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Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Power Past Ice Pilots, 5-3

October 19, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Jeff Campbell posted 4 assists while Mike Vigilante and Mike Hamilton each finished with 2 goals to help the Gladiators past the Pensacola Ice Pilots by a 5-3 score on Friday night at the Pensacola Civic Center.

The Gladiators and Ice Pilots skated to a scoreless tie during the first period. Gwinnett out shot the Ice Pilots by a 15-7 margin during the period but it was a goaltender's duel in the opening period as Pensacola's Martin Brodeur and the Gladiators Craig Kowalski both came up with a numerous acrobatic stops during the period to keep the game scoreless.

Mike Vigilante broke a scoreless tie in the second period and then pushed the Gladiators back in the lead later in the stanza. Parked in the slot on the power play, Vigilante collected his first goal of the season as he picked up a rebound in the slot and flipped the puck past Brodeur for the marker. Stuart MacRae collected the assist on the power play goal for Gwinnett at 6:08 of the first period.

Pensacola stormed back to tie the game at 1-1 on Phil Youngclaus tally coming just 1:38 after Vigilante broke the scoreless tie in second period. Trailing the play, Youngsclaus collected a loose puck in the left wing circle and ripped the puck past Kowalski, as the netminder was ranging across the crease. Dan Sullivan and Rich Meloche had the assists on the goal.

Vigilante's second goal of the game regained the lead for Gwinnett giving the Gladiators a 2-1 lead at the 10:11 mark of the second period. Similar to his first goal, Vigilante took a pass on the off wing and flipped the puck past Brodeur for the power play marker. Jeff Campbell and Derek Nesbitt hooked up to pick up the assists for the Gladiators on the goal.

Gwinnett took a 3-1 lead on Mike Hamilton's first professional goal as he posted a shorthanded breakaway marker beating Brodeur to the short side for the tally. Campbell posted his second assist of the game knocking an Ice Pilots rink wide pass down and feeding a streaking Hamilton to set up the marker. Hamilton's shorthanded goal game at the 12:54 mark of the second period.

Hamilton posted his second goal of the game midway through the third period to give Gwinnett a 4-1 lead. Parked in the slot, Hamilton took a centering pass from Campbell and beat Doug Groenestege for the goal at the 11:56 mark of the third period. Groenestege replaced Brodeur to start the third period.

Jon Awe posted his first power play goal of the season ripping a slap shot from the left wing point past Groenestege for the marker at the 14:11 mark of the third period. Digging the puck off the left wing dasher wall, Awe fed Campbell before getting the puck back for a one-timer beating Groenestege for the power play marker.

Pensacola scored twice late in the third period to finish within two goals. The Ice Pilots first came at the 18:35 mark of the third period as Mathieu Roy ripped a rebound past Kowalski for the goal. Jean-Claude Sawyer and John Hecimovic had the assists on the power play goal for the Ice Pilots.

Sawyer cut the Gladiators lead to two goals with just one second left in the third period ripping a slap shot from the right wing circle past Kowalski for the marker. Erik Fabian and Dan Sullivan had the assists on the goal for Pensacola.

Kowalski posted the win for Gwinnett finishing with 26 saves in the win for the Gladiators while Gwinnett went 3 for 12 on the power play in the win.

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Saturday, October 20th as they host the Pensacola Ice Pilots at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:35 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Saturday's game on WDUN, News Talk 550.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the Premier 'AA' Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that will have 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08. The 25 teams includes the Mississippi (Biloxi) Sea Wolves, who return after missing two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the expansion Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals. The ECHL will play 900 games beginning Oct. 18 and concluding Apr. 5.

The Gwinnett Gladiators open their fifth season as a proud member of the ECHL in October of 2007 - season tickets are on sale now. In addition, the Gladiators offer several unique multi-game ticket packages as well as discounted group rates, suite rentals, and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and play all home games at the spectacular 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, where parking is always free.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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