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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

February 26, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Still in First: The Gladiators remain in first place in the ECHL's South Division after splitting a pair of games this past weekend against the Florida Everblades. Gwinnett picked up a point in a 4-3 shootout loss on Friday and then recorded two points in a 4-2 regulation win over the Everblades on Saturday night to push their first place lead to six points in the Division.

Almost to the playoffs: After picking up three points this past week, the Gladiators can clinch a playoff berth in the 2006 Kelly Cup Playoffs with a win on Tuesday against the Pensacola Ice Pilots in Pensacola. If the Gladiators clinch on Tuesday, it will be the earliest that the Gladiators have clinched a playoff berth in franchise history.

Roster Merry-Go-Round: Despite being off all week, the Gladiators were busy getting ready for the weekend. The Gladiators lost Milan Gajic on recall to Providence, Jeff Campbell to a two game suspension and Danny Eberly to IR but got Guillaume Desbiens back from Chicago while Jon Awe was called up to Providence for one game on Wednesday and was sent back to Gwinnett for the weekend's games. The Gladiators have lost 178 games this season due to call ups.

Another Addition: The Gladiators acquired Brian Teixeira on Wednesday from the Charlotte Checkers for financial considerations. Teixeira made an immediate impact by posting a goal in his first game with the Gladiators in Friday's 4-3 in a shootout to the Everblades.

Half way to 50: Guillaume Desbiens posted two goals in the Gladiators 4-2 win over the Everblades on Saturday night. For Desbiens it was his 24th and 25th goals of the season to take the team lead in goals scored. The forward now has six multiple goal games this season for the Gladiators.

Back on Track: The Gladiators got the power play going in Friday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Everblades, snapping their two game drought on the man advantage. Florida kept the Gladiators off the board for two consecutive games last week but Gwinnett went a combined 3-for-12 in the two games this past weekend against the Everblades.

Adding to the Record: Over the weekend Adam Smyth added 17 minutes to his all time Gladiators record for most penalty minutes in one season. Smyth now has 242 minutes this season, surpassing Blue Bennefield's mark of 222 minutes set during the Gladiators inaugural 2003-04 season. Smyth finished last year with 217 minutes in 49 games with the Gladiators.

Adult Hat Night: Saturday, March 4th when the Gladiators host the Pensacola Ice Pilots will be the Gladiators Adult Cap Night and the first 2,000 fans ages 13 and over will receive a Gladiators team logo cap at the game. The Gladiators' Adult Cap night is sponsored by Moncrief Heating and Air Conditioning and 99X.

Bobblehead Night!: Sunday, March 5th when the Gladiators host the Pensacola Ice Pilots at 4:05 p.m. will be "Runaway Bride Any Similarity To Actual Persons Is Unintended and Purely Coincidental Bobblehead Doll" Giveaway as the first 2,000 fans will receive a FREE Runaway Bride Any Similarity To Actual Persons Is Unintended and Purely Coincidental Bobblehead at the game. "Runaway Bride Any Similarity To Actual Persons Is Unintended and Purely Coincidental Bobblehead Doll" Giveaway is sponsored by ScoreAtlanta Magazine and 95.5 The Beat.

Last Week's Games:

February 24th, Florida 4, Gladiators 3 - SOL

Jeff Dwyer gave Gwinnett an early 1-0 lead with a 5-on-3 power play goal 6:29 into the first period. Florida tied the game at one then took the lead late in the opening period. Brian Teixeira scored his first goal with the Gladiators to tie the game at two midway through the second period while Guillaume Desbiens in his first game back with the Gladiators after being assigned from Chicago, stepping out of the penalty box, finished a 2-on-1 break with Scott Mifsud to give Gwinnett a 3-2 lead with less than two minutes left in the second period. Florida tied the game at three late in the third then won the game in a shootout. Sean Fields made 37 saves in the shootout loss.

February 25th, Gladiators 4, Florida 2 - W

Guillaume Desbiens had two goals and an assist to pace the Gladiators to a 4-2 win over the Everblades. Gwinnett never trailed in the game as the Gladiators led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 before adding an empty net goal with just 4 seconds left in the third period. Matt York had the game winner early in the third period after Jon Awe gave the Gladiators a short lived 2-1 lead 42 seconds into the final period. Desbiens had the empty net goal. Sean Fields made 32 saves in the win for the Gladiators. Scott Kelman finished with 2 assists for the Gladiators.

This Week's Games:

Tuesday, February 28th @ Pensacola Ice Pilots, 8:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

The Gladiators lead the season series against the Ice Pilots with a 6-0-1 record. Jeff Campbell leads the Gladiators in scoring against the Ice Pilots this season with 5 goals and 7 assists for 12 points while Sean Fields has appeared in 6 games against Pensacola posting a 1.81 goals against average and a .943 save percentage.

Friday, March 3rd, @ Columbia Inferno, 7:30 p.m. - wdun.com

Gwinnett is 7-0-1 this season against the Inferno as Brad Schell leads the Gladiators in scoring against the Inferno with 4 goals and 10 assists for 14 points. Guillaume Desbiens leads Gwinnett in goals scored against Columbia with 7 goals while Gwinnett has outscored the Inferno in the 8 games by a combined 43-22 margin.

Saturday, March 4th, vs. Pensacola Ice Pilots, 7:35 p.m. - wdun.com

Sunday, March 5th, vs. Pensacola Ice Pilots, 4:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

Following these games against the Ice Pilots, Gwinnett will face the Ice Pilots just two more times this season. The Gladiators have shutout the Ice Pilots once while outscoring Pensacola by a 36 to 15 margin.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue the 2005-06 ECHL season on the road on Tuesday, February 14th as they travel to Augusta to take on the Lynx at the 7:35 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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