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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

March 1, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Speeding Things Up: Gladiators forward Steve Slonina has tallied five goals in the Gladiators past five games. Slonina tallied two goals for the Gladiators on Friday night and then added a goal in each of the Gladiators wins over the Greenville Grrrowl on Saturday and Sunday. Slonina has totaled 6 points in the Gladiators past five games.

Breaking the Top 20: Forward Kevin Doell continues to do everything right for the Gladiators and has broken into the top 20 in scoring in the ECHL with 58 points on the season. Doell added a goal and an assist in Sunday's win over Greenville. Doell's 58 points places him three points shy of the ECHL lead in scoring among rookies this season.

Helpers: Brandon Dietrich continues to share first in the ECHL for assists this season with 48 through 57 games this season. Dietrich's 48 assists this season breaks a career high for assists in a season for the forward who tallied 45 with the Charlotte Checkers in the 2001-02 season.

On the Plus Side: Defenseman Jim Jackson was a +4 in the Gladiators 5-1 win over the Greenville Grrrowl on Sunday. Jackson was a +8 this past week for the Gladiators in four games and leads Gwinnett with a +24 rating in 54 games this season. Jackson has been a minus in just 13 games this season for the Gladiators.

Between the Pipes: Goaltender Trevor Prior has taken up the goaltending burden for the Gladiators since Michael Garnett was called up to the Chicago Wolves at the end of January. In 15 games with the Gladiators, Prior has posted a 9-4-2 record and a 2.77 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.

Double Digits: The Gladiators broke double digits in the win column in the month of February with a 10-3-1 record in 14 games. The Gladiators recorded 21 points in the month, four times as many as they picked up in January where the Gladiator won just two games in the year's first month.

In February: Nine different Gladiators registered double digits in the point column in the month of February for Gwinnett. Kevin Doell had 21 points in 14 games for Gwinnett, the most by any Gladiator in the month. Chris Durno, Brandon Dietrich, Anthony Aquino, Jim Jackson, Blue Bennefield, Steve Slonina, Kris Goodjohn and Cam Brown round out the double digit scorers for the Gladiators in February.

Community Update:

Read Across America Day with the Gwinnett County Schools – Representatives of the Gladiators will be at KE Taylor, Mason, Chattahoochee and Sycamore Elementary schools as well as Duluth Middle School on Tuesday and Wednesday to partake in the reading activities.

Greater Atlanta Christian School – Claudia Pezzino Memorial Blood Drive – Forwards Wes Fox and Kris Goodjohn as well as defenseman Rick Emmett will be representing the Gladiators at the Claudia Pezzino Memorial Blood Drive on Thursday, March 4th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the blood drive at the Greater Atlanta Christian School contact Denise Meng at (678) 357-7054.

Duluth Ice Hawks Hockey Team – Cam Brown, Joe Bourne, Wes Swinson, Brandon Dietrich, Trevor Prior and Jim Jackson will be at the Duluth Ice Hawks practice on Thursday, March 4th from 8:30 p.m. to10:00 p.m. For more information about the Duluth Ice Hawks contact Denis Stephenson at (678) 546-1140.

Chipotle – The Gladiators staff and Maximus will be at the Chipotle on Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth with the Gladiators Slap Shot Game on Saturday, March 6th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about Chipotle contact Sandy Smith at (678) 427-5191.

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

Tuesday, February 24th, Gladiators 2, Florence 1, SOW

Florence's Wes Goldie broke open a scoreless tie midway through the third period but Jim Jackson answered 72 seconds later to send the game to overtime. Kevin Doell, Anthony Aquino and Brandon Dietrich each scored in the shootout to help Gwinnett to the win over a shorthanded Pride team that only has 12 skaters in uniform.

Friday, February 27th, Pensacola 7, Gladiators 6, L

Despite a pair of two goal performances from Chris Durno and Steve Slonina the Gladiators didn't have enough firepower to knock off the Ice Pilots. Pensacola's Wes Mason tallied a hat trick and added two assists in the win while the Gladiators surrendered three power play goals to the Ice Pilots in the loss. Anthony Aquino and Kevin Doell had the Gladiators other markers in the loss while Trevor Prior made 19 saves on 26 shots in the loss.

Saturday, February 28th, Gladiators 4, Greenville 2, W

Blue Bennefield and Steve Slonina tallied goals 33 seconds apart for the Gladiators in the second period to overcome a 2-1 deficit while Anthony Aquino iced the contest with an empty net goal with 10 seconds remaining in the game. Kevin Doell opened the scoring for the Gladiators with less than four minutes remaining in the opening period. Trevor Prior made 24 saves in the win.

Sunday, February 29th, Gladiators 5, Greenville 1, W

The Gladiators jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goal by Steve Slonina and Brandon Dietrich just 14 seconds apart, three minutes into the contest as the Gladiators cruised past the Grrrowl 5-1. Trevor Prior made 24 saves in the win while Kevin Doell, Brandon Dietrich and Rick Emmett rounded out the scoring for Gwinnett. Blue Bennefield added two assists while Jim Jackson was a plus four in the victory.

This Week's Games:

The Gladiators are off this week but will return to action on Tuesday, March 9th against the Louisiana IceGators for a 7:05 p.m. start at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

This Week's Practice Schedule:

Due to the 8 day layoff between games, the Gladiators are off on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and only a select number of players will be available for interview requests at the beginning of the week.

Monday: Day Off

Tuesday: Day Off

Wednesday: optional skate – 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. - Duluth Ice Forum

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

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

Saturday: 1:20 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. – Duluth Ice Forum

Sunday: 1:20 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. – Duluth Ice Forum

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