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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Fall to Stingrays 4-1

April 3, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Jordan Fox scored the lone goal for the Gwinnett Gladiators in their 4-1 loss to the South Carolina Stingrays on Friday, April 3rd in front of 6,295 fans at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Gwinnett remains in 4th place and continues to control its own destiny as the Gladiators battle for the final playoff spot in the ECHL's South Division. Mississippi lost in regulation to Florida 3-1 on Friday night. Gwinnett now needs just a half a win to qualify for the post season - an overtime/shootout loss or a win against Charlotte OR a regulation or overtime shootout loss by Mississippi at Florida on Saturday night.

Two of South Carolina's goals came shorthanded from Travis Morin during the first period. Gwinnett went up first at 5:45 of the first period on a goal from Fox, his 29th of the season, and an assist from Adam Berti. Fox needs only one more to become the 7th player in Gladiators' history to post 30 or more goals in one season with Gwinnett.

South Carolina's Jeff Corey and Morin both skated down towards the Gwinnett goal and made a few cross-ice passes, before Morin notched a shorthanded goal which evened the score at 10:26. Morin notched his second shorthanded goal of the evening just eight minutes later, his 26th of the season, to give the Stingrays the go-ahead at the end of the first.

The Gladiators had a chance to even the score at the beginning of the second when Berti was awarded a penalty shot, however, he was unsuccessful. The last time Gwinnett had a penalty shot at home was on February 14th also against South Carolina.

Corey pushed the Stingrays lead to three with a shot through traffic at 17:06 of the middle stanza. Michael Dubuc and Pierre-Luc O'Brien each collected an assist on the goal.

At 11:25 of the final stanza, Scott Romfo notched an unassisted power play goal to give South Carolina the 4-1 lead. The goal was contested by Gwinnett, but was allowed upon review.

Joe Fallon made 26 saves between the pipes for the Gladiators, while James Reimer made 37 for the ‘Rays.

The Gladiators finish up the 2008-09 regular season on Saturday, April 4th as they travel to North Carolina to take on the Charlotte Checkers one last time at the Time Warner Cable Arena at 7:00 p.m. 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.

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