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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Drop Final PreSeason Game in Florida 6-5

October 10, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gladiators got two goals from Tom Zanoski while Chris Zarb tallied three assists but the Gladiators rally came up short in a 6-5 loss to the Florida Everblades in the final preseason game of the 2009-10 season on Saturday night at the Germain Arena in Estero Florida. Ernie Hartlieb paced Florida with two goals, while Steve McJannet and Kevin Baker fired in a goal and an assist.

The Everblades came out firing in the first period, out-shooting the Gladiators 17-6. Florida opened the scoring at 4:43 to make it 1-0, while Steve McJannet chipped in his first goal of the preseason. Kevin Baker almost made it 2-0 on a breakaway, but he was denied by Gwinnett goaltender Josh Johnson. Everblades right winger Ernie Hartlieb cashed in on his own breakaway goal at 8:56. Ross Carlson and goaltender Mike Morrison were credited with helpers on the goal. Fourteen seconds later, the Blades made it 3-0 as Elgin Reid also added his first goal of the preseason.

Gwinnett finally got on the score sheet thanks to Tom Zanoski's shot, which slipped past Blades goaltender Mike Morrison's glove. Blades right winger Steve McJannet and Gwinnett defensemen Brandon Gentile got into some fisticuffs at 15:05. McJannet delivered a couple right upper cuts after pulling Gentile's jersey over his head. Jason Reese nearly put the Blades up by three with a breakaway as time expired.

Fifty seconds into the second period, Gladiators defensemen Chris Zarb took a double minor penalty for hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct. The Blades were able to further extend their lead thanks to Scott Hotham's second goal in as many nights. Kevin Baker and Milan Gajic added assists on Hotham's power-play tally.

Gwinnett stormed back with two quick goals during a 3:11 span. Gladiator's defensemen Michael Couch added a power-play goal and forward Scott Mifsud added an even strength goal to cut the Everblades lead to one midway through the second frame. Kevin Baker extended the Blades lead to 5-3 with his 2nd goal in as many nights and sixth point in the preseason. The Blades had a handful of opportunities to score with less than a minute left in the period. Kevin Baker rang the post and Cleve Kinley had a shot sneak in and out of pads of netminder Danny Taylor. Gwinnett out shot Florida 15-7 in the second stanza.

Gwinnett left winger Adam Berti helped inch the Gladiators back in the contest with a one-timer from the right circle to make it 5-4. Ernie Hartlieb answered for Florida with his second goal of the night to put the Blades back up by two with 9:10 to play. Gwinnett's Tom Zanoski answered Hartlieb's with his second goal of the contest to again cut the Everblade lead to one goal. Florida held off Gwinnett in the final minutes to preserve the victory, 6-5 and notch their second straight preseason win over the Gladiators.

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 is 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 7th season in the ECHL on October 17th, 2009 against the Wheeling Nailers - season ticket packages for the 2009-10 season 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 Columbus Blue Jackets 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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