
GAME RECAP: Gladiators Fall to Toledo 7-4 in Offensive Battle
October 15, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release
Atlanta scored the first goal of the contest for the second night in a row. Thomas Frazee received a centering pass from Brock Higgs and placed the puck into the top corner of the net. Blake Kessel picked up his second assist in as many nights on the play as he took the initial shot from the point.
Toledo equalized the score at one at the 12:49 mark on a Kyle Bonis notch. Alden Hirschfeld found Bonis alone in the slot, where he riffled a wrist shot past Gladiators goalie, Matt Ginn. Both players earned their second points of the season after teaming up for the lone tally for the Walleye the night prior.
It did not take long for Toledo to gain their first lead of the season as they went up 2-1 just 22 seconds after their first marker. A.J. Jenks collected his first goal of the year when the puck went in off his skate. Evan Rankin, who sent the puck in front from the wing, got the first assist with Simon Denis getting the secondary helper.
Atlanta erased the Walleye advantage on a Brock Higgs score at the 16:10 mark of the opening period. Jake Bolton propelled a slap shot from the point that deflected right to the Kingston, ON native who sent a wrist shot in past Walleye goalie, Cal Heeter. Blake Kessel also registered his third assist of the season and second point of the night on the goal.
Toledo scored the fifth goal of the period with just 44 seconds left to re-gain the lead. Tyler Sikura saw the puck bank in off his leg after a Rankin shot from out of the corner. The goal gave the Dartmouth product his first of the year and gave Rankin his second assist and point of the game. Tylor Spink also recorded a helper on the play.
Rankin got his third point of the night early in the second period on his first goal of the season. Jenks and Zajac teamed up to get the puck to Rankin in the slot giving them the assists on Toledo's all-time leaders' 85th goal with the Walleye. The tally came at the 1:52 mark of the second and gave the Walleye the 4-2 lead.
Bonis collected his second of the game 6:18 into the middle period and increased the Walleye lead to three. Sikura also notched his second point helping the Lindsay, ON native score the shorthanded goal.
Atlanta cut the lead back to two on a tally from Trevor Mingoia. Justin Buzzeo earned his second point of the year when he found the Providence College product on the backdoor for his first career pro goal. The mark was officially a power play goal, the first man-advantage score of the campaign for the Gladiators.
Jenks added another for Toledo, his second of the game 12:31 into the second. Bonis registered his third point with the primary assist. Shane Berschbach also collected a helper, his first point of the year.
Atlanta pulled the goalie with just over five minutes left in the game to try to spark the comeback. Colin Jacobs took advantage and scored on the 6-on-4 for his second of the season. Tyler Shiplo whistled a slap shot from the point that ricocheted right to a wide-open Jacobs who put the Walleye lead back to two. Buzzeo earned a multi-point night as he got the secondary assist.
Toledo would add an empty net goal from Bonis that gave him the Hat Trick and the Walleye their seventh goal of the evening. The Walleye would hold on for the 7-4 win that gave them their first win of the year in two tries. Atlanta fell to 1-1 and remain at two points on the campaign.
Road Ahead
Atlanta now heads out west for four straight on the road starting in Allen, TX on Wednesday October 19th. After playing one more in Allen two nights later, the Gladiators travel to Tulsa, OK for their first ever meetings with the Tulsa Oilers on Friday and Saturday.
Images from this story
![]() Gladiators Fall to Toledo 7-4 in Offensive Battle |
ECHL Stories from October 15, 2016
- Game Recap --- Colorado Starts Season 2-0 with 6-4 Victory over Rush - Colorado Eagles
- GAME RECAP: Oilers Outlast Thunder in Opener - Tulsa Oilers
- Thunder Opens Season with 4-3 Loss to Tulsa - Wichita Thunder
- GAME RECAP: Gladiators Fall to Toledo 7-4 in Offensive Battle - Atlanta Gladiators
- GAME RECAP: Oilers Outlast Thunder in Opener - Tulsa Oilers
- Komets Stop Mallards 3-1 - Fort Wayne Komets
- CORRECTED - Mavericks Fall in Season Opener at Allen - Kansas City Mavericks
- Team Black Edges Team Orange - Kansas City Mavericks
- Levko Koper Scores Twice as 'Blades Bounce Rabbits 5-3 - Florida Everblades
- Fuel Complete Weekend Sweep of Cyclones - Indy Fuel
- Pither Scores Two as Beast Hammer Nailers on Opening Night - Brampton Beast
- Recap: Late Game Comeback Falls Short against Indy - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Game Recap: Riopel's Shutout Helps K-Wings Earn Weekend Sweep of Admirals - Kalamazoo Wings
- Vail, Komets Down Mallards 3-1 - Quad City Mallards
- Nailers Take One Point on Opening Night - Wheeling Nailers
- Riopel Shuts out Admirals in Return to Norfolk - Norfolk Admirals
- Thunder Drop Monarchs, 5-3 - Manchester Monarchs
- Walleye Take the Win - Toledo Walleye
- Goaltender Garteig Arrives from Vancouver - Alaska Aces
- Veteran Defenseman Wilson Joins Mallards - Quad City Mallards
- ECHL Transactions - October 15 - ECHL
- Do You Have What It Takes to Win? Tulsa Oilers NHL 17 Tournament - Tulsa Oilers
- Game Notes: Reading Royals V Elmira Jackals (Saturday, October 15 @ - Reading Royals
- STEELHEADS: Game Day Storylines- at Utah - Idaho Steelheads
- Defensemen Maxim Lamarche and Jesper Pettersson Loaned To - Reading Royals
- Nailers vs. Beast Game Day Snap Shot, October 15 - Wheeling Nailers
- Rays Receive Six Skaters from Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
- Mavericks Game Preview - October 15 at Allen - Kansas City Mavericks
- GAMEDAY - ADIRONDACK (1-0-0-0) at MANCHESTER - Adirondack Thunder
- Home Opener Tonight for Fort Wayne - Fort Wayne Komets
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule - Manchester Monarchs
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.
Other Recent Atlanta Gladiators Stories
- Atlanta Gladiators Named Finalists for Two ECHL Awards
- Atlanta Gladiators Name Guy Chiarenza Director of Broadcasting & Communications
- Gladiators Promote Alex Bennett, Alex Hobbs, and Avery Carney
- Interns Green, Harp, Louangoudom, & Schnibbe to be Hired Full-Time
- Gladiators 2025-26 Schedule Revealed, Season Opener Set for October 18th vs. Utah

