ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

Published on March 19, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Back in First! Three straight wins have helped the Gladiators move back into sole possession of first place in the ECHL's South Division. Following Tuesday's loss at Charlotte, Gwinnett remained in third place in the division, but moved into a tie for first after collecting wins on Friday and Saturday night coupled with regulation losses by the Texas Wildcatters and the Florida Everblades. The Gladiators win on Sunday in a shootout moved Gwinnett to 83 points and into sole possession of first place in the division.

Up to 20! Gladiators goaltender Dave Caruso posted his 20th win of the season for Gwinnett in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Columbia Inferno. He becomes the fourth goaltender on the Gladiators to accomplish the feat while he just the third different goaltender to post at least 20 wins for Gwinnett. Caruso joins Michael Garnett, who notched 21 wins during the 2003-04 season, and Sean Fields, who had 21 wins during the 2004-05 season and 32 wins during the 2005-06 season, as the only netminder with 20 or more wins in a single season with Gwinnett. Teammate Dan Turple needs just 2 wins for 20 on the season as well.

A Career High! Forward Chad Painchaud collected four points for the Gladiators in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Columbia Inferno to set a career high for points in a game. Painchaud had the game's first goal just 32 seconds into the contest and then proceeded to add three assists for Gwinnett in the win. It was Painchaud's 14th multiple point game of the season for the Gladiators and his fourth straight game with at least one point for Gwinnett.

A new Addition: The Gladiators signed forward Luke Erickson on Thursday and the rookie out of Bemidji State University was in the line up for Gwinnett in Friday's 3-2 win over Pensacola and posted his first professional goal for the Gladiators in Saturday's 5-1 win over Columbia. Erickson finished his collegiate career ranked 6th overall in scoring in the CHA while setting a new Beavers record for scoring in a career despite playing in only 18 games this season for Bemidji State.

Tying a Career High: Mike Vigilante collected an assist in Saturday's 5-1 win over Columbia to set a new career high for points in a season. Vigilante now has 58 points on the year surpassing his previous carrer high set with the Gladiators during the 2004-05 season. The Dearborn, Michigan native is currently on pace to finish the season with 66 points for the Gladiators. Vigilante already set a carreer high for assists in a season as he had an assist in the Gladiators 3-1 win over South Carolina on February 24th to set a new career high for assists (34) in a season breaking the high of 27 he had during the 2004-05 campaign.

Moving Up: Brad Schell posted an assist in Sunday's 3-4 shootout win over the Florida Everblades for his 110th point of the season for the Gladiators. With 110 points on the season, Schell moves into a tie for 24th in scoring in the ECHL in a single season. Trevor Jobe of the Nashville Knights holds the ECHL record for most points in one season with 161 during the 1992-93 season.

Playmaker: In addition to posting over 100 points this season, Schell is currently on pace to set a new ECHL record for most assists in one season. He collected his 85th assist of the year to move into 4th all time for most assists in one season passing Daryl Harpe's mark of 84 set during the 1988-89 season. Schell is on pace to finish the season with 97 assists which would place him 4 ahead of current leader Dan Gauther, who had 93 assists with Knoxville during the 1990-91 season.

Looking for A Career High: Gladiators defenseman Jim Jackson is just two points shy of tying a career high for points in a season after collecting his 12th goal of the season in Sunday's 4-3 shootout win over Florida. Jackson 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.

On the Power Play: The power play continues to be good to the Gladiators this year as Gwinnett posted a power play goal in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Columbia Inferno. Gwinnett now has 111 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 4 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 .8 power play goals over their final 8 games to tie the ECHL record for power play goals in a season.

Last Week's Games:

March 13th, Charlotte 7, Gwinnett 4 - L

Mike Vigilante posted a pair of goals for Gwinnett to help the Gladiators to a 4-2 lead heading into the third period. Charlotte collected 5 goals including a hat trick to get by Gwinnett. The Gladiators posted three of their 4 goals on the power play in the loss while giving up three power play goals to the Checkers. Brad Schell finished with a pair of assists to push his point scoring streak to 15 games. Gwinnett also got goals from Paul Flache and Matt York in the loss. Dan Turple made 36 saves in the losing effort.

March 16th, Gwinnett 3, Pensacola 2 - W

Brad Schell posted an assist to push his point scoring streak to 16 games while Chad Painchaud and Jamie Milam each notched their 21st goals of the season for Gwinnett in the win. Painchaud's marker proved to be the winner. Jon Awe scored his 18th power play goal of the year, his first power play goal for Gwinnett since January 19th. Joel Stepp finished with 2 assists in the win while Matt York and Painchaud each had assists for the Gladiators. Dave Caruso made 28 saves for his 19th win of the year. Gwinnett finished with 2 power play goals to push their total to 110 on the season.

March 17th, Gwinnett 5, Columbia 1 - W

Chad Painchaud posted a goal and three assists to lead the Gladiators past the Inferno. After exchanging goals early in the first period, Gwinnett scored the next four goals unanswered - two more in the first and two in the third - for the win. Joel Stepp finished with a goal and two assists while Chris Thompson netted his first goal with the Gladiators and added a pair of assists for Gwinnett. Luke Erickson scored his first pro goal with the Gladiators while Blue Bennefield recorded his 15th goal of the season for Gwinnett. Dave Caruso had 33 saves in the win while the Gladiators added another power play goal pushing their season total to 111 power play goals.

March 18th, Gwinnett 4, Florida 3 - SOW

Mike Vigilante posted the 7th round game-winning shootout goal to help Gwinnett to the victory. The win helped Gwinnett move into sole possession of first place in the ECHL's South Division. The Gladiators trailed 2-0 heading into the third period but rattled off three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead on Florida. The Everblades tied the game at three later in the third to send the game to overtime and eventually a shootout. Jon Awe got the Gladiators first goal of the game in the third while Jim Jackson tied the contest at two. Andy Contois' 18th goal of the year pushed Gwinnett into the lead. Vigilante finished with a pair of assists in the win while Contois also had an assist to finish with two points for Gwinnett. Dan Turple collected 32 saves for the Gladiators in the victory. It was just the second time this year that the Gladiators posted a win when trailing after two periods.

This Week's Games:

Friday, March 23rd @ Texas Wildcatters, 8:30 p.m. - wdun.com

Saturday, March 24th @ Texas Wildcatters, 8:05 p.m. - wdun.com

Gwinnett leads the season series with a 3-2-1 record but is winless this season at the Ford Arena in Beaumont with an 0-1-1 record. The Gladiators won the last meeting against the Wildcatters, a 4-2 win on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Febraury 9th. Brad Schell's 12 points in 6 games against the Wildcatters leads all players in scoring in the season series.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fourth season as a proud member of the ECHL on March 24th as they travel to Texas to take on the Wildcatters at teh Ford Arena at 8:30 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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ECHL Stories from March 19, 2007


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