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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Clinch Playoff Berth; Shutout Checkers 3-0

April 4, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Charlotte, NC - The Gwinnett Gladiators clinched a berth in the 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 3-0 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday, April 4th at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Joe Fallon notched the first shutout of the season in the win for Gwinnett making 32 saves. with the win, Gwinnett opens the 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs at Florida on Friday, April 10th.

Brandon Kaleniecki opened the scoring in the contest giving Gwinnett a 1-0 lead 15:34 into the first period. Parked on the doorstep, Kaleniecki found a rebound and flicked it past Charlotte netminder Jeff Jakaitis for the goal. Jeff Mason and Tom Zanoski collected the assists on the power play goal for Gwinnett.

Gwinnett took a 2-0 lead on the Checkers 2:08 into the third period on a power play goal by Adam Berti. Out of a scrum in front of the Charlotte net, Berti found a loose puck and beat Jakaitis on a second chance for the goal. Mason and Zanoski each added their second assist of the game on the power play goal for Gwinnett.

Dirk Southern added an empty net goal for the Gladiators with 28 seconds left in the third period to put the contest away. Southern took a rink wide pass from Brandon Kaleniecki before ripping the puck into the empty net from just inside the Charlotte blue line. Berti also added an assist on the goal for the Gladiators.

Gwinnett went 2-for-5 on the power play and snapped a three game losing skid with the win. The shutout by Fallon for Gwinnett was the first shutout since March 29th of 2008 when Craig Kowalski made 18 saves at Florida.

With the win, the Gladiators clinch the final spot in the ECHL's South Division playoff race and will battle the first place Florida Everblades in the opening round that begins on Friday in Florida. The complete schedule is below:

GAME 1 - Friday, April 10 Gwinnett at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

GAME 2 - Saturday, April 11 Gwinnett at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

GAME 3 - Thursday, April 16 Florida at Gwinnett, 7:05 p.m.

GAME 4 - Friday, April 17 Florida at Gwinnett, 7:35 p.m.

GAME 5* - Sunday, April 19 Florida at Gwinnett, 4:05 p.m.

GAME 6* - Tuesday, April 21 Gwinnett at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

GAME 7* - Wednesday, April 22 Gwinnett at Florida, 7:30 p.m

* - If necessary

The Gladiators return to action on Friday, April 10th as they travel to Florida to take on the Everblades at 7:30 p.m. in Game 1 of the Division Semifinals. Catch all the play by play action on WDUN.com.

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 continue their sixth season as a proud member of the ECHL - 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.

Check out the Atlanta Gladiators Statistics



ECHL Stories from April 4, 2009


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