ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Fall to Checkers 4-1

Published on April 3, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Despite setting a new ECHL record for power play goals in a season, Gwinnett could not stop Charlotte as the Checkers won their sixth straight game defeating the Gladiators 4-1 on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Tuesday night. Gwinnett is now just 2 points ahead of Charlotte in third place in the South Division as the Gladiators fall to 40-23-7

The Charlotte Checkers took a 1-0 lead on the Gladiators as Mark Lee was able to flip a centering pass behind Gwinnett netminder Dave Caruso just 5:25 into the first period. Blake Bellefeuille and Ryan Constant collected the assists as they hooked up to set up the marker.

Gwinnett equalized the contest at the 9:38 mark of the first period on Jon Awe's 25th goal of the season. Awe threw a wrist shot past Charlotte netminder Chris Holt from the point for the power play goal for the Gladiators. Chad Painchaud and Andy Contois had the assists, cycling the puck deep in the Charlotte zone on the power play to set up the marker.

Lee collected two more goals for the Checkers in the second period to pick up a hat trick on the Gladiators and give Charlotte a 3-1 lead after two periods. His first came shorthanded as he finished a 2-on-1 break just 1:20 into the middle period, jamming the puck past Caruso for the marker. Bellefeuille and Holt had the assists for the Checkers on the goal.

Charlotte then took a 3-1 lead on Lee's third goal of the game at the 9:16 mark of the second period beating Caruso on a breakaway for the marker. Bellefeuille notched his third assist of the game by springing Lee on the breakaway.

The Checkers added an empty net goal to put the game away with 22 seconds left in the third period. With Caruso pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Mike Ouellette was able to roll the puck into the empty cage for the marker. Jeff Lang and Daymen Rycroft collected the assist on the goal for the Checkers.

Caruso finished with 28 saves in the losing effort for the Gladiators. Gwinnett's only goal came on the power play in the second period to set a new ECHL record for power play goals in a season as it was the Gladiators 116th of the year, surpassing the previous mark held by the Nashville Knights set during the 1995-96 season.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fourth season as a proud member of the ECHL as they host the South Carolina Stingrays on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Friday, April 6th at 7:35 p.m. Season tickets 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 on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice 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 April 3, 2007


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