ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

Published on December 15, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Perfection: Gladiators Goaltender Michael Garnett has been close to perfect for the Gladiators this season and posted his first two professional shutouts this week with a 40 save performance to blank the Greensboro General, 2-0 on Thursday. Garnett came back with a 29 save effort to shut out the Augusta Lynx, 4-0 on Saturday night. Garnett was honored as the ECHL's goaltender of the week for the week of December 1st through December 7th as he went 3-1-0 that week.

Back in the Flow: Phil Lewandowski scored his first goal on Saturday night since returning to the Gladiators line up following a shoulder injury that kept the speedy forward out the Gwinnett line up for much of November. Lewandowski chipped in another goal as well as an assist on Saturday while he tallied his first assist of the season in the Gladiators 5-1 loss at South Carolina on Friday.

Helper: Brandon Dietrich picked up his 22nd assist of the season in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Augusta Lynx. His 22 assists is good for a tie for 4th in the ECHL for helpers on the year. Dietrich's 25 points on the season leads the Gladiators in scoring.

Rookies: The Gladiators have 4 players in the ECHL top 20 in scoring among rookies this season. Kevin Doell is in a tie for fifth place with 21 points while Troy Milam has tallied 19 points and Kris Goodjohn has put up 18 points. Despite missing a host of games this season, Anthony Aquino is in a tie for 13th place with 17 points on the year. The Gladiators 4 players in the top 20 among rookies in scoring are currently the most by any ECHL team.

In the "A": Evan Nielsen became the latest Gladiator to be recalled to the American Hockey League as he was called up to the Chicago Wolves on Tuesday. Nielsen joins Mike Vigilante as well as Adam Munro on AHL rosters. Vigilante did not register a point for the Portland Pirates over the weekend while Adam Munro allowed just one goal in the Admirals 1-0 loss to Worcester on Wednesday. Anthony Aquino returned to the Gladiators from the AHL as he was reassigned to Gwinnett from Chicago on Wednesday.

Stung! The Gladiators are 5-2-0 in their last seven games and continue to sit atop the ECHL's Central Division with 37 points through 26 games. The Gladiators only regulation losses in that stretch came at the hands of the South Carolina Stingrays, a 2-1 loss on December 6th and a 5-1 loss this past week on December 12th.

Community Update:

Legacy Academy, Dacula & Lawrenceville – Gladiators Director of Community Relations Jim Hall as well as Kris Goodjohn and Joe Bourne will be at the Legacy Academy in Dacula on Tuesday, December 16th for "Story Time" , while Gladiators Assistant GM Pam Marion as well as Wes Fox and Jim Jackson will be at the Legacy Academy in Lawrenceville for "Story Time." For more information about Legacy Academy, please contact Hanna Bass at 770-932-8354.

Phoenix High School – Students from Phoenix High School will be given a classroom tour of the Gladiators Training Room by Gladiators Athletic Trainer Megan Guthrie & Gladiator Director of Community Relations Jim Hall on Wednesday, December 17th from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information about Phoenix High School contact Jen Burcal at 770-513-6862

Lawrenceville Elementary School - Gladiators Director of Community Relations Jim Hall, as well as players Chris Durno and Michael Garnett will represent the Gladiators at the SLAP Shots School Awards at Lawrenceville Elementary School on Thursday, December 18th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information about Lawrenceville Elementary School, contact Laura Clark at 770-963-1813.

Last Week's Games: 2-1-0, 4 pts.

December 11th, Gladiators 2, Greensboro 0 – W

Michael Garnett made 40 saves to post his first professional shutout in the Gladiators 2-0 win over the Generals at the Greensboro Coliseum. Wes Fox opened the scoring late in the first period on a fluttering slap shot from the right face-off circle that eluded Greensboro goaltender Jamie Hodson under the right arm to give the Gladiators a 1-0 lead at 15:01 of the first period. Fox's goal was all the Gladiators would need. Kevin Doell added an insurance goal to give the Gladiators a 2-0 lead midway through the second as he picked up a rebound in the slot and ripped the puck past Greensboro goaltender Hodson at 9:35 of the period.

December 12th, South Carolina 5, Gladiators 1 – L

Despite out shooting the South Carolina Stingrays, 42-25, The Gwinnett Gladiators fell to the Stingrays, 5-1 at the North Charleston Coliseum on Friday night. South Carolina jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals by Mike Jickling, at 5:34 of the period, and Jeff Boulanger, minutes later. Joe Bourne's second goal of the season, a slap shot from the point on the power play, would be as close as the Gladiators would get. Aaron Power pushed the South Carolina lead back to two goals with just 1:25 left in the opening stanza on the slap shot from the left circle. Curtis Huppe made it 4-1 in the second with just 1:46 left in the middle stanza and Boulanger's second of the night rounded out the scoring at the 13:35 mark of the final period.

December 13th, Gladiators 4, Augusta 0 - W

Michael Garnett recorded his second shutout this season for the Gladiators in his last three starts as he blanked the Augusta Lynx 4-0 while making 29 saves in the win for the Gladiators. Phil Lewandowski scored the game's first goal 9 seconds after a Gladiators power play expired as he ripped a slap shot past Augusta goaltender Peter Hamerlik at 6:40 of the second period. Jim Jackson picked up a loose puck in the slot and slid the puck past Hamerlik at 9:41 of the second on a power play to give the Gladiators a 2-0 lead. Gwinnett took 3-0 lead on Lewandowski's second goal of the evening with 1:36 left in the second. Wes Fox rounded out the scoring as he ripped a slap shot over Hammerlik's left shoulder to give the Gladiators a 4-0 lead at 15:12 of the final period.

This Week's Games:

Friday, December 19th, vs. Greensboro, 7:35 p.m.

The Gladiators host the Generals for the first time this season at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The Gladiators and the Generals have split the season series so far with each team picking up a win in the two games at the Greensboro Coliseum. Michael Garnett posted his first professional shutout against the Generals in the last meeting between the teams.

Saturday, December 20th, @ Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.

The visiting team has had the advantage in this series all season long with the road team picking up the win in every contest. The Gladiators are a perfect 3-0-0 at the Cricket Arena while just 0-1-1 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center against the Checkers. Charlotte hosted the Gladiators in their last game before embarking on a 6 game western swing which saw the Checkers go undefeated with a perfect 6-0-0 record.

Sunday, December 21st, @ Columbus, 4:05 p.m.

Columbus is just one of six teams to beat the Gladiators in regulation this season as the Cottonmouths dumped the Gladiators 4-1 back on October 19th, the last match up between the Gladiators and the Cottonmouths in Columbus. The Gladiators have won the last two meeting by a combined 7-4 score with both games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

This Week's Practice Schedule:

Monday: 10:00 – 11:30 Arena

Tuesday: 10:00 – 11:30 Arena

Wednesday: 10:00 – 11:30 Arena

Thursday: 10:00 – 11:30 Arena

Friday: Game vs. Greensboro

Saturday: Game @ Charlotte

Sunday: Game @ Columbus

The Gladiators return to the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Friday as they host the Greensboro Generals for a 7:35 p.m. tilt. It's Coats for Kids' night sponsored by Discover Mills Shopping Center and fans can get up to six mezzanine level tickets for only $5 each, only at the Arena Box office with the donation of a slightly used or new child's coat.

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ECHL Stories from December 15, 2003


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