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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Trade Kowalski to Phoenix

October 13, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators announced today that they have traded goaltender Craig Kowalski to the Phoenix Roadrunners in exchange for forward Bryan Esner.

Esner joins the Gladiators from Phoenix after splitting time between the Pensacola Ice Pilots and the South Carolina Stingrays last season. He combined for 24 goals and 30 assists for 54 points in 71 games last year in the ECHL.

The Paradise Valley, AZ native began his professional career appearing in 12 games with the Peoria Rivermen in the American Hockey League during the 2006-07 season.

Prior to joining the Rivermen, Esner completed his senior season at Northeastern University where he finished with a collegiate career best 8 goals during the year while appearing in all 36 games. During his four year collegiate career, Esner posted 18 goals and 27 assists in 131 career collegiate game.

Kowalski heads to Phoenix after joining the Gladiators in training camp on October 8th after attending training camp with the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League. He shared a league best posting 29 wins last season while with the Gladiators.

Training camp continues on Tuesday at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 10:30 a.m. as the Gladiators prepare for the regular season which opens on Saturday, October 18th at the Arena at Gwinnett Center as they host the Mississippi Sea Wolves at 7:05 p.m.

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 open their sixth season as a proud member of the ECHL in October of 2008 - 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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