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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

October 20, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Firsts: The Gladiators won their first ever game 5-3 over the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday night. Besides the team's first win, multiple first occurred in the contest. Some of the first that occurred over the weekend include:

First....

Game: October 18th @ Charlotte Checkers

Win: October 18th @ Charlotte, 5-3

Loss: October 19th @ Columbus Cottonmouths, 4-1

Goal: October 18th, @ Charlotte, Cam Brown at the 12:54 mark of the second period

Assist: October 18th, @ Charlotte, Blue Bennefield on Cam Brown's goal

Goaltender Win: October 18th, @ Charlotte, Adam Munro made 16 saves it the win

Power Play Goal: October 18th, @ Charlotte, J.P. O'Connor at the 6:21 mark of the third

Penalty: October 18th, @ Charlotte, Joe Bourne, Hooking at the 1:32 mark of the first

Empty Net Goal: October 18th, @ Charlotte, Blue Bennefield at the 19:25 mark of the third

Falling Behind: The Gladiators have surrendered the games first goal in each of their first two games. Charlotte jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period before the Gladiators battled back to tie the game and eventually go on to win the contest. On Sunday, Columbus scored the games first goal late in the first period and opened up a 4-0 lead before the Gladiators got on the board early in the third period.

Enforcer: Blue Bennefield leads the Gladiators in penalty minutes with 31 in two games. He did not register a penalty minute in Saturday's win but picked up all 31 in Sunday's 4-1 loss at Columbus including a fighting major. Bennefield's 31 penalty minutes is currently tops in the ECHL.

Pitching In: The Gladiators have gotten offensive help from all parts of their lineup. The team scored six goals and registered eight assists in their first two games over the weekend. Blue Bennefield and Brandon Dietrich are the only two Gladiators to record more than one point over the weekend as Bennefield tallied a goal and an assist while Dietrich chipped in two assists, both in the Gladiators 5-3 win over Charlotte on Saturday night.

In the System: The NHL's Atlanta Thrashers and the AHL's Chicago Wolves have assigned five players to their "AA" affiliate - the Gladiators. Four appeared on the score sheet for the Gladiators over the weekend. Kevin Doell scored the game-winning goal in Saturday's 5-3 win over Charlotte while Brandon Dietrich had two assists in the contest. Evan Neilsen scored the Gladiators only goal in Sunday's 4-1 loss at Columbus with Anthony Aquino picking up an assist on the goal. Paul Flache, the only prospect who did not register a point, was a +1 over the weekend.

On the Air: Catch every Gladiators game, home and away, online at www.sportsjuice.com. Link up from the Gladiators home page, www.gwinnettgladiators.com. The Pre-Game show begins 15 minutes before the opening face off.

Community Update: The Gwinnett Gladiators have teamed up with Gwinnett's Great Day's of Service county-wide day of service work as volunteers have been given the opportunity to purchase tickets to the Gladiators opening weekend games. Gladiators Director of Community Relations Jim Hall will be representing the Gladiators at the Great Day's of Service opening ceremonies on Friday, October 24th from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Discover Mills Shopping Center. For more information about the Great Day's of Service, please contact Paige Havens at 770-962-5327.

Last Week's Games: 1-1-0, 2 points

October 18th, Gladiators 5, Charlotte 3, W

The Gwinnett Gladiators used four third period goals to down the Charlotte Checkers, 5-3 in their first ever ECHL game. Charlotte jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Dusty Jamieson, 2:14 into the first period, and Blaz Emersic, shorthanded midway through the second. The Gladiators battled back as captain Cam Brown netted the Gladiators first ever goal at the 12:54 mark of the second period as he pushed a loose puck past Charlotte net minder Scott Meyer. Blue Bennefied added an assist on the goal. Phil Lewandowski tied the game up at two goals apiece 29 seconds into the third while J.P. O'Connor's power play goal gave the Gladiators a 3-2 lead. Charlotte's Mike Wirll tied the game up at three at the 7:57 mark of the third but 12 seconds later Kevin Doell regained the lead for the Gladiators with his first goal of the season. Blue Bennefied added an empty net goal for the Gladiators with 35 seconds left in the contest to round out the scoring at 5-3. The Gladiators went 1-5 on the power play while Adam Munro made 16 saves for the Gladiators in the win.

October 19th, Columbus 4, Gladiators 1, L

The Gladiators could not overcome a 4-0 third period deficit as they fell 4-1 to the Columbus Cottonmouths on Sunday. Columbus used goals by Ryan Risidore at the 18:49 mark of the first, Matt Shasby, at the game's halfway point, and by Peter Hogan, at 15:30 mark, to jump out to a 3-0 lead after two periods. Carlyle Lewis gave the Cottonmouths a 4-0 lead 3:34 into the third period. Evan Nielsen got the Gladiators on the board at the 6:32 mark of the third period as he picked up a loose puck in the slot and flipped it past Columbus goaltender Oliver Michaud to break the shutout. The Gladiators could get no closer as Adam Munro made 17 saves in the loss for the Gladiators and falls to 1-1-0 on the season.

This Week's Games:

Friday, October 24th vs. Augusta Lynx, 7:35 p.m.

The Gladiators beat the Lynx in two exhibition games two weeks ago, 3-2 in a closed door scrimmage at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Friday, October 10th, and 6-3 in Augusta the following night. The Gladiators home opener marks the first of six meetings against the Lynx this season and the first of three home games against instate rival Augusta. As the Mobile Mysticks, the Gladiators organization went 6-9-1 against the Lynx in 16 games.

Saturday, October 25th vs. Charlotte Checkers, 7:35 p.m.

Gladiators lead the season series 1-0-0 with last Saturday's season opening 5-3 win in Charlotte. The Checkers played just one game this past weekend, the opening night loss to the Gladiators. They face Greenville Friday evening before heading to the Arena at Gwinnett Center for Saturday's match up. The Gladiators face the Checkers six more times this season, with five of the six meetings taking place before January 1st.

This Week's Practice Schedule:

All practices at the Arena at Gwinnett Center are closed to the General Public. All practices at the Ice Forum are open to the General Public.

Monday, Oct. 20th – Day Off

Tuesday, Oct. 21st – Duluth Ice Forum, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 22nd – Duluth Ice Forum, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 23rd – Arena at Gwinnett Center, 10 – 11 a.m.

Friday, Oct. 24th – Arena at Gwinnett Center, 10 am, Pre Game Skate

Saturday, Oct. 25th – Arena at Gwinnett Center, 10 am, Pre Game Skate

Sunday, Oct 26th – Day Off

Gladiators fans, don't miss opening weekend when the Augusta Lynx come to the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Friday, October 24th for Labor Ready Thundersticks giveaway, and Saturday, October 25th when the Charlotte Checkers visit the Arena for Kroger & accessAtlanta Rally Towel give away. Call the Gladiators office at 770-497-5100 for more information.

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ECHL Stories from October 20, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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