ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Fall to Elmira, 6-3

November 20, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators dropped a 6-3 decision to the Elmira Jackals on Tuesday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center, and fall to 9-2-1 on the season. Lou Dickenson extended his point scoring streak to nine games in the loss with his sixth goal of the season while Jim Jackson posted a pair of goals for Gwinnett in the losing effort. Bryson Busniuk posted three assists in the loss for Gwinnett as the Gladiators gave up five goals in the third period in the loss.

Elmira took a 1-0 lead on the Gladiators 7:10 into the first period. Brett Pilkington was able to pickup a loose puck in the slot and flick the puck up over the shoulder of Gladiators netminder Craig Kowalski to give Elmira the early 1-0 lead. Jon Landry posted an assist on the goal for the Jackals.

Dickenson knotted the game at one with his sixth goal of the season, beating Elmira netminder Dan LaCosta to the short side for the marker. Bryson Busniuk set up the play as he broke up a Elmira rush in the neutral zone and started back on a 2-on-1 break with Dickenson to set up the goal. The marker came at the 11:58 mark of the first period for Gwinnett.

The Gladiators took their first lead of the game on Jackson's first goal of the game. Jackson picked up a loose puck in the slot and flicked it into an empty net for the marker at the 6:23 mark of the first period. LaCosta couldn't get across the crease after making the initial save on Andy Brandt's point blank shot in the slot. Busniuk also had an assist on the goal for Gwinnett.

Jackson's second goal of the game and his fifth of the season gave the Gladiators a two goal lead on the Jackals with 4:58 left in the second period. Just like his first goal, Jackson picked up a loose puck in the slot and fired the puck into an empty net for the goal as LaCosta couldn't get back in position after making the initial save. Busniuk posted his third assist of the game, while Ryan Mahrle collected an assist on the power play goal for Gwinnett.

The Gladiators couldn't hold the lead giving up a season-high five goals in the third period including a pair of shorthanded goals to the Jackals in the loss. Elmira got the rally going with with a shorthanded goal from Luke Fulghum at the 5:04 mark of the third period. Kevin Ulanski and Dan Boeser collected the assists on the marker.

On the same Gladiators power play, Elmira tied the game at three on Brett Pilkington's second goal of the game. Taking an outlet pass from Joe Grimaldi behind the Gladiators defense, Pilkington beat Kowalski to the glove side for the marker. The shorthanded goal came at the 5:27 mark of the third period.

Elmira took a 4-3 lead on Gwinnett at the 8:28 of the third period. Tomas Kudelka was able to beat Kowalski thorugh traffic in front of the net for the go-ahead goal for the Jackals. Fulghum and Kevin Ulanski posted the assists on the goal for Elmira.

Bobby Robbins pushed the Elmira lead to 5-3 at the 15:40 mark of third period. Pilkington posted his first assist of the night on the marker while Grimaldi also had a helper on the goal.

Pierre-Luc Faubert rounded out the scoring for the Jackals in the contest with a power play goal with less than two minutes left in the third period. Grimaldi posted his third assist of the game for Elmira on the marker while Landry had his second helper of the game on the marker.

The Gladiators gave up five goals in the third period on just 10 shots in the loss. Kowalski finished with 18 saves for the Gladiators in the losing effort. Both teams finished with one power play goal in the game, Gwinnett on seven chances; Elmira on six power play chances.

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Thursday, November 22nd as they host the Texas Wildcatters at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Thursday's game via Accessnorthga.com audio stream channel 3.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the Premier 'AA' Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that has 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08. The 25 teams includes the Mississippi (Biloxi) Sea Wolves, who return after missing two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the expansion Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals. The ECHL will play 900 games beginning Oct. 18 and concluding Apr. 5.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fifth 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.

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