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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

March 12, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Closing in on 20! Chad Painchaud and Jamie Milam each posted their 20th goals of the season in the Gladiators 7-4 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Sunday. Painchaud and Milam became the sixth and seventh players on the Gladiators to post 20 or more goals on the season. Painchaud and Milam joined Colton Fretter (35), Brad Schell (25), Scott Mifsud (25), Jon Awe (21) and Mike Vigilante (22) with 20 or more goals on the season. Andy Contois (17) and Joel Stepp (13) are both within striking distance of finishing the season with 20 or more goals on the year as well.

Welcome to Gwinnett: The Gwinnett Gladiators acquired Chris Thompson last Wednesday at the ECHL trade deadline in exchange for defenseman Brian Lee. Thompson comes over to the Gladiators from Columbia where he served as the Inferno captain while posting 33 points (10g, 23a) in 42 games with Columbia before being acquired by the Gladiators. Thompson picked up an assist in his first game with the Gladiators on Thursday in a 4-3 overtime loss at Columbia.

Looking for A Career High: Gladiators defenseman Jim Jackson is just three points shy of tying a career high for points in a season. Jackson notched his 30th point of the year, an assist, in the Gladiators 4-3 shootout win at Columbia on March 2nd and is looking for 33 points to tie his career high. Jackson posted 33 points with the Gladiators during his rookie campaign with Gwinnett during the 2003-04 season.

More Career Highs! Gladiators forward Mike Vigilante is on pace to set a new career high for points in a season. Vigilante posted two goals for the Gladiators in a 7-4 win on Charlotte on Sunday and now has 55 points in 60 games this season for Gwinnett. Vigilante is on pace to finish the season with 65 points surpassing his previous high of 57 set with the Gladiators during the 2004-05 season. He had an assist in the Gladiators 3-1 win over South Carolina on February 24th to set a new career high for assists (30) in a season breaking the high of 27 he had during the 2004-05 campaign.

Century Mark! Brad Schell collected an assist for the Gladiators in a 7-2 loss against Florida on March 6th for his 100th point of the season. Schell becomes the first player to record 100 points in an ECHL season since Buddy Smith of the Arkansas Riverblads posted 104 points during the 2002-03 season. Schell currently has 106 points on the season after collecting a pair of assists in the Gladiators 7-4 win over Charlotte on Sunday.

On the Power Play: The power play continues to be good to the Gladiators this year. Gwinnett now has 105 power play goals on the year and continues on pace to set a new ECHL record for power play goals in a season. Gwinnett is just 10 power play goals shy of tying the ECHL record of 115 currently held by the Nashville Knights set during the 1995-96 season. The Gladiators need to average less than 1 power play goal per game over their final 12 games to tie the ECHL record for power play goals in a season.

Rookie of the Month: Gladiators forward Jamie Milam was named the ECHL's Rookie of the Month for February on Wednesday. The Lake Orion, Michigan native recorded 3 goals and 10 assists for 13 points in 12 games for the Gladiators during February to share first among rookies for most points during the month. Milam tied a career high with 3 points and a +5 for the Gladiators in a 7-4 win at Florida on February 14th. Milam becomes the second Gladiator this season to be named Rookie of the Month joining Colton Fretter, who was named Rookie of the Month for October.

Goin' Irish! The Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena At Gwinnett Center will be going Irish on Saturday, March 17th when the Gladiators host the Columbia Inferno and Sunday, March 18th when the Gladiators host the Florida Everblades. To help get in the St. Patrick's Day Spirit, the Gladiators will be painting the ice green for both games that weekend. In addition, the first 2,000 fans to the game on Saturday night will receive a commemorative tee-shirt courtesy of Your Best Rate Financial.

Kroger Family Sunday: The final Kroger Family Sunday of the 2006-07 season is Sunday, March 18th as the Gladiators host the Florida Everblades at 4:05 p.m. Fan can get a Kroger Family Sunday Deal which includes 4 Premium Level Tickets in Selected sections, 2 Gladiators Caps, 2 Game Programs and a Kroger Family meal deal which includes an 8-piece mixed Wishbone baked chicken, 1 lb. Deli Salad or Coleslaw, 12ct rolls, 16 count cookies and a 2 liter Big K Soft Drink for only $44.00. The Kroger Family Day Deal is available ONLY at the Arena at Gwinnett Center Box Office and fans can just ask for it by name when ordering tickets. For more information, call 770-497-5100.

Last Week's Games:

March 6th, Florida 7, Gwinnett 2 - L

The Gladiators four game winning streak was snapped in the loss to the Everblades. Gwinnett fell behind 2-0 after the first period. Jamie Milam posted his 18th goal of the season to get the Gladiators within a goal but Florida rattled off the next four markers, one in the second and three in the third to take command of the contest before Joel Stepp notched the Gladiators 101st power play goal of the season. Florida rounded out the scoring with a goal coming with just one second left in the contest. Dan Turple finished with 34 saves in the loss.

March 8th, Columbia 4, Gwinnett 3 - OTL

Brad Schell posted his 24th and 25th goals of the season tying the game at two late in the second period. Columbia regained the lead before the end of the second period but Chad Painchaud's 19th goal of the season tied the game at three in the third period. Columbia posted the game winner with 1:54 left in overtime. Jon Awe finished with two assists while Chris Thompson recorded his first point with the Gladiators, an assist, after being acquired at the trade deadline the day before. Dave Caruso finished with 27 saves in the overtime loss while the Gladiators were scoreless in five chances.

March 10th, Gwinnett 4, Augusta 1 - W

Gwinnett jumped out to a 1-0 lead less than 2 minutes into the contest on Jamie Milam's 19th goal of the season. Scott Mifsud pushed the Gladiators lead to 3-0 with a pair of goals for Gwinnett, both coming on the power play for the Gladiators. Blue Bennefield's 13th goal of the season rounded out the scoring after Augusta snapped Dave Caruso's shut out bid in the third. Caruso finished with 19 saves in the win for Gwinnett as the Gladiators collected two power play goals in the victory, the third win of the season against Augusta this year.

March 11th, Gwinnett 7, Charlotte 4 - W

Mike Vigilatne recorded a pair of goals including the game winner for the Gladiators in the win. His game winner, which gave the Gladiators a 5-3 lead in the second period, came shorthanded. Chad Painchaud and Jamie Milam each netted their 20th goals of the season in the win. Blue Bennefield finished with a goal and two assists for the Gladiators while Paul Flache and Brad Schell each had a pair of assists for Gwinnett. Dan Turple finished with 30 saves in the win. Gwinnett posted two power play goals in the victory. Scott Mifsud and Andy Contois also scored for Gwinnett in the victory.

This Week's Games:

Tuesday, March 13th, @ Charlotte Checkers, 7:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

Gwinnett leads the season series with a 4-3-0 record after defeating the Checkers on Sunday and are now 2-1-0 at Charlotte this season. Brad Schell leads all players in scoring in the season series with 9 points for Gwinnett in 7 games.

Friday, March 16th, @ Pensacola Ice Pilots, 8:05 p.m. - wdun.com

Gwinnett is 5-2-0 against Pensacola but both losses have come in Pensacola this year. The Gladiators have only won once this season at Penscaola, a 6-4 win on January 6th. Brad Schell has 16 points for Gwinnett to lead all players in scoring in the season series.

Saturday, March 17th, vs. Columbia Inferno, 7:35 p.m. - wdun.com

The Gladiators remain unbeaten in regulation at Columbia this season following last Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss at Columbia. Gwinnett is now 6-1-1 this year against the Inferno and are 3-0-1 at Carolina Coliseum.

Sunday, March 18th, vs. Florida Everblades, 7:35 p.m. - wdun.com

This is the final regular season meeting against the Everblades this year as the Gladiators lead the season series with a 5-4-0 record. The Gladiators and Everblades have split 4 games on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center with Brad Schell's 15 points tops among all players in the series.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fourth season as a proud member of the ECHL on March 13th as they travel to Charlotte to take on the Checkers at Bobcats Arena at 7:05 p.m. Season tickets are on sale now. In addition, the Gladiators offer several unique multi-game ticket packages as well as discounted group rates, suite rentals, and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and play all home games on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the spectacular 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, where parking is always free.

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