ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Beat Checkers 2-1 in OT

Published on February 15, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators overcame a 1-0 deficit to post a 2-1 overtime win over the Charlotte Checkers on Sunday afternoon at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in the second game of the Gladiators Pink in the Rink Weekend. Gwinnett moves to 21-22-5 on the season with the win over Charlotte.

The Charlotte Checkers notched the first goal of the afternoon when right-wing Jeff Miles took off from the neutral zone on a breakaway. Gwinnett's Josh Johnson initially stopped the shot in his pads, but as he slid back, the puck trickled in past the goal line. Miles' goal came unassisted.

The Gladiators finally evened up the score at 6:44 of the second period when Dirk Southern skated in and fired the puck on goalie Jeff Jakaitis' left side. Recent acquisition Tom Zanoski tallied a helper on the goal.

Going into overtime tied at one, Scott Marchesi finally put in the game winner for the Gladiators at 58 seconds to give Gwinnett the victory. Jordan Fox and Brennan Turner tallied an assist on the overtime goal. The last time the Gladiators won an overtime game at home was back on November 19, 2008 against the Dayton Bombers.

Gwinnett's Johnson faced 31 shots in the contest, while Charlotte's Jakaitis faced a staggering 56 shots on goal. Gwinnett's 56 shots set a new record for the most shots in a game at home. Forty three was the previous record from the February 7, 2009 game also against the Checkers.

The Gladiators continue their 2008-09 season Wednesday, February 18th at 8:05 p.m. as they travel to Biloxi to take on the Mississippi Sea Wolves.

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 will have 21 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 864 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Eighteen of the 23 teams have played at least five years in their current city.

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 sixth season as a proud member of the ECHL in October of 2008 - season ticket packages 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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ECHL Stories from February 15, 2009


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