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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

April 2, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Moving Up! Forward Brad Schell was called up to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League for the 3rd time this season on Wednesday. The 3rd year pro from Scott, Saskatchewan is scoreless in three games with the Wolves since being called up this week. Schell, who currently leads the ECHL in scoring with 110 points, has 3 points in 7 AHL games this season.

From the Midwest: The Gladiators added forward Andy Brandt on Saturday. The forward joins the Gladiators from the University of Wisconsin where he helped the Badgers to the 2005-06 NCAA Championship. He had a career season this year with Wisconsin notching 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points in 40 games. Brandt was held scoreless in one game with the Gladiators over the weekend.

Streaking Along: Brandon Kaleniecki notched a goal in the Gladiators 3-2 win over Pensacola to push his point scoring streak to four games. Kaleniecki posted a pair of goals in his first game back with the Gladiators last weekend in Texas and added three points in Thursday's 5-3 win over South Carolina and had an assist in the Gladiators 4-3 loss at Columbia on Friday night. The rookie out of the University of Michigan now has 7 points during his four game point scoring streak.

Matching his Best: Joel Stepp notched three assists for the Gladiators in Friday night's 4-3 loss at Columbia to tie his career high for most assists in one game. Stepp set his career high last year collecting three assists with the Gladiators in a 6-3 win against Charlotte on March 11th. His three assists in Friday night's loss was the third time (11/6/06 vs. Augusta & 2/14/07 @ Florida) this season that he collected three assists in a game during his career.

A new Career High: Gladiators defenseman Jim Jackson collected an assist in Saturday's 3-2 win over Pensacola to set a new career high for points in a season with 34. Jackson notched a pair of goals for the Gladiators in Thursday's 5-3 win over the South Carolina Stingrays to tie his career high for points in a season. His pair of goals pushed his point total to 33 on the season. Jackson posted 33 points with the Gladiators during his rookie campaign with Gwinnett during the 2003-04 season to set his previous career high.

Snapping a Slump: Scott Mifsud collected three points for the Gladiators off a goal and 2 assists in Thursday's 5-3 win over South Carolina. His 3 points snapped a 5 game scoreless streak for the ECHL's second leading scorer this season. Prior to Thursday's game, Mifsud last had a point in the Gladiators 7-4 loss at Charlotte on March 13th. Mifsud currently ranks second in scoring in the ECHL with 92 points off of 26 goals and 66 assists.

More to 20! Blue Bennefield notched his 17th goal of the season for the Gladiators in Saturday night's 4-3 loss at Columbia to move just 3 goals shy of 20 on the season. Bennefield and Andy Contois (19 goals) are looking to become the 8th and 9th players on the Gladiators to record 20 or more goals this season. They would join Colton Fretter (35), Scott Mifsud (26), Brad Schell (25), Mike Vigilante (24), John Awe (23), Chad Painchaud (22) and Jamie Milam (22) with 20 or more goals this season.

On the Power Play: The Gladiators tied the ECHL record for power play goals in a season collecting two power play goals in Saturday night's 4-3 loss at Columbia. Gwinnett now has 115 power play goals on the year tying the ECHL record set by the Nashville Knights during the 1995-96 season. Gwinnett came up one power play goal shy of tying the ECHL record last year finishing with 114 power play goals. Gwinnett will look to set a new record with three games remaining in the 2006-07 season.

Fan Appreciation Night: Friday, April 6th when the Gladiators host the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:05 p.m. in the last regular season game of the 2006-07 season is the Gladiators Fan Appreciation night. Kroger will be giving away $10,000 in gift cards at the game. The first 1,500 fans ages 16 and older will receive a Kroger gift card valued between $5 and $200 at the game. Also, fans with a Kroger Plus Card can enter to win a Kroger gift card valued at $500 at the game. In addition, the cartoon character Bloo will be at the game courtesy of Charter Communications and the first 1,000 kids ages 15 and under will receive a piggy bank courtesy of Charter. Fan appreciation night is also sponsored by the Gwinnett Daily Post, WDUN, News Talk 550, Kicks 101.5FM and Eagle 106.7FM.

Last Week's Games:

March 29th, Gwinnett 5, South Carolina 3 - W

Scott Mifsud snapped a 5 game scoreless streak with 3 points in the win while Jim Jackson posted two goals, including the game winner, to help the Gladiators defeat the Stingrays and clinch a 2007 Kelly Cup Playoff Berth. Gwinnett jumped out to a 3-0 lead on goals by Mifsud, Luke Erickson and Brandon Kaleniecki. Erickson and Kaleniecki each finished with 3 points (1g, 2a) in the win for Gwinnett. South Carolina posted two goals in the second before Jackson netted his first of the game in the third. South Carolina again got within a goal but Jackson's second of the night, an empty net goal, put the contest away. The Gladiators finished with one power play goal pushing their total to 113 while Dave Caruso made 31 saves for his 21st win of the year. Jon Awe and Jamie Milam each finished with an assist in the win.

March 30th, Columbia 4, Gwinnett 3 - L

Joel Stepp notched an assist on all three goals in the loss. After trailing 2-0, Blue Bennefield deflected a Jamie Milam slap shot to get Gwinnett within a goal. Milam then posted a power play goal in the second to tie the game at 2-2. Columbia recorded a pair of goals to jump out to a 4-2 lead. Chris Thompson got the Gladiators within a goal in the third but Gwinnett could get no closer. Turple finished with 16 saves in the loss while Gwinnett had 2 power play goals in the contest. Kaleniecki had an assist to push his point scoring streak to three consecutive games for the Gladiators.

March 31st, Gwinnett 3, Pensacola 2 - W

Brandon Kaleniecki posted his 5th goal of the season to push his point scoring streak to four games helping Gwinnett to the win. Pensacola jumped out to a 1-0 lead before Mike Vigilante tied the game at one before Kaleniecki gave Gwinnett a 2-1 lead. The Ice Pilots tied the game at 2-2 before the end of the first period. Jon Awe scored the game winner for the Gladiators early in the second period as he collected his 24th goal of the season. Scott Mifsud, Jim Jackson, Joel Stepp and Blue Bennefield each had an assist in the win for Gwinnett as the Gladiators clamped down defensively in the third period for the win. Dave Caruso posted 28 saves for his 22nd win of the season for Gwinnett.

This Week's Games:

Tuesday, April 3rd, vs. Charlotte Checkers, 7:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

The Gladiators currently sit four points ahead of the Charlotte Checkers heading into Tuesday's game. Gwinnett and Charlotte have split the season series as both teams have compiled 4-4-0 records this year with home ice not mattering as each team has compiled a 2-2-0 record at home. Charlotte won the last meeting back on March 13th by a 7-4 score and posted a win in the last meeting at Gwinnett by a 3-2 score back on February 18th. Charlotte's Mark Lee leads all players in scoring in the season series with 12 points.

Friday, April 6th, vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:35 p.m. - wdun.com

Gwinnett looks to remain unbeaten in regulation against the Stingrays as the two teams meet for the final time this year. Gwinnett is 7-0-1 against South Carolina following Thursday's 5-3 win over South Carolina. The Gladiators are a perfect 4-0-0 against the Stingrays at home as Brad Schell's 15 points leads all players in scoring in the season series.

Saturday, April 7th, @ Pensacola Ice Pilots, 8:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

Gwinnett closes out the regular season at Pensacola. Gwinnett is 7-2-0 against the Ice Pilots this season but are just 2-2-0 at Pensacola this year. The Gladiators won the last meeting at Pensacola this year posting a 3-2 win back on March 16th. Brad Schell's 17 points is tops among all players in the season series with the Ice Pilots.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fourth season as a proud member of the ECHL as they host the Charlotte Checkers on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on April 3rd 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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