ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

December 8, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Scoring Goals? Gladiators forward Blue Bennefield added his team leading 11th goal in yesterday's 3-1 win over Columbia and punched in his 10th goal of the season in Tuesday's 5-1 victory over Charlotte. Bennefield is just one of 3 players to lead his respective team in goals scored as well as penalty minutes. Augusta's Scott Kelman and Trenton's Matt Zultek each lead their respective team in goals and penalty minutes. Bennefield has tallied 117 penalty minutes on the season and his 11 goals is tops among the Gladiators.

The Winner: Chris Durno tallied his first and second game-winning goals of the season this week. Durno had Friday's game winning goal against Columbus as well as the winner on Sunday against the Inferno. Kris Goodjohn leads the Gladiators in game winning goals with three on the year.

A Wall: Michael Garnett has been rock-solid for the Gladiators lately and allowed just one goal in each game this week. Garnett recorded a 5-1 win in Charlotte on Tuesday; a 3-1 victory on Friday against Columbus; allowed one goal in a 2-1 loss against South Carolina on Saturday and shutout Columbia for 56:20 in Sunday's 3-1 win against the Inferno. In this week's four games, Garnett posted a 1.50 goals against average and a .958 save percentage.

Back on Track: The Gladiators broke a four game home winless streak on Friday with a 3-1 win over the Columbus Cottonmouths. Entering Friday's game, the Gladiators were 0-2-2 at home in their previous four with regulation losses in their last two. With a win on Friday and Sunday, the Gladiators have put together a two game home winning streak.

Lending a helping hand: Gladiators forward Brandon Dietrich continues to add assists for the Gladiators. He picked up a helper in the Gladiators 3-1 win on Friday against Columbus. With 21 assists on the year, Dietrich is in a tie for first place in the ECHL for most assists so far this season. Dietrich's 21 assists leads the Gladiators and his 24 points is also a team high for Gwinnett.

Moving On Up: Anthony Aquino became the third Gladiator to be called up to the American Hockey League on Wednesday as he was recalled to the Gladiators affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. Aquino joins Mike Vigilante, who was called up to the Portland Pirates, and Adam Munro, who was called up to the Norfolk Admirals, in the AHL. Vigilante tallied an assist on Friday for the Pirates while Aquino did not figure in the scoring for the Wolves over the weekend. Munro did not see any action for the Admirals this past weekend.

Community Update:

Legacy Academy, Riverside & Suwanee– Gladiators Director of Community Relations Jim Hall as well as Kris Goodjohn and Evan Nielsen will be at the Legacy Academy in Riverside on Tuesday, December 9th for "Story Time" , while Gladiators Assistant GM Pam Marion as well as Troy Milam and Steve Slonina will be at the Legacy Academy in Suwanee for "Story Time." For more information about Legacy Academy, please contact Hanna Bass at 770-932-8354.

Beef O'Bradys – Suwanee – Gladiators Director of Community Relations Jim Hall and Gladiators Players will be at the Beef ‘O' Bradys in Suwanee on Wednesday, December 10th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to sign autographs. For more information about Beef ‘O' Bradys contact Steve Perry at 678-546-5644.

"Jingle Jog" – Maximus the Mascot will make an appearance at the 16th Annual "Jingle Jog" 5K at the COSTCO near Perimeter Mall on Saturday, December 13th from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The "Jingle Jog" benefits the Salvation Army "Angel Tree". For more information about the event, contact Joe Morris at 770-888-9481.

Last Week's Games: 3-1-0, 6 pts.

December 2nd, Gladiators 5, Charlotte 1 – W

Blue Bennefield opened the scoring at 8:22 of the first period. The Gladiators took a 2-0 lead to the first intermission when Cam Brown slipped out of a scrum in the corner and ripped a snap-shot through traffic and past Meyer. Kevin Doell pushed the Gladiators lead to 3-0 at 6:49 of the second period on quick shot that beat Meyer over the shoulder. Brandon Cullen beat Gladiators goaltender Michael Garnett on a quick shot through traffic from the right face off circle to get the Checkers on the board. The Gladiators took a 4-1 lead early in the third period on Wes Fox's first professional goal. Troy Milam added a power play goal at the 4:23 mark of the third period to round out the scoring. December 5th, Gladiators 3, Columbus 1 – W

The Gladiators opened up a 1-0 lead on a Brandon Dietrich laser from the left face-off circle that beat Columbus netminder Oliver Michaud over the shoulder. Colin Pepperall was left wide open in the slot and beat Gladiators net minder Michael Garnett on a virtual breakaway at 15:28 of the period. Chris Durno scored the game winner off a centering feed from Kevin Doell at the 12:53 mark of the third period. The Gladiators added an empty-net goal as Kevin Doell was able to pick up a loose puck in the neutral zone and roll the puck into the empty net.

December 6th, South Carolina 2, Gladiators – L

South Carolina broke the defensive struggle late in the second period as Robin Gomez was able to jam a loose puck past Gladiators goaltender Mike Buckley at 13:39 of the second period. Steve Sloninia knotted the contest at 1-1 at 12:08 of the third period as he was able to slip a backhand shot past South Carolina netminder Kirk Daubenspeck. Robin Gomez scored the game winner as he fired a slapshot over the shoulder of Gladiators netminder Michael Garnett, who relieved a banged up Mike Buckley at the beginning of the third period, on an odd-man rush at 18:16 of the third.

December 7th, Gladiators 3, Columbia 1 - W

The Gladiators opened the scoring at 7:12 of the first period when Evan Nielsen slipped down from his point position and took a centering pass from Kevin Doell and fired the puck past Columbia netminder Josh Blackburn. Chris Durno extended the Gladiators lead to 2-0 as he took a Wes Fox deflected shot and fired the puck past Columbia netminder Blackburn at 4:40 of the second. Paul Cabana snapped Michael Garnett's shutout as he flipped the puck over Garnett's shoulder on a 5-on-3 power play at 15:44 of the third period. Blue Bennefield answered for the Gladiators just 36 seconds later with his 11th goal of the season as he ripped a slapshot past Blackburn to give the Gladiators a 3-1 lead.

This Week's Games:

Thursday, December 11th, @ Greensboro, 7:05 p.m.

Greensboro handed the Gladiators their second regulation loss of the season back on November 8th in Greensboro. With the win, the Generals lead the season series 1-0-0 with 6 games remaining this season against the Gladiators.

Friday, December 12th, @ South Carolina, 7:35 p.m.

The Gladiators look for revenge against the Stingrays in a rematch at the North Charleston Coliseum. Gwinnett is 1-1-1 on the season against the Stingrays. Following Friday's match up, the Gladiators face South Carolina just two more times this season.

Saturday, December 13th, @ Augusta, 7:35 p.m.

The Gladiators play their second divisional game in the past three weeks and their second on the road against the Lynx this season. The Gladiators lead the season series 2-0-0 with a win at the Arena at Gwinnett Center and a win in Augusta.

Check out the Atlanta Gladiators Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 8, 2003


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