2022–23 SPHL season explained

2022–23 SPHL season
League:Southern Professional Hockey League
Sport:Ice hockey
Duration:October 20, 2022 – April 8, 2023
No Of Games:56
No Of Teams:11
Season:Regular season
Season Champ Name:William B. Coffey Trophy
Season Champs:Peoria Rivermen
Mvp:Justin MacDonald (Knoxville)
Top Scorer:Justin MacDonald (Knoxville)
Playoffs:Playoffs
Conf1:Finals
Conf1 Link:President's Cup (SPHL)
Conf1 Champ:Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
Conf1 Runner-Up:Birmingham Bulls
Playoffs Mvp:Austyn Roudebush (Roanoke)
Seasonslistnames:SPHL
Prevseason Link:2021–22 SPHL season
Prevseason Year:2021–22
Nextseason Link:2023–24 SPHL season
Nextseason Year:2023–24

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]

Team
57 39 14 3 1 82 217 137
57 37 16 2 2 78 217 162
56 34 19 2 1 71 197 162
56 32 19 3 2 69 185 161
56 32 22 2 0 66 172 165
57 32 22 1 2 67 221 199
56 26 22 8 0 60 155 166
57 26 25 3 3 58 183 190
57 23 32 1 1 48 136 183
57 13 39 4 1 31 166 257
e– 30 4 24 2 0 10 59 126
indicates team has clinched William B. Coffey Trophy (regular season champion) and a playoff spot
indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
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

PlayerTeamGPGAPts+/–PIM
Knoxville Ice Bears46 34 45 79 +6 44
Pensacola Ice Flyers57 26 43 69 −12 83
Knoxville Ice Bears49 27 39 66 −7 16
Huntsville Havoc56 18 45 63 +10 16
Peoria Rivermen53 24 37 61 +20 202
Huntsville Havoc56 22 39 61 +12 26
Birmingham Bulls38 27 33 60 +24 18
Huntsville Havoc55 23 33 56 +4 31
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs56 16 38 54 −2 76
Pensacola Ice Flyers57 15 39 54 −3 15

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

PlayerTeamGP TOI SA GA SO GAA SV% W L OT
Evansville Thunderbolts23 1,352 793 51 2 2.26 .936 15 8 0
Peoria Rivermen34 1,771 804 68 5 2.30 .915 17 8 4
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs42 2,313 1,036 97 2 2.52 .906 24 12 4
Quad City Storm40 2,145 1,139 96 3 2.69 .916 14 22 1
Birmingham Bulls33 1,979 985 90 1 2.73 .909 24 7 2

Postseason

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

Quarterfinals

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

Semifinals

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

President's Cup Final

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

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

PlayerTeamGPGAPts+/–PIM
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs9 6 5 11 4 4
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs9 3 7 10 6 8
Birmingham Bulls10 6 3 9 0 8
Birmingham Bulls9 5 4 9 4 8
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs8 1 8 9 7 19

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

PlayerTeamGP TOI SA GA SO GAA SV% W L OT
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs9 552 266 20 1 2.18 .925 7 2 0
Birmingham Bulls6 388 172 15 1 2.32 .913 3 0 3

Awards

Award Recipient(s)
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
William B. Coffey Trophy
(Best regular-season record)
Peoria Rivermen
Defenseman of the Year Zach Wilkie (Peoria)[9]
Rookie of the Year Austin Alger (Fayetteville)[10]
Goaltender of the Year Trevor Gorsuch (Evansville) [11]
Coach of the Year Craig Simchuk (Birmingham)[12]
Most Valuable Player Justin MacDonald (Knoxville)[13]
Leading Scorer Award Justin MacDonald (Knoxville)

All-SPHL selections

Position First Team[14] Second Team All-Rookie[15]
align=center GTrevor Gorsuch (Evansville)Kevin Resop (Quad City)Nick Latinovich (Macon)
align=center DZach Wilkie (Peoria)
Rourke Russell (Knoxville) (tie)
Nick Neville (Peoria) (tie)
Taylor Brierley (Birmingham)
Dominic Procopio (Huntsville)
Rourke Russell (Knoxville)
Taylor Brierley (Birmingham)
align=center FJustin 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)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SPHL releases 2022-2023 regular season schedule . thesphl.com . July 13, 2022.
  2. Vermilion County Bobcats . VCBobcats . 1623691267153530887 . February 9, 2023 . The Vermillion County Bobcats of the SPHL announced today that they have ceased operations, effective immediately. . en . February 9, 2023 . https://twitter.com/VCBobcats/status/1623691267153530887.
  3. Web site: 2021\2–23 Regular Season Standings . SPHL . April 12, 2023.
  4. Web site: Player Stats TheSPHL.com . SPHL.
  5. Web site: Top Goalies - 2022-23 Regular Season - Goals Against Average . SPHL.
  6. Web site: SPHL announces President’s Cup first round schedule. thesphl.com. April 8, 2023.
  7. Web site: Skater Stats - Playoffs TheSPHL.com . SPHL.
  8. Web site: Top Goalies - Goals Against Average . SPHL.
  9. Web site: Peoria’s Zach Wilkie named SPHL Defenseman of the Year . SPHL . April 17, 2023.
  10. Web site: Fayetteville’s Austin Alger named SPHL Rookie of the Year . SPHL . April 19, 2023.
  11. Web site: Evansville’s Trevor Gorsuch named SPHL Goaltender of the Year . SPHL . April 18, 2023.
  12. Web site: Birmingham’s Craig Simchuk Named SPHL Coach of the Year . SPHL . April 14, 2023.
  13. Web site: Knoxville’s Justin MacDonald named 2022-23 SPHL Most Valuable Player . SPHL . April 20, 2023.
  14. Web site: All-SPHL First and Second Teams Announced . SPHL . April 13, 2023.
  15. Web site: SPHL Announces 2022-2023 All-Rookie Team . SPHL . April 12, 2023.