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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Trade Mason, Release Youngclaus

September 15, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators announced today that they have traded the rights to defenseman Jeff Mason to the Kalamazoo Wings for financial considerations and have released the rights to defenseman Phil Youngclaus. Both players received qualifying offers from the Gladiators on July 1st which allowed Gwinnett to retain their rights.

Mason, who led all Gladiators blueliners in scoring last season, appeared in 71 games tallying 36 points on 14 goals and 22 assists. He finished with 26 penalty minutes and a -6 plus-minus rating.

The Easthampton, Massachusetts native skated four years of collegiate hockey for Providence College, compiling 30 points in 125 games for the Friars before beginning his pro career with the Augusta Lynx in 2005. Mason came to the Gladiators in 2007 after splitting his first two professional seasons between Augusta and Long Beach. With the trade, Mason joins his fourth team in five seasons in the ECHL.

Youngclaus departs from the Gladiators after appearing in just 11 games last season as he spent the majority of the time on the injured reserve. He did, however, appear in the post season with the Gwinnett, contributing one assist in five games.

The 26-year-old Methuen, Massachusetts native played four seasons with the University of Vermont, tallying nine points and 78 penalty minutes in 78 games. He made his professional debut with Richmond of the SPHL in 2006 and then spent one season with Pensacola of the ECHL before signing on with the Gladiators last season. With his release, Youngclaus becomes a free agent.

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 is 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 7th season in the ECHL on October 17th, 2009 against the Wheeling Nailers - season ticket packages for the 2009-10 season 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 Columbus Blue Jackets 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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