ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Add Three to Roster

Published on September 16, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators announced today they have agreed to terms with returning defenseman Brandon Gentile in addition to forwards Matt Caruana and Matt Francis.

Gentile returns to the Gladiators after appearing in 13 regular season games last season in Gwinnett. A native of Clarkston, Michigan, he spent two seasons with the U.S. National Under-18 team before moving on to play four seasons at Michigan State University from 2005 to 2009.

Gentile notched 17 points, all assists, in 135 games with the Spartans in his collegiate career. Gentile joined the Gladiators following his senior season at Michigan State and notched his first professional point, an assist, in a Gladiators win over Cincinnati on March 18.

Caruana split time between the Bakersfield Condors and the AHL's Iowa Chops last season, finishing with a combined 25 points in 59 professional games. He made his professional debut with the Portland Pirates of the AHL shortly after his senior year at Niagara during the 2007-08 season appearing in five regular season and 13 playoff games in the AHL.

The Orono, Ontario native skated three seasons for the Bowmanville Eagles of the OPJHL before playing four seasons as a standout at Niagara Univesity from 2004-05 to 2007-08.

Francis joins the Gladiators after skating two seasons each with St. Cloud State University and Bemidji State University from 2004-05 to 2008-09. Francis compiled 48 points over 108 career collegiate games. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defenseman appeared in 60 games over two seasons in the BCHL prior to joining St. Cloud State, including an 87-point season with the Surrey Eagles in 2003-04.

Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier 'AA' Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League. The ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.

The Gwinnett Gladiators open their 7th season in the ECHL on October 17th, 2009 against the Wheeling Nailers - season ticket packages for the 2009-10 season 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 Columbus Blue Jackets 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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ECHL Stories from September 16, 2009


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