ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Punched Out 4-1 by Blades

March 28, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators and the Florida Everblades combined for 244 penalty minutes which saw two goalie fights as the Everblades posted a 4-1 win over the Gladiators on Friday night at the Germain Arena. the fisticuffs began in the second period after Florida opened up a 4-1 lead on Gwinnett. The loss, coupled with a win by the South Carolina Stingrays moved the Gladiators back into a tie for second place in the ECHL's South Division. Both Gwinnett and South Carolina now have 89 points on the season.

For the fifth straight game against the Everblades, Florida opened up an early lead on the Gladaitors. Ernie Hartlieb ripped a slapshot from the right wing circle past Gladiators netminder Dan Turple to give Florida a 1-0 lead. Brandon Roach and Derek Damon notched the assists on the power play goal for the Everblades posted just 2:38 into the first period.

Preston Callander pushed the Everblades lead to 2-0 at 10:14 of the first period. After Turple made the initial save, the puck trickled into the crease where Callander whacked the puck into the net for the goal. Brad Zancanaro and Damon had the assists on the goal for the Everblades.

Gwinnett pulled back within a goal just 35 seconds later. Jeff Campbell posted his 24th goal of the season beating Florida netminder David Shantz from the high slot for the goal. Campbell worked off the dasherboard before taking a pass along the blue line from Lou Dickenson to set up the goal. Jeff Mason also had an assist on the goal at 10:49 of the first period.

Florida pulled back ahead by two goals at 14:15 of the first period. Callander posted his second goal of the game finishing a 3-on-2 break beating Turple from the lefting wing side. Zancanaro and Brett Peterson notched the assists on the goal for Florida moving into the Gwinnett zone to set up the marker with Callander.

Callander completed the hat trick at 12:46 of the second period ripping a snap shot past Turple from the right wing circle right off a face-off. Damon notched his third assist of the game for the Everblades setting up Callander on the marker.

Things got interesting after Florida's fourth goal. Turple and Shantz both picked up game misconducts as the second fighting altercation at 13:13 of the second period as the two met at center ice and got into a goalie fight. Myles Stoesz and Brett Peterson both picked up fighting majors which started the altercation that saw Shantz and Turple meet at center ice for the goalie fight. Both goalies did not finish the game as Craig Kowalski replaced Turple for Gwinnett while Kevin Nastiuk replaced Shantz for Florida.

In the third, the fighting continued as Jeff Campbell got into it with Ernie Hartlieb at 3:28 of the period. Kowalski and Nastiuk each wandered to center ice before being broken up while everyone on the ice at the time got involved in the skirmish was penalized. The fighting continued at 4:48 of the third period as Jon Sitko and Stoesz got into fisticuffs with Roach and B.J. Bittner. Again, everyone took a dancing partner with more penalties dished out. Gwinnett was successful on the 7 minute penalty kill the ensued out of the penalties assessed to Stoesz. Gwinnett finished with 131 penalty minutes in the loss. Florida posted 113 penalty minutes in the contest. The 131 peanlty minutes was a new all time Gladiators high for most penalty mintues in a game.

Turple collected the loss as he finished with 17 saves for Gwinnett. Kowalksi finished with 13 saves in relief of Turple and did not allow a goal over the final period and a half for Gwinnett.

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Saturday, March 29th as they travel to Florida to take on the Everblades at the Germain Arena at 7:30 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Saturday's game online via AccessNorthGa.com audio streaming 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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