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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

November 26, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Three Please: Jamie Milam posted a career high three assists in Friday night's 5-3 win over the South Carolina Stingrays. Milam posted assists on the Gladiators first three goals of the game on Friday. It was the first time this season that Milam posted three points in a contest and was his fourth multiple point game for Gwinnett this year. Milam finished with two, three points games for the Gladiators last season.

K-Wall: Gladiators netminder Craig Kowalski posted a season high and a career high 48 saves for the Gladiators in Friday night's 5-3 win over the South Carolina Stingrays. His 48 saves is a pro career high for the netminder snapping his previous high of 47 saves notched twice with the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League during the 2005-06 season. Kowalski made 47 saves in a 6-1 loss against Norfolk on January 7, 2006 and then posted 47 saves in a 5-4 win over Portland on January 18, 2006.

Not to be outdone: Following Craig Kowalski's season high 48 save performance on Friday night, Dan Turple matched it the following night making a season and career best 48 saves for the Gladiators in Saturday's 3-2 shootout win over Charlotte. Turple's previous career high for saves in a game was 46 in a 5-2 win over Columbia on November 25, 2006.

Winning on the Road! The Gladiators remain the only ECHL team that is unbeaten on the road. Gwinnett has posted a 4-0-0 record on the road so far this season after last night's 5-3 win over South Carolina. The Gladiators have scored 19 goals in away games while allowing only 10. The Gladiators will play just their fifth road game of the season next weekend when they begin a three game set in Texas against the Wildcatters.

I'll take two: Rookie Mike Hamilton netted two goals on Friday night for the Gladiators, his second multi-goal game of the season. Hamilton also scored two goals in Gwinnett's season opening 5-3 win in Pensacola. Hamilton leads the Gladiators in rookie scoring with 6 goals and 6 assists for 12 points.

We're Number 1! The Gladiators moved in to the top spot in the ECHL on the Penalty Kill after keeping their last three opponents off the board on the power play. Gwinnett has killed off 90.1% of opponents power play chances this season while the Gladiators 9 goals allowed on the penalty kill also ranks first for fewest goals allowed on the penalty kill. Gwinnett is on pace to allow just 43 goals on the penalty kill. The ECHL record for fewest goals allowed is 34, a mark set by the Gladiators during the 2004-05 season. Through 15 games that season, Gwinnett had only allowed 7 power play goals.

A First! Gladiators forward Bryan Dobek, who was signed last Monday and played his first game of the year with Gwinnett on Tuesday night, posted his first goal of the season for Gwinnett in Saturday's 3-2 shootout win over Charlotte. Dobek finished with 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points in 35 games last season with Gwinnett.

Last Week's Games

November 20th, Elmira 6, Gwinnett 3 - L

Lou Dickenson extended his point scoring streak to nine games with the Gladiators first goal of the game late in the first period to tie the contest at one. Jim Jackson scored the next two goals in the contest for the Gladiators to give Gwinnett a 3-1 lead after two periods of play. In the third, Gwinnett gave up five goals in the final period in the loss including two shorthanded tallies on the same power play. The contest was Jackson's 211th game as a Gladiator tying him with Cam Brown for most games played as a Gladiator. Bryson Busniuk posted three helpers for Gwinnett in the win while Ryan Mahrle and Andy Brandt also had helpers in the losing effort. Craig Kowalski posted 18 saves for Gwinnett in the loss.

November 22nd, Texas 3, Gwinnett 1 - L

Jamie Milam broke a scoreless tie just 54 seconds into the second period but Gwinnett could not hold on in a 301 loss. Texas tied the game at one with 1:52 left in the second period and added a pair of markers in the third period for the win. Lou Dickenson was held off the board for the first time since October 27th snapping his point scoring streak at nine games. Dan Turple finished with 26 saves in the loss as the Gladiators went 0-for9 on the power play in the loss, the first time this season Gwinnett has lost back-to-back games.

November 23rd, Gwinnett 5, South Carolina 3 - W

Craig Kowalski posted a season high 48 saves for the Gladiators including a handful of spectacular saves in the second period to post his seventh win of the year. Jamie Milam recorded three assists in the game for the Gladiators while Andy Brandt posted his second game-winning goal of the season for Gwinnett. Jim Jackson broke a scoreless tie for Gwinnett early in the first period. South Carolina tied the game up before Lou Dickenson notched his 7th goal of the season to give Gwinnett a 2-1 lead before the end of the first period. The teams exchanged goals in the second with Mike Hamilton posting his 4th goal of the season. Brandt scored just 63 seconds into the third for a 4-2 Gwinnett lead. South Carolina got back within a goal later in the period before Hamilton's second of the night iced the contest with an empty net goal with five seconds left in the contest.

November 24th, Gwinnett 3, Charlotte 2 - SOW

Mike Vigilante posted the game winning shootout goal for the Gladiators in the 5th round of the shootout to help Gwinnett past the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday night. Charlotte jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Gwinnett in the first period. Gwinnett had a chance to tie the game early in the second but Andy Brandt was unsuccessful in a shootout. Mike Hamilton was able to tie the game at 1-1 on the power play late in the second period. Bryan Dobek's firs goal of the season gave Gwinnett a 2-1 lead with a little over 5 minutes to play in the third period. With the netminder pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Charlotte tie the game at 2-2 with 3 seconds left in the third period. Gwinnett could not post the win in overtime despite a power play chance in the extra session. Dan Turple posted a career best 48 saves for Gwinnett in the win.

This Week's Games:

Friday, November 30th @ Texas, 8:30 p.m. - accessnorthga.com

Saturday, December 1st, @ Texas, 8:00 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

Sunday, December 2nd, @ Texas, 5:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

Texas leads the season series against the Gladiators with a 2-0-0 record after defeating the Gladiators 5-4 in a shootout on November 10th and downing Gwinnett 3-1 on Thanksgiving. The Gladiators travel to Beaumont where they have not won in Texas since a 4-2 win over the Wildcatters on December 5, 2004. Despite the two losses this season to the Wildcatters, Gwinnett leads the all time series by an 8-5-2 record.

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: Day Off

Tuesday: 12:10 - 1:30 p.m., Ice Forum - Duluth

Wednesday: 12:10 - 1:30 p.m., Ice Forum - Duluth

Thursday: practice in Texas

Friday: Game @ Texas, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday: Game @ Texas, 8:00 p.m.

Sunday: Game @ Texas, 5:05 p.m.

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Friday, November 30th as they travel to Beaumont, Texas to take on the Texas Wildcatters at the Ford Arena at 8:30 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Friday'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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