ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

January 26, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Called Up: Gladiators defenseman Evan Nielsen was called up to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League for the second time this season. Nielsen joins goaltender Michael Garnett and forward Kevin Doell with the Wolves.

All Stars: Gladiators defenseman Troy Milam and goaltender Michael Garnett as well as head coach Jeff Pyle represented the Gladiators at the Par-A-Dice ECHL All Star game on Wednesday in Peoria, Illinois. The Eastern Conference Stars beat the Western Conference Stars 7-6. Troy Milam tallied a goal and added an assist for the West in the loss although the defenseman was a +2 in the loss. Michael Garnett saw the most action of any netminder in the contest as he made 24 saves on 26 shots for the Western Conference during second period of action.

Additions: The Gladiators acquired goaltender Trevor Prior on Thursday in a trade with the Columbia Inferno in exchange for cash. Prior, in his sixth professional season, began the year in the South East Hockey League before being acquired by Columbia in December.

Leaders: Brandon Dietrich continues to the lead the Gladiators in scoring with 3 goals and 34 assists for 37 points in 40 games this season for the Gladiators. Dietrich has not tallied a goal for the Gladiators since the team's 3-1 win over the Columbus Cottonmouths on December 5th.

Doell makes a Difference: Since forward Kevin Doell was recalled to the Chicago Wolves back on January 7th, the rookie forward has started six games including both games this past weekend in the AHL. Doell scored the game winner in Chicago's 5-1 victory over the Utah Grizzlies on Sunday and had an assist in the Wolves 5-2 win on January 18th.

Still in the AHL: Mike Vigilante, Adam Munro and Michael Garnett are still in the AHL with their respective teams. Vigilante has tallied four assists in 24 games with the Portland Pirates. Munro is 4-3-1-1 in 10 games with the Norfolk Admirals since being called up on November 19th. Michael Garnett has started 1 game with the Chicago Wolves and is 1-0-0 in his only start.

Community Update:

Legacy Academy – Gladiators Director of Community Relations Jim Hall, goaltender Mike Buckley and forward Phil Lewandowski will visit the Duluth Legacy Academy on Tuesday, January 27th, while Assistant GM Pam Marion and forward Brandon Dietrich and defenseman Paul Flache will be at the Lawrenceville Legacy Academy. Both events get underway at 3:00 p.m. For more information about Legacy Academy, contact Hannah Bass at (770) 932-7474.

Georgia State University Basketball – "Mascot Madness" – Gladiators Director of Community Relations Jim Hall and Maximus the Mascot will represent the Gladiators at the Georgia State Mascot Madness on Sunday, February 1st from noon until 3:00 p.m. For more information about the "Mascot Madness", contact Keri Turkel at (404) 651-4058

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

January 24th, South Carolina 2, Gladiators 0, L

The Gwinnett Gladiators couldn't overcome two second period goals as they fell to the South Carolina Stingrays 2-0 on Saturday night in North Charleston. South Carolina took a 1-0 lead early in the second period on a goal by Robin Gomez who flipped the puck over an out stretched Gladiators netminder Mike Buckley. Andy Powers fed Gomez in the slot to pick up an assist on the goal at 1:32 of the period. Matt Desrosiers also had an assist on the goal. Jim Lorentz pushed the Stingray's lead to 2-0 on a two-on-one break at 7:54 of the second period. Shawn Skiehar added an assist on the insurance goal for the Stingrays. Mike Buckley made 32 saves for the Gladiators in the loss who fall to 23-14-3 on the season.

This Week's Games:

January 28th, @ Greensboro Generals, 7:05 p.m.

Greensboro won the last meeting between the Generals and the Gladiators, a 4-3 victory on January 16th. Both teams are 2-2-0 this season with each winning one game in the other's building. Following Wednesday's match up in Greensboro, the Gladiators face the Generals two more times this season.

January 30th, @ Columbia Inferno, 7:35 p.m.

The Gladiators make their first trip to Columbia to battle the Inferno this season. The Carolina Coliseum in Columbia has a short ice surface that is only 190' by 85', 10' short of a standard ice surface. The Gladiators won the last meeting 3-1 and are 1-1-0 this season against the Inferno after giving up 5 third period goals in a 6-4 loss to Columbia on December 7th.

January 31st @ Columbus Cottonmouths, 7:35 p.m.

The Cottonmouths lead the season series 4-1-1 and have won the last three by a combined 12-4 including a shutout. The Gladiators are winless this season at the Columbus Civic Center. The Gladiators only regulation win against Columbus was a 3-1 victory at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on December 5th.

This Week's Practice Schedule:

Monday: 12:30 – 2:00 – Duluth Ice Forum

Tuesday: 12:30 – 2:00 – Duluth Ice Forum

Wednesday: Game @ Greensboro

Thursday: 12:30 – 2:00 – Duluth Ice Forum

Friday: Game @ Columbia

Saturday: Game @ Columbus

Sunday: day off

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ECHL Stories from January 26, 2004


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