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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

November 19, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Best Start Ever! The Gladiators continue their best start in team history. Gwinnett picked up another win over the weekend, a 4-1 victory over the South Carolina Stingrays on Friday Night. With the win, Gwinnett improved to 9-1-1 on the season with 19 points. The Gladiators 19 points in 11 games are the fastest that Gwinnett has amassed that many points. Gwinnett posted its 19th point 12 games into the 2003-04 season while it took 15 games during the 2004-05 season. Gwinnett reached 19 points 16 games into the season during the 2005-06 season while it took 15 games last year to reach that many points.

A Helping Hand - times three! Lou Dickenson notched a personal career best three assists for the Gladiators in Friday's 4-1 win over the South Carolina Stingrays. Dickenson's three assists came on the Gladiators first three goals of the game. It was the third time in his North American hockey career that Dickenson notched three points in a game.

Perfect! Dan Turple stayed unbeaten on the year with Friday's 4-1 win over the South Carolina Stingrays. With the win, Turple improves to 3-0-0 on the season and is currently off to his best career start. He has posted a 2.33 goals against average and a .917 save percentage in three games for the Gladiators. Through three games last season, Turple was 2-1-0 with a 3.01 goals against average and an .894 save percentage.

Back from the "A"! Chad Denny and Mike Vigilante were both assigned to the Gladiators from the American Hockey League last week. Denny returned to Gwinnett from the Chicago Wolves while Vigilante came back to the Gladiators from the Manitoba Moose. Denny did not appear in any games while recalled to Chicago. Vigilante posted a +1 in three games with Manitoba before being reassigned to Gwinnett.

Winning on the Road! The Gladiators remain the only ECHL team that is unbeaten on the road after playing on the road. Gwinnett has posted a 3-0-0 record on the road so far this season. The Gladiators have scored 14 goals in away games while allowing only 7. The Phoenix Roadrunners have also yet to lose on the road, however, they have also yet to play a road game, starting their season with a 12-game homestand. The Gladiators will play just their fourth road game of the season this Friday in South Carolina.

Can I have Seconds? The Gladiators rank second in both the power play and the penalty kill after Friday's 4-1 win over the South Carolina Stingrays. Gwinnett is 22-of-88 on the man advantage converting on 25% of their opportunities and rank second behind the Idaho Steelheads who have converted on 27.2% of their power play chances. The Gladiators also rank second on the penalty kill as they have killed off 87.9% of opponents power play chances. Florida ranks first with an 88.5% penalty kill percentage. Despite ranking second, the Gladiators 8 goals allowed is currently the fewest in the ECHL.

Food Drive Nights! The Gladiators annual food drive night is scheduled for November 22nd. With the donation of a canned food or non perishable item, fans can receive the opportunity to purchase 5 end zone level tickets for $25 or 5 premium level tickets for $50. This offer is only good for selected seating areas and can only be redeemed at the Arena at Gwinnett Center Box Office and is subject to availability.

Team Photo Night: Saturday, November 24th when the Gladiators host the Charlotte Checkers is the Gladiators Team Photo night. The first 2,000 fans will receive a Gladiators team photo courtesy of Kroger, Coca-Cola, Charter Communications, Star 94 FM and The Atlanta Journal Constitution/AJC Gwinnett News.

Last Week's Game:

November 16th, Gwinnett 4, South Carolina 1 - W

Lou Dickenson posted a career best three assists to lead the Gladiators past the South Carolina Stingrays. Dickenson assisted on Bryson Busniuk's first goal of the season, a power play marker, 14 minutes into the second period. His second assist came on Jon Awe's second goal of the season with just two minutes left in the middle stanza. Gwinnett took a 2-0 lead to the locker room but the Stingrays cut the lead in half with their first goal of the game early in the third. Dickenson helped set up Andy Brandt's power play goal with a little less than two minutes left in the third to give Gwinnett a 3-1 lead. Myles Stoesz notched his first goal of the season, an empty net goal, with 7 seconds left. Dan Turple finished with 23 saves for his third win of the year while Gwinnett went 3-for-6 on the power play.

This Week's Games:

Tuesday, November 20th, vs. Elmira Jackals, 7:05 p.m. - accessnorthga.com

This game is the first ever meeting between the Gladiators and the Elmira Jackals as Elmira is an expansion team this season in the ECHL after competing in the United Hockey League (now the International Hockey League) last year. The Gladiators will face Elmira one more time this season, in Elmira on February 15th.

Thursday, November 22nd, vs. Texas Wildcatters, 7:05 p.m. - accessnorthga.com

Texas won the first meeting of the season between the Gladiators and the Wildcatters in a shootout at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on November 10th. Texas' John McNabb is the only player this season to post more than one goal against Gwinnett this year. Following Thursday's game, the Wildcatters will make two more trips to the Arena at Gwinnett Center on March 1st and 2nd.

Friday, November 23rd, @ South Carolina Stingrays, 7:05 p.m. - accessnorthga.com

Gwinnett won the first meeting last Friday knocking off South Carolina 4-1 at home. The Gladiators were 3-0-1 last year in South Carolina while finishing with an 8-0-1 record against the Stingrays.

Saturday, November 24th, vs. Charlotte Checkers, 7:35 p.m. - accessnorthga.com

The Gladiators are 1-0-0 against the Checkers this season after a 3-1 win on November 4th at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. After Saturday's game, the Gladiators will close out their early season slate against the Checkers before hosting Charlotte at home again, twice during the final week of the regular season in April.

This Week's Practice Schedule:

Practices at the IceForum in Duluth are open to the general public. Arena at Gwinnett Center practices are not open to the general public. Media members wishing to attend practice at the Arena should contact the Gladiators PR staff at 770-497-5106 to facilitate building access.

Monday: Arena at Gwinnett Center, 10:30 - noon

Tuesday: Pre Game 10 a.m., Game vs. Elmira, 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday: Arena at Gwinnett Center, 10:30 - noon

Thursday: Pre Game 10 a.m., Game vs. Texas, 7:05 p.m.

Friday: Game @ South Carolina, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday: Pre Game 10 a.m., Game vs. Charlotte, 7:35 p.m.

Sunday: Day Off

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Tuesday, November 20th as they host the Elmira Jackals' at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Tuesday's game via Accessnorthga.com audio stream channel 3.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the Premier 'AA' Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that has 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08. The 25 teams includes the Mississippi (Biloxi) Sea Wolves, who return after missing two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the expansion Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals. The ECHL will play 900 games beginning Oct. 18 and concluding Apr. 5.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fifth season as a proud member of the ECHL - season ticket packages 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 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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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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