ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators burned by Inferno, 5-3

February 16, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gladiators jumped out to a 2-0 lead on two power play goals midway through the first period. Mike Hanson took a double minor for high sticking when he caught Kevin Doell in the head.

Cam Brown ripped a one time shot over the shoulder of Columbia netminder Josh Blackburn at 10:38 of the opening period. Anthony Aquino picked up an assist on the goal as he fed Brown in the slot with 15 seconds remaining in the first penalty. Brandon Dietrich also had an assist on the Goal.

Jim Jackson ripped a slap-shot from the left wing circle seconds into the remaining power play. The defenseman tallied the goal at 11:17 of the first period unassisted on the power play.

Columbia answered two minutes later as Terry Harrison slipped down the left wing and rolled the puck past Gladiators goaltender Mike Buckley to cut the Gladiators lead to 2-1. Tim Smith and Mike Romenesky added the assists on the goal.

The Gladiators regained the two-goal advantage with a second remaining before the end of the opening period. Blue Bennefield crashed the net and rolled the puck past Blackburn as time expired in the opening period. Kevin Doell added an assist as he jammed the faceoff with 2.2 seconds left in the period to the front of the net where a waiting Bennefield flipped the puck into the net.

Columbia's Jesse Schultz equaled the Gladiators goal total in the second period helping the Inferno to a 5-3 lead at the end of the middle stanza.

Schultz picked up the first of his three goals at 6:12 of the second period when hi picked up a rebound off the dasher behind the net and ripped the rebound past Buckley. Derek Eastman and Sean Owens added an assist on the goal.

Two minutes later, Schultz picked up his second of the night as he ripped a slap shot past Buckley from the left wing circle. Terry Harrison and Tim Smith added the assists on the goal.

Schultz completed the natural hat trick at 10:54 of the second with a one-timer from the right wing circle on the power play. Smith and Owens added the helpers on the goal that gave the Inferno their first lead of the game at 4-3.

Columbia extended its lead to two goals as Terry Harrison tallied his second goal of the afternoon with 6:16 remaining in the second period. Smith added his fourth assist of the game on the goal while Jesse Schultz also picked up an assist on the tally.

Mike Buckley made 23 saves for the Gladiators who fall to 29-18-4 on the season in the loss. Gwinnett went 2-for-2 on the power play in the loss.

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ECHL Stories from February 16, 2004


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