The loss dropped Greenville’s record to 40-23-6.

Click here for tonight’s box score.

HOW MUCH FUN WILL THIS BE?

BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

Pucks and Paws presented by Cleveland Park Animal Hospital and Upstate Veterinary Specialists is coming up this Saturday, March 24 at 7:05 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. All fans with friendly dogs are invited to bring their pups with them to the game.

The highlight of the night is the Small Dog Derby and there is still time to sign your pup up. Fans with dogs 20 pounds or lighter can contact the Road Warriors in advance and register their dog for the race. At the first intermission the Small Dog Derby will be held on the ice in front of thousands of fans. The dogs will start at one goal line with one of their owners then race across the ice to their other owner perched at the far goal line. The winner of the Small Dog Derby will take home a Road Warriors prize pack. To register your dog for the Small Dog Derby call 864-250-4765.

(Great video after the jump)

VALLERAND BACK FROM BEING AN ICEHOG TO A ROAD WARRIOR

BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

The Greenville Road Warriors announced today that forward Marc-Olivier Vallerand has returned to the club from his loan to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.

Vallerand, 22, was loaned to the IceHogs on February 29 and went on to play in seven games over his three weeks in Rockford. The second-year forward recorded two assists, seven penalty minutes, and one shootout goal on his second call up to the AHL this season. His assist on March 10 at Milwaukee was his first AHL point. Vallerand also played two games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on February 25 and 26 but was scoreless.

GREENVILLE GAMEPLAN: DULL THE STINGERS

BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

The Greenville Road Warriors head to the Low-Country tonight for a South Division showdown with the South Carolina Stingrays. It’s the first of three games in as many days for the Road Warriors.

The Road Warriors (36-21-4, 76 pts.) visit South Carolina (33-17-11, 77 pts.) today for the 11th of 16 meetings between the clubs this season. Fans can follow the action by watching America One or listening at Greenvilleroadwarriors.com. The Road Warriors are 8-2-0 against the Stingrays this season and 17-10-0 all-time in their history against South Carolina. The Road Warriors have won each of the last two games in the Battle of the Palmetto State including their last trip to North Charleston on February 7. Tonight’s game is the second of seven between the Road Warriors and Stingrays in the month of March. Four of the seven are in North Charleston where the Road Warriors have won twice in four tries.

2012 PLAYOFF TICKET PACKAGES ON SALE

BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

The Greenville Road Warriors announced today that discounted ticket packages are on sale for the 2012 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The Road Warriors are in the hunt for their second-consecutive Kelly Cup Playoffs berth, and fans can take in all of the action with a playoff ticket package. Pre-ordering a playoff ticket package ensures a convenient experience by letting fans avoid the lines at the ticket window. It is also the most economical way to enjoy post-season hockey because the package saves you the money off of the box office price. There are two different playoff ticket package options.

ROAD WARRIORS WEEKLY RELEASE: 3/5 – 3/11/12

BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

The Greenville Road Warriors started the final month of the season with a surge and won a pair of home games to begin the final sprint to the Kelly Cup Playoffs. This week is chocked full of action with four games against South Division foes on the slate.

Record: 36-20-4, 76 pts., 2nd place South Division

MARC-ANDRE BOURDON BECOMES FIRST ROAD WARRIORS ALUM TO PLAY IN NHL

BY: Ray Schmitt

GREENVILLE, SC - Last night former Greenville Road Warriors defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon played in his first National Hockey League game as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. He is the first former Road Warriors player to play an NHL game.

A 22-year-old defenseman, Bourdon played in five regular season games and 10 Kelly Cup playoff games as a member of the Road Warriors in 2010-11. He registered two assists during the regular season and added three helpers during post-season play.