ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

Published on April 17, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Taking the Lead: The Gwinnett Gladiators picked up wins in Game 1 and Game 2 of their American Conference South Division Semi-Final Series against the South Carolina Stingrays. Gwinnett now leads the best-of-five series 2 games to none after a 5-3 win in Game 1 on April 15th and a 5-4 come-from-behind overtime victory in Game 2 on April 16th. The 2-0 series lead is the first time in franchise history that the team has picked up wins in both Game 1 and Game 2 of a playoff series.

Three Goals Ain't Nothin'! Trailing South Carolina 4-1 midway through the second period, Gwinnett overcame a three-goal deficit to beat the Stingrays 5-4 in overtime of Game 2. Overcoming the three-goal deficit was the largest comeback posted this season by the Gladiators. Gwinnett overcame a two-goal deficit 10 times this season while coming back from a one goal deficit 15 times this season.

Overtime Success: With Sunday's 5-4 overtime win over the Stingrays, the Gladiators improved to 5-2 in overtime all time during the post season. Gwinnett went 3-0 during the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs while they were 1-2 in overtime during the 2005 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Shy of 10: After collecting a goal in Saturday night's 5-3 win over South Carolina, Gladiators defenseman Rick Emmett is now three goals shy of 10 in his ECHL post season career. The Etobicoke, Ontario native posted five goals, all on the power play, during the Gladiators 2004 post season run while he collected one during last year's playoffs. Emmett now has 25 professional post-season goals combined from the UHL, ECHL and SPHL.

ECHL MVP: Forward Jeff Campbell was named the ECHL's MVP for the 2005-06 regular season. The annual award is presented to the ECHL player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team as voted by the coaches of the ECHL teams. Campbell finished with 83 points in 62 games while he made his first appearance in the AHL this season. He became the first Gladiator to post back-to-back 30 goal seasons. Fresno left wing Luke Curtin finished second while Alaska goaltender Matt Underhill was third and Las Vegas goaltender Marc Magliarditi was fourth.

Record Setting Player of the Week: Steve Slaton's selection as the ECHL Player of the Week for the Week of April 2nd through the 9th was the Gladiators sixth player of the week selection this season setting a new ECHL record for most selections from one team in one year. Slaton joins Pascal Pelletier, Guillaume Desbiens, Jon Awe, Milan Gajic and Brad Schell as award winners this year breaking the Louisiana IceGators record of five winners originally set during the 1999-2000 season.

Last Week's Games:

Game 1: April 15th, Gladiators 5, South Carolina 3 - W

Milan Gajic recorded a pair of goals for the Gladiators while Adam Courchaine collected the game winner for Gwinnett early in the third period to help Gwinnett to a Game 1 win over the Stingrays in their best of five Division Semi-Final Series. South Carolina had two shorthanded goals, one on a penalty shot to stay within one before Courchaine's game winner gave Gwinnett a two goal advantage. South Carolina got back within a goal but Cam Brown iced the contest with an empty net shorthanded goal with 46 seconds left to play. Courchaine also finished with a pair of helpers in the victory.

Game 2: April 16th, Gladiators 5, South Carolina 4 - OTW

The Gladiators overcame a three-goal second period deficit to beat the South Carolina Stingrays 5-4 in overtime in Game 2 of the Division Semi-Final series. South Carolina scored first in the opening stanza before Jeff Campbell equalized the contest for the Gladiators. The Stingrays took a 4-1 lead in the second on three straight goals with two coming on the power play. Campbell got the Gladiators back within two goals while Danny Eberly's goal with 61 seconds left in the middle period got the Gladiators within a goal. Milan Gajic tied the game at four with 22 seconds left in regulation as Adam Courchaine picked up an assist on the goal. Scott Mifsud scored the game winner to cap the comeback at 6:02 of the overtime period. Guillaume Desbiens had a pair of assists in the win for Gwinnett

This Week's Games:

Wednesday, April 19th, @ South Carolina, 7:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

Thursday, April 20th, @ South Carolina, 7:05 p.m. (if nec.) - WDUN, News Talk 550

Sunday, April 23rd, vs. South Carolina, 4:05 p.m. (if nec.) - wdun.com

Gwinnett leads the best-of-five ECHL American Conference South Division Semi-Final series 2 games to none as the series shifts to the North Charleston Coliseum for Game 3 and, if necessary, Game 4. Gwinnett won the regular season series against South Carolina by a 6-3-0 but was 2-2-0 at the North Charleston Coliseum. Adam Courchaine leads Gwinnett in post season scoring with a goal and three assists as Milan Gajic has 3 goals to lead Gwinnett in that category. Matt W. Reid, Anders Strome and Evan Schwabe share first on the Stingrays in scoring in the post season with 6 points each.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue the 2006 Kelly Cup Playoffs on the road on Wednesday, April 19th as they travel to North Charleston to take on the South Carolina Stingrays at 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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