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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

March 6, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Clinched! The Gladiators became the first team in the American Conference to clinch a playoff berth with Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Pensacola Ice Pilots. Clinching on February 28th is the earliest that the team has clinched a playoff berth since relocating to Gwinnett from Mobile, Alabama. Gwinnett clinched a playoff berth on March 31st during the team's inaugural season and clinched a Kelly Cup Playoff berth last season on March 25th.

Awwww, Isn't that Special! Gladiators defenseman Jon Awe became the first Gladiators defenseman, playing defense during a game, to record a hat trick for the Gladiators posting three goals in Saturday night's win. Awe becomes the seventh player on the Gladiators this season to have three or more goals in a game and the third player on the Gladiators this year to have a hat trick against Pensacola. For Awe, the three point night, all goals, set a career high for points in a game for the Memphis, Tennessee native.

Shelling out Help: Forward Brad Schell posted four assists for the Gladiators in Saturday night's 6-3 win over the Pensacola Ice Pilots to tie a team record for most assists in one game. For Schell, it is the third time this season that the Scott, Saskatchewan native has tied the team record for most assists in one game while he is one of three players this season to tie the team record posting 4 assists in a single game. Schell has now notched 10 multiple assist games this season for Gwinnett.

Back from the AHL! Milan Gajic returned to the Gladiators from the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League on Thursday. Gajic began the season with the P-Bruins before being originally assigned to Gwinnett on December 26th. He was recalled to Providence on February 20th where he appeared in four games with the Bruins. In 17 games this season with Providence, Gajic has posted one assist while he has 46 points in 30 games this year with the Gladiators

Rookie of the Month! Milan Gajic was named the ECHL Rookie of the Month for February on Friday. Gajic ranked third in overall scoring on the Gladiators with 15 points while that was tops among Gladiators rookies during the month. He finished with 2 power play goals during the month and a +7 rating. Gajic becomes the first player this season to win rookie of the month honors.

Nine in a Row: Forward Milan Gajic notched an assist in last night's 5-1 win over the Pensacola Ice Pilots to push his point-scoring streak to nine consecutive games tying the team record for this season for most consecutive games with at least one point. Gajic had recorded at least one point in seven consecutive games prior to being called up to the American Hockey League. He had two assists in his first game back on Saturday night. He now has 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points during his streak. Chris Durno, Guillaume Desbiens and Derek Nesbitt - who has done it twice, all now share the team lead for consecutive games with at least one point at nine straight games.

Augusta to Gwinnett with Two Stopovers: The Atlanta Thrashers assigned forward Joel Stepp to the Gladiators on Wednesday. The Thrashers acquired Stepp on Wednesday from the Anaheim Might Ducks in exchange for goaltender Jani Humre. Stepp has split time this season between the Portland Pirates of the AHL and the Augusta Lynx before being recalled to Anaheim and traded to Atlanta. He stepped right up scoring two goals including the game winner in his first game with the Gladiators on Friday night.

Don't Get Miffed! Scott Mifsud posted an assist in last night's 5-1 win over the Pensacola Ice Pilots. For Mifsud, he has now recorded one point in each of the Gladiators past 7 games. His seven game point streak is his longest of the season for the Burlington, Ontario, native. Mifsud's previous high for consecutive games with at least one point was three straight games from December 20th through December 27th.

Military Appreciation Weekend: Saturday, March 11th when the Gladiators host the Charlotte Checkers and Sunday, March 12th when the Gladiators host the South Carolina Stingrays is Military Appreciation Weekend at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The Gladiators will be wearing special camouflage jerseys both nights that will be auctioned off following Sunday's game to benefit the Gladiators Foundation for Kids. The Gladiators Military Appreciation Weekend is being sponsored by Kroger, Fox 5 Atlanta, 104.7 FM The Fish and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Kroger Family Sunday: Sunday, March 12th when the Gladiators host the South Carolina Stingrays at 4:05 p.m. is the second Kroger Family Sunday this year. Fans can get 4 selected section premium level tickets, 2 caps, 2 programs and a coupon good for a 4 piece chicken dinner at Kroger all for only $40. The final Kroger Family Sunday will be March 26th when the Gladiators host the South Carolina Stingrays at 4:05 p.m.

Last Week's Games:

February 28th, Gladiators 3, Pensacola 2 - W

Jon Awe scored twice within the first 6 minutes of the contest to give Gwinnett an early 2-0 lead. Pensacola got within a goal before Jeff Campbell recorded what proved to be the game winner, shorthanded, 2:05 into the second period. Pensacola scored in the third but could get no closer. Brad Schell recorded two assists while Campbell finished with a goal and an assist. Sean Fields made 33 saves in the win as Gwinnett clinched a 2006 Kelly Cup Playoff berth with the victory.

March 3rd, Gladiators 6, Columbia 3 - W

In his first game with the Gladiators, Joel Stepp posted two goals for Gwinnett including the game winner to help Gwinnett open up a 4-1 lead after the first period. The teams exchanged goals in the final two periods for the 6-3 final as Adam Berkhoel made 29 saves for his 5th win with Gwinnett this season. Jeff Campbell, Brad Schell, Steve Slaton, and Rick Emmett each had lone goals for Gwinnett in the Gladiators third straight win. Cam Brown and Jeff Dwyer each finished with a pair of assists for Gwinnett.

March 4th, Gladiators 6, Pensacola 3 - W

Jon Awe posted his first career hat trick while Brad Schell tied a team record with 4 assists to lead the Gladiators past the Ice Pilots. Awe had a goal in each period for Gwinnett for the hat trick as Jeff Campbell scored what proved to be the game winner at the 12:52 mark of the second period. Milan Gajic finished with two assists for the Gladiators who trailed 2-1 late in the third period before Awe's first goal tied the game at two while his second goal of the game gave the Gladiators a lead they would never relinquish. Matt York and Scott Mifsud had the Gladiators other two goals in the win. Adam Berkhoel made 20 saves in the win while Gwinnett posted three power play goals.

March 5th, Gladiators 5, Pensacola 1 - W

The Gladiators won their fifth straight game beating Pensacola 5-1. Gwinnett got goals from five different players. Guillaume Desbiens, Steve Slaton and Derek Nesbitt scored in the first period while Brad Schell scored shorthanded in the second period before Jeff Campbell recorded his 27th goal of the season just 17 seconds into the third period. Milan Gajic posted an assist in the game to push his point scoring streak to nine games while Scott Mifsud also had an assist to move his point scoring streak to 7 games. Sean Fields made 23 saves in the win for Gwinnett.

This Week's Games

Friday, March 10th, @ Charlotte Checkers, 7:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550 (tent)

Saturday, March 11th, vs. Charlotte Checkers, 7:35 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550 (tent)

Gwinnett leads the season series against the Checkers with a 4-0-1 record. Guillaume Desbiens has posted a team best 8 points against the Checkers this season off of 6 goals and 2 assists. The Gladiators have outscored the Checkers 8-1 this season in the third period. Charlotte has 4 shorthanded goals this season against Gwinnett.

Sunday, March 12th, vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 4:05 p.m. - wdun.com

Gwinnett and South Carolina combined for the ECHL season high for most goals combined in a single game with 15 back on November 25th. Gwinnett is 3-2-0 this season against South Carolina but have not lost at home against the Stingrays this season. Derek Nesbitt, Scott Mifsud and Jeff Campbell have all posted 7 points this season with the Gladiators against the Stingrays this year.

This Week's Practice Schedule:

Practices at the IceForum in Duluth are open to the general public. Arena at Gwinnett Center practices are not open to the general public. Media members wishing to attend practice at the Arena should contact the Gladiators PR staff at 770-497-5106.

Monday: day off

Tuesday: 12:10 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Ice Forum, Duluth

Wednesday: 12:10 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Ice Forum, Duluth

Thursday: 12:10 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Ice Forum, Duluth

Friday: Game @ Charlotte - 7:05 p.m.

Saturday: Game vs. Charlotte- 7:35 p.m.

Sunday: Game vs. South Carolina - 4:05 p.m.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue the 2005-06 ECHL season on the road on Friday, March 10th as they travel to Charlotte to take on the Checkers at the 7:05 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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