ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

Published on January 1, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Stepping right in! Forward Milan Gajic was assigned to the Gladiators from the Providence Bruins on Monday, December 26th and immediately made an impact for Gwinnett. The forward registered an assist for the Gladiators in Gwinnett's 3-2 win over Columbia on Monday. He then went on to pick up points in each of the Gladiators next three games while recording his first professional goal in the Gladiators 5-1 win over the Augusta Lynx on Thursday. In five games with the Gladiators, Gajic has now posted 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points.

Gone to Chicago! Netminder Adam Berkhoel was recalled to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League following the Gladiators 5-1 win over the Augusta Lynx on Thursday. He improved his record with the Gladiators during the week to 2-1-0 posting a 7-3 win over South Carolina on Tuesday and following that up with a 5-1 win over Augusta on Thursday. He was reassigned to the Gladiators for the second time this season from the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers on December 26th. In three games this season with the Gladiators, Berkhoel has posted a 2.69 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.

Extra Man is the Advantage! The Gladiators posted a team high four goal on the power play in Friday's 5-4 overtime win over the Florida Everblades. Gwinnett's only goal in the game that did not come on the man advantage was the game winner 1:13 into overtime. The Gladiators snapped their previous season high of three power play goals in one game, which was accomplished three previous times this season.

He's not short, but he scores shorthanded! Forward Brad Schell picked up his 3rd shorthanded goal this season to extend the Gladiators ECHL lead in shorthanded goals to 11 on the year in Gwinnett's 7-3 win over South Carolina. He now moves into a tie with Jeff Campbell for the Gladiators lead in shorthanded markers as they both share third in the ECHL in shorthanded goals this year. Gwinnett finished with 7 shorthanded markers in each of their first two seasons.

Four in a Row! Three Gladiators have strung together four-game point scoring streaks over the Gladiators last four games. Scott Kelman has picked up 2 goals and 6 assists during that span while Troy Milam has a goal and 4 assists. Derek Nesbitt has posted 4 goals and an assist as all three have at least one point in each of the Gladiators last four games. Milam and Kelman each have four game assists steaks ongoing as well.

All Stars! The ECHL announced the roster for the 2006 American Conference All-Star Team on Friday, December 30th. Troy Milam, Pascal Pelletier, and Guillaume Desbiens were named to the squad while Milam was named a starter. It is Milam's second trip to an ECHL All Star game having represented the Gladiators at the 2004 ECHL All-Star game in Peoria, Illinois. Desbiens and Pelletier are each making their first trip to an ECHL All Star Game.

T-Shirt Night! Saturday, January 7th is kids T-shirt night as the first 1,000 kids ages 12 and under will receive a Gladiators logo t-shirt courtesy of Comcast and 104.7 The Fish. Gwinnett hosts Columbia at 7:35 p.m.

Last Week's Games: 5-0-0, 10 pts.

December 26th, Gladiators 3, Columbia 2 - W

Guillaume Desbiens and Brad Schell each posted a goal and an assist to lead the Gladiators past the Inferno. Gwinnett jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Desbiens and Schell in the second period to give the Gladiators the advantage after two periods. Columbia scored 21 seconds apart in the third period before Steve Slaton scored the game winning 12:30 into the third period for the win. Scott Mifsud and Danny Eberly each had single helpers in the win while Sean Fields made 31 saves for Gwinnett. The Gladiators went 2-for-4 on the power play.

December 27th, Gladiators 7, South Carolina 3 - W

South Carolina led three times in the game but Gwinnett exploded for four goals in the third period en route to the 7-3 win. Brad Schell and Derek Nesbitt each had two goals in the win for Gwinnett as the Gladiators won their sixth consecutive home game at the Gwinnett Center. Jeff Campbell, Jeff Dwyer and Scott Kelman each had two assists for the Gladiators in the win. Tied at three entering the third period, Gwinnett scored four times in the final stanza for the win as Gwinnett posted three goals on the power play while keeping the Stingrays off the board on the man advantage. Adam Berkhoel made 28 saves to record his first win with the Gladiators this season.

December 29th, Gladiators 5, Augusta 1 - W

Guillaume Desbiens posted two goals while Jeff Campbell had three assists to pace the Gladiators past the Lynx. Jimmy Sharrow posted the games first goals while Desbiens scored what proved to be the game winner a little over six minutes into the first period. Derek Nesbitt added a power play goal later in the first period to extend the Gwinnett lead. Milan Gajic recorded his first professional goal early in the second period to give Gwinnett a 4-0 lead. Augusta broke Adam Berkhoel shutout bid early in the third period as he finished with 32 saves in the win. Desbiens rounded out the scoring late in the third period to push the Gladiators home winning streak to 7 games.

December 30th, Gladiators 5, Florida 4 - OTW

Jimmy Sharrow scored the game winner 1:13 into the overtime period snapping the Everblades 12 game home winning streak. Troy Milam's blast from the point on the power play with 48 seconds sent the game to overtime. Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead two minutes in but Gwinnett answered before the end of the period with goals by Danny Eberly and Scott Kelman. Kelman gave Gwinnett a shortlived 3-2 lead before the Everblades jumped back on top 4-3 setting up Milam and Sharrow's heroics. Gwinnett scored four goals on the power play in the win on eight chances as Sean Fields made 35 saves in the win.

December 31st, Gladiators 5, Florida 2 - W

Gwinnett extended its season best winning streak to five games with the win. Derek Nesbitt scored what proved to be the game winner with just 4 seconds left in the first period. Milan Gajic posted an unassisted tally and an assist in the win while Guillaume Desbiens and Scott Kelman each had two helpers in the win. Gwinnett fell behind 1-0 early but tied up the contest and then took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Jimmy Sharrow. Gwinnett got goals in the second and third period from Steve Slaton, on the power play, and Jeff Campbell. Sean Fields made 33 saves it the win for the Gladiators who went 1-for-9 on the man advantage.

This Week's Games:

Friday, January 6th, @ Pensacola Ice Pilots, 8:05 p.m. - wdun.com

Gwinnett leads the season series 2-0-1 although the Ice Pilots won the last meeting in a shootout on December 14th in Pensacola. Sean Fields posted a shutout in the first game of the series and has posted a 1.38 goals against average and a .955 save percentage against the Ice Pilots in four games.

Saturday, January 7th, vs. Columbia Inferno, 7:35 p.m. - wdun.com

Columbia won the first meeting of the season at the Carolina Coliseum in a shootout but Gwinnett has not lost since winning three straight against the Inferno including last Monday's 3-2 win at Columbia. Guillaume Desbiens and Pascal Pelletier have each posted five points this season against the Inferno to lead the Gladiators in scoring against Columbia.

Sunday, January 8th, @ Augusta Lynx, 4:05 p.m. - wdun.com

Guillaume Desbiens has posted 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points to lead the Gladiators in scoring against the Lynx this season while Sean Fields is still unbeaten against the Lynx with a 2-0-1 record posting a 1.90 goals against average and .917 save percentage. Gwinnett leads the season series 3-1-1 while Augusta has won the only meeting on their home ice.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue the 2005-06 ECHL season on the road on Friday, January 6th as they travel to Pensacola to take on the Ice Pilots at 8:05 p.m. The Gladiators offer several ticket packages for different needs as well as group outings, suites and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com. The Gladiators play all 36 home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center located on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth and are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers.

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ECHL Stories from January 1, 2006


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