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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

April 16, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs: The Gladiators and the Texas Wildcatters are tied at one game each in the ECHL South Division Semi-Finals. Gwinnett jumped out to a 1-game-to-none series lead with a 5-2 in win in Game 1 on Saturday night but the Wildcatters tied the series at 1-1 with a 5-2 win in Game 2 on Sunday afternoon. The series shifts to the Ford Arena in Beaumont for Games 3 & 4, and Game 5, if necessary.

2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs

American Conference South Division Semi-Finals

#3 Gwinnett vs. #2 Texas

Game 1: Gwinnett 5, Texas 2

Game 2: Texas 5, Gwinnett 2

Game 3: Wednesday, April 18th, @ Texas, 8:05 p.m.

Game 4: Friday, April 20th, @ Texas, 9:05 p.m.

Game 5: Sunday, April 22nd, @ Texas, 5:05 p.m. (if necessary)

Still Good to the Gladiators: Gwinnett picked up right where they left off at the end of the regular season on the power play. The Gladiators set a new team record for most power play goals in one playoff game posting 4 power play goals in Saturday night's 5-2 win over Texas. Gwinnett surpassed their previous team high of three power play goals posted three previous times (4/9/04, 5/5/06, 6/1/06)

Not a telling sign: A Game 2 win or loss has not been that big of a telling factor for how the Gladiators playoff series will finish. Of six series that the Gladiators have won, Gwinnett has lost Game 2 four times while winning two Game 2's. In addition, Gwinnett has won game 2 once and lost Game 2 twice when losing a series. The only series the Gladiators won Game 2 and lost the series was against the Idaho Steelheads during the 2004 Western Conference Finals.

In Game 3's: Game 3 has been the deciding factor for the Gladiators in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. In all six playoff series that the Gladiators have won, they have also won Game 3 of the series. In each series that the Gladiators have been eliminated in over the past three seasons, the Gladiators lost game 3 of that respective series.

ECHL MVP: Gladiators center Brad Schell was named the ECHL Most Valuable Player for 2006-07 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. Jeff Campbell of Gwinnett captured the honor last year making the Gladiators the only team since Erie in 1988-89 with Daryl Harpe and 1989-90 with Bill McDougall to have back-to-back winners. Schell finished the season setting new franchise records for points (110) and assists (85) while being named to the captain of the American Conference squad in the 2007 ECHL All Star Game.

New Career Highs: Multiple Gladiators finished the 2006-07 regular season setting career highs. Jon Awe finished with new career highs for goals (24), assists (32) and points (56). Jim Jackson finished the year with a new career high for points (38). Joel Stepp also set a new career high for assists (37) and points (54) while Scott Mifsud also had career highs for assists (68) and points in the season (94). Brad Schell led the league in scoring and set franchise records for assists with 85 and points with 110. Mike Vigilante set a new career high points (65).

Last Week's Games:

April 14th, Gwinnett 5, Texas 2 - W

Scott Mifsud scored twice while Dave Caruso made 32 saves to lead the Gladiators to a game 1 victory over Texas. Gwinnett scored four times in the first period while going 3-for-3 on the power play to post the win. The Gladiators got first period goals from Mifsud, Jim Jackson, Blue Bennefield and Brandon Kaleniecki in the win. Mifsud added his second goal of the night on a 5-on-3 power play for Gwinnett's 4th power play goal of the game. Chad Painchaud and Jon Awe each finished with a pair of assists in the victory over the Wildcatters.

April 15th, Texas 5, Gwinnett 2 - L

Gwinnett jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Joel Stepp's first goal of the playoffs on the power play but Texas tied the game 10 minutes later with less than a minute left in the first period. The Wildcatters notched four second period goals to take command of the contest and a 5-1 lead into the third period. The Wildcatters ended with 3 power play goals in a penalty filled game. Colton Fretter netted his first goal of the playoffs in the third period to round out the scoring in the contest. Stepp, Scott Mifsud, Chad Painchaud and Blue Bennefield all posted assists in the loss.

This Week's Games:

ECHL South Division Semi-Finals

vs. #2 Texas Wildcatters

Game 3: @ Texas, Wednesday, April 18th, 8:00 p.m. - wdun.com

Game 4: @ Texas, Friday, April 20th, 8:30 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

Game 5: @ Texas, Sunday, April 22nd, TBD - WDUN, News Talk 550 (Series tied at 1 game each)

Special teams have been a key factor in the series through the first two games. Gwinnett has posted 6 of seven goals in the series on the power play while the Wildcatters have notched 4 of 7 goals on the man advantage. During much of the regular season, Gwinnett and Texas ranked 1-2 on the power play. Gwinnett will have to overcome an 0-3-1 record during the regular season at the Ford Arena in Beaumont to win the series as the final three games are in Texas. Brandin Cote's four points leads all players in scoring in the playoff series.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fourth season as a proud member of the ECHL as they continue the 2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, April 18th at the Ford Arena in Beaumont, Texas in Game 3 of the American Conference South Division Semi-Finals against the Texas Wildcatters at 8:05 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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ECHL Stories from April 16, 2007


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