ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Beat Sea Wolves, 6-2

Published on November 1, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


In the Gladiators first game since the 2005 Kelly Cup Playoffs at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Gwinnett knocked off the Mississippi Sea Wolves by a 6-2 score on Thursday night. Derek Nesbitt led the Gladiators with a pair of goals for Gwinnett including the game winning goal in the third period. Jeff Campbell also finished with a pair of assists for the Gladiators in the win.

The two teams opened the contest with a scoreless first period despite opportunities at each end of the ice including power play chances for both sides. Gladiators netminder Craig Kowalski as well as Mississippi netminder Morgan Cey stood tall for their respective club keeping the game scoreless in the opening period.

Gwinnett jumped out to a 1-0 lead on the Sea Wolves on Stuart MacRae's first goal of the season early in the second period. Scott Lehman collected an assist on the goal as he fed MacRae in the slot to set up the marker for the Gladiators just 3:17 into the second period. Bryson Busniuk also had an assist on the goal for the Gladiators.

Mississippi tied the game up at one at the 9:02 mark of the second period on a goal by Lance Monych. Picking up a loose puck in the slot, Monych froze Kowalski before beating the netmdiner to the far post. Mark Rooneem and Ryan Menei had the assists on the goal for Mississippi.

Rooneem then gave the Sea Wolves a 2-1 lead with a shorthanded tally at the 10:27 mark of the second period. Rooneem whacked the puck off the stick of Kowalski, who was trying to play the puck on the power play, before giving up the marker. Rooneem posted the goal unassisted.

The Gladiators had a goal disallowed at the 13:45 mark of the second period. On a power play, Gwinnett pushed the puck into the Sea Wolves net out of a scrum in front of the Mississippi net. The play was ruled no goal due to the puck being kicked into the net.

Andy Brandt got the goal back for the Gladiators at the 18:25 mark of the second period whipping the puck past Cey on the short side for the tying goal. Lou Dickenson and Dirk Southern had the assists on the marker for Gwinnett that tied the game at two goals apiece in the second period.

Derek Nesbitt pushed his point-scoring streak to six games with his 4th goal of the season at the 6:56 mark of the third period. Nesbitt finished an odd man rush with Scott Lehman as he elected to take the shot and rip a slapshot through the five hole of Cey for the go-ahead goal for Gwinnett. Jeff Campbel and Jon Awe had the assists on the goal for Gwinnett.

Gwinnett then took a 4-2 lead on the Sea Wolves with Nesbitt's second goal of the game. Collecting a loose puck along the goal line, Nesbitt flicked the puck over the shoulder of Cey for the marker. Campbell collected the assist on the power play goal at the 9:58 mark of the third period.

Lou Dickenson notched his second goal of the season at the 13:44 mark of the third period beating Cey on a breakaway for the goal. Ryan Mahrle and Dinos Stamoulis had the assists on the goal giving Gwinnett a 5-2 lead on the Sea Wolves.

Gwinnett took a 6-2 lead on the Sea Wolves at the 15:19 mark of the third period on Mike Hamilton's third goal of the season on the power play. Jamie Milam and Jeff Mason had the assists on the power play goal to put the game away for Gwinnett.

Kowalski finished with 21 saves for the Gladiators for his 5th win of the season. Gwinnett finshed 3-for-9 on the power play in the win.

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Thursday, November 2nd as they travel to Biloxi to take on the Mississippi Sea Wolves at 8:05 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Friday's Game via Accessnorthga.com on "Access Radio" Streaming Channel 3.

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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ECHL Stories from November 1, 2007


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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