ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Make a Flurry of Moves on Day Four of Camp

October 8, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


DULUTH, Ga. - Forward Alex Belzile will start his second pro season back in Gwinnett, after signing with the Gladiators on Tuesday. In addition, the Gladiators acquired the rights to defenseman Nathan Martine from the Toledo Walleye for future considerations, signed defenseman Kirill Tulupov, and released defensemen Dan Christensen and Dustin Hopfner, along with forward Scott Howe.

After today's moves Gwinnett's Training Camp roster sits at 23, with the season opener set for Friday, October 18th at 7:05 p.m. at the Arena at Gwinnett Center against the Greenville Road Warriors.

Belzile (pronounced BELL-zeal), 22, put together a breakout season with the Gladiators last season, racking up 30 points (ten goals, 20 assists) in 40 games. He also impressed during a stint with the Hamilton Bulldogs in the AHL, scoring three goals to go with five assists in just 14 games. His first career AHL goal came in his first game, and was the only tally in a 1-0 Hamilton win over Syracuse on March 22nd.

The St. Eloi, Quebec native was signed as a free agent by the Gladiators prior to the start of last season, after three productive seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Martine (pronounced mar-TEEN-ee), 25, skated in six games with the Reading Royals of the ECHL last season, after he wrapped up his four-year collegiate career. The Port Colborne, Ontario native scored nine goals to go with 34 assists in 105 games at the University of Guelph in Ontario.

Prior to that, Martine played in 314 games in the Ontario Hockey League over five years with four different teams, totaling 128 points (30 goals, 98 assists), 441 penalty minutes, and a +15 rating.

Tulupov (pronounced ke-RIL too-LE-pov), 25, jumped between the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia with two different teams before ending up in Arizona with the Central Hockey League's Sundogs last season. Tulupov had two assists in 19 KHL games, and three goals and an assist in 15 games at Arizona.

The Moscow, Russia native spent the 2011-12 season in the American Hockey League with the Oklahoma City Barons, tallying eight points (one goal, seven assists) and 71 penalty minutes in 33 games. Tulupov was a third round pick (#67 overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils.

The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the nation's premier "AA" hockey league and are affiliated with the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL. All home games are played at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.

Atlanta's only professional hockey franchise opens their 11th season on October 18th against division rival Greenville. For all the latest team news, contests, and more visit GwinnettGladiators.com, or "like" the Gladiators on Facebook, and follow the team on Twitter.

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