ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Game Preview: Royals at Gladiators

Published on January 25, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


When: TODAY at 2:05 P.M.

Where: The Arena at Gwinnett Center

Listen: WDUN.com, 'Listen,' Stream 3; Gladiators Broadcast Network - www.gwinnettgladiators.com/radio, www.mixlr.com/gladiators-radio, Mixlr app (Gladiators Radio)

Promotion: Kroger Family Sunday

DULUTH, Ga. - The Gladiators (14-21-1-1) look to close out their three-game home weekend with another win as they take on the Reading Royals (24-13-1-1) for the only time this season on Sunday afternoon. Reading joined the Gladiators' East Division when the ECHL absorbed the Central Hockey League and realigned itself into four divisions. The other team that joined the East was the Elmira Jackals; Gwinnett finished that series with Elmira at the beginning of the month, splitting the two game set.

For the second straight night, a Gladiator achieved a hat trick to defeat the Florida Everblades. On Friday night it was Greg Carey for his second hat trick of the year. On Saturday it was Carey's linemate, Casey Pierro-Zabotel for his first professional hat trick. Pierro-Zabotel's OT game winner not only notched the hat trick for the veteran, but it was also his 300th career point.

Glads Notes:

Hats Off: The Gladiators achieved hat tricks on back-to-back nights this weekend, a very rare feat that has only happened once before in Gladiators history. On January 6th, 2006, rookie Milan Gajic had a hat trick to help defeat the Pensacola Ice Pilots, 6-2. The next night, on January 7th, Guillaume Desbiens contributed to nearly every one of Gwinnett's six goals with four goals and an assist in the team's 6-3 win over the Columbia Inferno. Gajic and Desbiens would go on to achieve back to back hat tricks again in the playoffs later that season (May 1st vs. Florida and May 5th vs. Toledo).

Carey Rocks: Greg Carey notched his second hat trick of the season in the Gladiators win last night. His previous hat trick came on November 9th against the South Carolina Stingrays, when he scored four goals and achieved a natural hat trick in the win. With his three goal performance last night, Carey became the fourth Gladiator in team history to have two hat tricks in the same regular season (Kevin Doell - 03-04, Brad Schell - 05-06, and Colton Fretter - 06-07).

Glad to Have Yuen: Gwinnett traded for defenseman Zach Yuen on Saturday, and later that night, Yuen made his debut in a big way for the Gladiators. Yuen scored the Gladiators' first goal of the night at 17:46 of the second to tie the score at one. In overtime, Yuen took the initial shot from the top of the zone, which Pierro-Zabotel tipped in front of the crease to win the game, 1:10 into extra hockey.

Gladiators Ahoy: Three players currently on the Gladiators roster have been assigned from their AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates- James Melindy, Dyson Stevenson, and Greg Carey - and seven more - Joel Hanley (POR), Dan O'Donoghue (POR), Louis Domingue (POR), Jordon Southorn (POR), Mike Lee (POR), Bretton Stamler (HFD), and Casey Pierro-Zabotel (NOR) - have spent time in the AHL this year.

Milestones: Garry Nunn played in his 250th professional and ECHL game on Friday ... Casey Pierro-Zabotel notched his 300th professional point with his hat trick goal/OT game-winner ... Sean Berkstresser is four points away from his 200th professional point ... Geoff Paukovich is two goals from his 50th as a pro, and two points away from his 100th ECHL point.

Streaks: Casey Pierro-Zabotel has seven goals and 19 assists in his last 18 games, and points in seven of his last nine (7g, 8a) ... Will MacDonald has points in four of his last six games (3g, 3a) ... Garry Nunn has two goals and five assists in his last six games ... Greg Carey has four goals and four assists in his last five ... Brenden Walker has two goals and three assists in his last four games

Check out the Atlanta Gladiators Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from January 25, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central