ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

January 19, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Getting a Win: Gladiators goaltender Mike Buckley picked up his first win of the season and the first ECHL win of his career in Saturday's 4-3 shootout victory over South Carolina. Buckley entered the contest having seen action in six previous games and did not register a decision in half of those games.

Snapped: With Saturday's 4-3 shootout win, the Gladiators snapped their season high four-game losing streak. Before Saturday's win, the Gladiators last victory was a 5-4 win over the Florence Pride on January 3rd. Prior to the four game streak, the Gladiators had only lost consecutive games in regulation just once this season.

Lots of Help: Gladiators forward Brandon Dietrich chipped in three assists in the Gladiators 4-3 loss to the Greensboro Generals on Friday. Dietrich also had assists on both goals in the Gladiators previous two losses in which Gwinnett only scored one goal in each game. With the three assists, Dietrich jumps past Kevin Doell for the team lead in scoring with 3 goals and 34 assists for 37 points.

Bears Everywhere: Kris Goodjohn scored the Gladiators first goal in Saturday's 4-3 win over South Carolina eliciting a fur flying frenzy by the Gladiators faithful. The Gladiators collected hundreds of teddy bears for local children's charities during Saturday's teddy bear toss game sponsored by Star 94, accessAtlanta and Hennessy Automotive Gwinnett.

All Stars: The Gladiators will be sending a large entourage to the Par-A-Dice ECHL All Star Game in Peoria, Illinois on Wednesday, January 21st to represent the team. Gladiators Head Coach Jeff Pyle was named to the coaching staff for the Western Conference on December 16th. Michael Garnett and Troy Milam joined Pyle on December 17th as they were named to the Western Conference All Star Team. Gladiators broadcaster Dustin Bixby was named to the radio broadcast team for the game on January 2nd. The 2004 Par-A-Dice ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition will be held at the 9,919-seat Carver Arena at Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois. Hosted by the Peoria Rivermen and presented by the Par-A-Dice Hotel & Casino, the Skills Competition will be held at 7 p.m. on January 20 while the 12th Annual ECHL All-Star Game will be played at 7 p.m. on January 21st.

The Leader: Gladiators captain Cam Brown entered the season in fourth place in the ECHL for most penalty minutes in a career. Brown entered the season with 2,084 penalty minutes, 99 shy of third place all time and 169 minutes shy of the ECHL record of 2,253 held by Brian Goudie. Through 39 games this season with the Gladiators, Brown has tallied 112 penalty minutes to push his career total to 2,196. Brown needs just 58 minutes in the Gladiators remaining 33 games to set a new ECHL record for penalty minutes.

Community Update:

"Fire and Ice" Fundraiser and Fashion Show – Gladiators director of Community Relations Jim Hall and Maximus the Mascot will be representing the Gladiators at the Children's Arts Museum & Hudgens Center for the Arts "Fire and Ice" Fundraiser and Fashion Show on Saturday, January 24th beginning at 7:30 p.m. For more information about the "Fire and Ice" fashion show contact Holley Calmes at (770) 623-6002 x 108.

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

January 13th, Mississippi 2, Gladiators 1 – L

Mississippi took a 1-0 lead on Brent Gauvreau's 18th goal of the season as he slipped a rebound past Gladiators goaltender Michael Garnett at 12:37 of the first period. Anthony Aquino equalized the contest at one as he put a nifty move on a Sea Wolves defenseman and snapped a quick wrist shot past Mississippi netminder Greg Gardner the power play goal at 6:29 of the second period. Brent Gauvreau second goal of the night proved to be the game winner as he regained the lead for the Sea Wolves at 9:19 of the second period. The Gladiators could get no closer in the third as goaltender Michael Garnett made 25 saves in the loss.

January 16th, Greensboro 4, Gladiators 3 – L

Eric Fortier opened the scoring as he beat Gladiators goaltender Mike Buckley at 4:09 of the first period on the power play. Greensboro extended its lead to 2-0 as Mike Bayrack slid a puck past Buckley as he was wide open in the slot. Evan Nielsen got the Gladiators on the board as he took a pass from Anthony Aquino on the door-step and flipped the puck past Greensboro netminder Daniel Berthiaume at 12:27 of the first period. Mike Bayrack's second goal of the night at 16:08 of the first extended the Generals lead to 3-1.

Rick Emmett slid down the right wing side from his point position and found a rebound in the slot and flipped the puck past Berthiaume to cut the Greensboro lead to one goal with 48 seconds left in the first period. Mike Bayrack completed the hat trick as he tallied the game winner 1:11 into the final period on the power play. Anthony Aquinio cut the lead back to one goal as he ripped a shot over the outstretched leg of Berthiaume at 14:11 of the third. Brandon Dietrich tallied three assists in the loss for the Gladiators who out shot the Generals 45-36.

January 17th, Gladiators 4, South Carolina 3 - SOW

Two third period goals by Blue Bennefied and Phil Lewandowski's fifth round goal in the shoot out secured the Gladiators 4-3 win over the South Carolina Stingrays in front of a record crowd of 7,638 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Chris Allen picked up a rebound in the slot and ripped a shot over the shoulder of Gladiators goaltender Mike Buckley to give the Stingrays an early 1-0 lead at 3:49 of the opening period. Kris Goodjohn tied the contest at 15:43 of the first period as he picked up the puck in the slot after Anthony Aquino put a snapshot off the post at 15:43 of the first period. South Carolina took a 2-1 lead 6:41 into the second period as Dave Seitz took a centering feed from Chris Allen and beat Buckley over the shoulder on the 5-on-3 power play goal for the Stingrays. Blue Bennefield tied the contest up at two as he found an opening and beat goaltender Brumby at 5:36 of the third. South Carolina regained the lead at 7:51 of the third on an Ed Courtenay goal. The Gladiators tied the contest up at three on Blue Bennefield's second goal of the night at 11:36 of the third. Mike Buckley records his first win of the season as he made 33 saves for the Gladiators.

This Week's Game:

Saturday, January 24th, @ South Carolina, 7:30 p.m.

The Gladiators face the Stingrays for the final time this season in North Charleston on Saturday. With last Saturday's win, the Gladiators are now 2-2-1 on the season against the Stingrays. South Carolina has won both games this season in North Charleston to date.

This Week's Practice Schedule:

Monday: All Star Break – no practice

Tuesday: All Star Break – no practice

Wednesday: All Star Break – no practice

Thursday: practice 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Ice Forum Duluth

Friday: practice 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Ice Forum Duluth

Saturday: game @ South Carolina

Sunday: day off

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ECHL Stories from January 19, 2004


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