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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Best Sea Wolves, 6-2

October 18, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators used a pair of goals from Bruce Graham and four power play goals to roll past the Mississippi Sea Wolves 6-2 in the Gladiators season opener at The Arena at Gwinnett Center on Saturday night. Kevin Nastiuk finished with 25 saves for the Gladiators in his first start for Gwinnett.

The Gladiators jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Josh Engel's first pro goal at 13:23 of the first period. Engel ripped a slapshot from the blue line through traffic past Mississippi netminder Jeremy Duchesne for the goal. Pat Bateman and Andy Brandt collected the assists on the power play goal for the Gladiators.

Brad Schell's first goal of the season pushed Gwinnett's lead to 2-0 late in the first period. On a 5-on-3 power play, Schell beat Duchesne over the glove for the goal. Jeff Mason set up the goal on the power play feeding Schell on the right wing side. Bruce Graham also had a helper on the goal at 19:23 of the first period.

Mississippi got on the board early in the first period. With the Gladiators scrambling in their own zone, Alexandre Parent beat Gladiators netminder Kevin Nastiuk for the marker. The Sea Wolves got an assist on the goal that came just 3:31 into the second period from Mathieu Melanson.

Bruce Graham and Bryan Esner capitalized on a Mississippi turn-over just inside the Sea Wolves blue line to regain a 2-goal advantage for Gwinnett. Esner tapped the puck ahead to Graham as the forward walked in and whipped the puck thorugh the legs of Duchesne for the goal. Graham's first goal of the season came at 13:33 of the second period.

Melanson pulled the Sea Wolves back within a goal late in the second period chopping the puck out of the air past Nastiuk for the marker. Mike Wirll and Jeremy Hall collected the assists on the goal that came with 2:17 left in the second period for Mississippi.

Gwinnett added three third period goals to put the game away. Ryan Mahrle's first goal of the game gave the Gladiators a 4-2 lead 7:29 into the third period. Brandt added his second assist of the night on the marker while Jordan Fox collected a helper on the power play goal for Gwinnett.

Scott Marchesi's first goal of the season at 12:07 of the third period gave the Gladiators a three goal lead. Parked on the off wing, Marchesi found a loose puck and beat Duchesne for the goal for Gwinnett. Pat Bateman and Marty Mjelleli had the assists on the goal for Gwinnett.

Graham's second goal of the game finished the scoring at 16:23 of the third period. Graham beat Duchesne from point blank range for the marker for Gwinnett. Esner and Mason each added their second assists of the game on the power play goal for the Gladiators.

Nastiuk made 25 saves in the contest in the win for Gwinnett. The netminder improves to 1-0-0 with his first win as a Gladiator.

The Gladiators continue the 2008-09 season on Tuesday, October 21st at the Arena at Gwinnett Center as they host the Augusta Lynx at 7:05 p.m.

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 23 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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