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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Pick Up 3-2 win Over Charlotte

November 24, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Mike Vigilante posted the game winning goal for the Gladiators in the fifth round of the shootout to help Gwinnett to a 3-2 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. With the win, Gwinnett improves to 11-3-1 on the season.

Charlotte broke a scoreless tie just 6:06 into the first period. Parked in the slot, Blake Bellefeuille picked up a loose puck and ripped a snap shot from 15 feet out over the glove of Gladiators netminder Dan Turple for the marker. Kaleb Betts notched an assist on the goal for the Checkers.

Mike Hamilton's 6th goal of the season on the power play tied the game at 1 late in the second period. Picking up a loose puck along the bottom of the right wing face off circle, Hamilton flicked the puck over the shoulder of Charlotte netminder Len DiCostanzo for the marker at 16:57 of the period. Jamie Milam and Derek Nesbitt posted the assists on the power play goal for Gwinnett.

The two teams exchanged goals in the third period, with Gwinnett taking its first lead of the game with 5:26 left in the third period on Bryan Dobek's first goal of the game. Taking a feed from Andy Brandt in the left wing circle, Dobek beat DiCostanzo with a quick snapshot for the marker.

With the netminder DiCostanzo pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Mark Smith was able to find a loose puck in the slot in front of the Gwinnett net and beat Turple with just 4 seconds left in the third period to tie the game at two. Kenton Smith and Bellefeuille posted the assists on the goal for Charlotte.

The teams skated to a scoreless tie through overtime before Vigilante won the contest in the finals round of the shootout. Nesbitt and Jordan Owens exchanged goals in the first rounds to set up Vigilante's game-winning tally. Turple tied a Gladiators season high for saves in a game posting 48 in the shootout win to improve to 4-1-0 on the year.

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Friday, November 30th as they travel to Beaumont, Texas to take on the Texas Wildcatters at the Ford Arena at 8:30 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Friday'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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ECHL Stories from November 24, 2007


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