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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Clip Checkers 4-3

February 5, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Charlotte, N.C. - The Gwinnett Gladiators overcame a 2-goal first period deficit to knock off the Charlotte Checkers 4-3 on Thurday night at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Gwinnett improves to 19-20-5 on the season with the win.

Charlotte took a 1-0 lead on the Gladiators 3:44 into the first period. Julien Brouillette was able to rip a snapshot past Gladiators netminder Josh Johnson from the left wing circle for the goal. Chris Capraro and Lee Falardeau had the assists on the goal for the Checkers.

Brad Ralph pushed the Checkers lead to 2-0 capitalizing on a Gladiators defensive turnover inside the Gwinnett zone. Ralph picked up a bad pass by the Gladiators in the slot and walked in untouched on Johnson before flicking the puck past the netminder for the marker. Ralph's goal came unassisted and shorthanded for the Checkers at 12:27 of the first period.

Gwinnett got on the board on the power play at 5:55 of the second period. Parked along the goal line, Dirk Southern was able to roll the puck over the leg of Checkers netminder Jeff Jakaitis for the goal. Pat Bateman had an assist on the tally for the Gladiators.

Jeff Mason tied the game at two with his 7th goal of the season. Mason corralled a rebound in the slot and beat Jakaitis to the short side tucking the puck just inside the near post for the goal. Bateman and Brennan Turner posted the assists on the power play goal for Gwinnett coming halfway through the second period.

Charlotte regained the lead with their first power play goal of the game at 12:35 of the second period. Ryan Murphy beat Johnson from point blank range in the slot for the marker. Mike Taylor and Falardeau notched the assists on the goal for the Checkers.

Jordan Fox tied the game at 3-3 early in the third period. Stealing the puck inside the Charlotte blue line, Fox danced into the Checkers zone before ripping a slap shot past Jakaitis for the goal. Fox's marker came unassisted 2:13 into the third period.

Gwinnett took a 4-3 lead with their third power play goal of the game. Tom Zanoski found a loose puck in the slot and ripped a quick shot past Jakaitis for the go-ahead goal. Andy Brandt posted an assist on the power play goal for Gwinnett at 10:51 of the third period.

Johnson finished with 34 saves in the win for Gwinnett as the Gladiators went 3-for-8 on the power play while limiting the Checkers to just one power play goal on 8 chances in the contest.

The Gladiators continue the 2008-09 season at the Arena at Gwinnett Center as they host the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday, February 7, 2009 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 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 5, 2009


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