ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Doyle Leads Rays Past Glads in OT, 4-3

December 20, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - Chris Doyle's first career ECHL goal in overtime led the Stingrays to a 4-3 win over the Gwinnett Gladiators Tuesday night at North Charleston Coliseum. The Glads (13-8-6-3) do pick up a point to push their South Division leading total to 35.

Gwinnett defenseman Will Colbert was called for holding late in the overtime session, and the Rays (15-11-1-1) capitalized. Defenseman Nick Tabisz capped a three point night by setting up Doyle for a one-timer at the far circle, and the forward blasted a shot past Glads goalie Marc Cheverie to hand Gwinnett their sixth overtime loss of the season. All six OT losses have come on the road.

Cheverie stopped 27 shots in a losing cause while Daren Machesney turned aside 34 shots at the other end. Gwinnett had their three game winning streak snapped while the Rays ended their three game winless streak.

The opening period saw both teams find the back of the net, but for the first time in eight games South Carolina scored first. Forward Matt Scherer snuck behind the Gwinnett defense and beat Cheverie with a wrist shot high glove side to make it 1-0 SC at 4:12 of the first.

Gwinnett drew even at 12:48, as forward Bryan Brutlag threw a puck to the front of the net and had it go off a Stingray defenseman and past goalie Daren Machesney to tie the game. Chris Clackson and Tyler Murovich had the assists on Brutlag's seventh, as the rookie out of R.P.I. now has at least one point in eight of his last 12 games.

It took just 20 seconds into the second period for the Glads to take their first lead. Nikita Kashirsky found Igor Gongalsky in the slot for the one-timer, and Gongalsky beat Machesney from in close for his first goal of the season for Gwinnett. Andy Brandt also had an assist as the 2-1 edge carried into the third.

South Carolina bounced back strong in the third, as goals by Pierre Luc-O'Brien (3:38, PP) and Nick Tabisz (13:47) put the Rays up 3-2 late. However, Clackson answered for Gwinnett, sliding the puck through the legs of Machesney from the far boards near the goal line to tie the game at three at 17:17. Justin Milo and Murovich had the helpers on Clackson's fifth.

The Glads and Rays meet up again for the fourth straight time Monday December 26th at 7:05 p.m. at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Cheverie Returned to Gwinnett

Gladiators goaltender and Coyotes prospect Marc Cheverie was reassigned to the Gladiators from AHL Portland on Monday. Coming into action Tuesday Cheverie was 3-2-5-2 with a 2.99 goals against average and a .902 save percentage 12 games with the Glads.

Cheverie was acquired by the Coyotes on September 9th from the Florida Panthers in exchange for center Justin Bernhardt. The second year pro split time last season with the Cincinnati Cyclones and the Rochester Americans of the AHL. He recorded a 13-9-7 record and a 3.11 goals against average with the Cyclones and had a 2-7-1 record and an .886 save percentage with the Americans.

The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native played three seasons at the University of Denver from 2007-2010 before he began his professional career. In three seasons at Denver, Cheverie notched a 48-18-13 record and a .926 save percentage in 80 career collegiate games. The Gladiators are the ECHL Affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres and the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League and are members of the ECHL, the Premier "AA" Hockey League and play all home games at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.

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