ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

Published on December 10, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Fire Away! Forward Derek Nesbitt posted 8 shots for the Gladiators in two games last week against the Florida Everblades and currently leads the ECHL in shots on goal with 123 shots on the year. Nesbitt has been averaging 6.15 shots per game and if he keeps that pace through the season, he would finish with 443 shots on the year which is on pace to tie the ECHL record for shots in a season. The previous record is 443 shots in a season posted by Darren Colbourne of Dayton during the 1991-92 season.

A season High! Forward Derek Nesbitt notched three points for the Gladiators in Thursday night's 3-1 win over the Everblades. His three points off a goal and a pair of asssits is a personal season high for the Edgmonville, Ontario native. His career high for points in a game is five which he notched twice last year with Idaho in back-to-back games against Utah on Febraury 23rd (2g-3a) and February 24th (1g-4a) respectively.

Team Leader: Derek Nesbitt posted three points for the Gladiators in Thursday night's 3-1 win over the Florida Everblades and added a pair of assists in Friday's 4-2 win and continues to lead the Gladiators in scoring with 27 points on the year. His 27 points, off of 9 goals and 18 assists, shares 7th overall in the ECHL in scoring on the year.

Coming from Behind: The Gladiators notched their second consecutive come-from-behind victory in Thursday night's 3-1 win over Florida. It was the second time in as many games for Gwinnett to trail in the contest when entering the third period. With Thursday night's 3-1 win over Florida, Gwinnett improved to 2-2-1 when trailing after two periods.

Top D! Gladiators Defenseman Jamie Milam posted his 7th goal of the season for the Gladiators in Thursday night's 3-1 win over the Florida Everblades and added an assist for Gwinnett in Friday's 4-2 win. Milam leads Gladiators blueliners in scoring with 7 goals and 10 assists for 17 points. His 17 points shares second overall in scoring among league defensemen. Bryan Rodney of Elmira leads defensemen in scoring with 18 points on the year.

An Advantage! The Gladiators collected a pair of power play goals in Friday's 4-2 win over the Florida Everblades and remain in the top spot in the ECHL on the power play. The Gladiators 33 power play goals leads the ECHL while Gwinnett ranks first among power play percentage converting on 24.6% of their power play chances this season. Idaho ranks second at 22.6% on the season.

In the Top 10: Gladiators netminder Craig Kowalski allowed just three goals combined in two games against his former teammates from last year, the Florida Everblades. He finished the week with a 1.50 goals against average to lower is overall goals against average to 2.34, good enough for 9th in the ECHL while he recorded a .956 save percentage to raise his overall save percentage to .925 good for 8th in the ECHL this season. In addition, Kowalski turned aside a Florida penalty shot opportunity which would have tied the game at three with just 1:39 left in the game on Friday night.

Glad to Donate Campaign: The Gladiators have teamed up with the US Marines and Toys for Tots. Fans can score 2 selected premium level tickets for just $17 for the Gladiators December 14th game against the Columbia Inferno with the donation of a toy to Toys For Tots. This offer subject to availability and only in selected seating areas. Limit 8 tickets. Toy donations can be made at any of the next two Gladiators home games on December 11th and December 14th as well as at tonight's game. In addition, fans can make a toy donation at selected area Toys for Tots drop-off points. For more information, contact the Gladiators office at 770-497-5100 for more information.

Last Week's Games:

December 6th, Gwinnett 3, Florida 1 - W

The Gladiators mounted their second third period comeback to knock off the Florida Everblades and move into second place in the ECHL's South Division. After a scoreless first period, Florida jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 3:27 into the second period. Gwinnett didn't answer until Jamie Milam's 7th goal of the season just 5:22 into the third period. Mike Vigilante then notched the game winner for Gwinnett with 1:34 left in the third period. Derek Nesbitt, who also had assists on Gwinnett's first two goals, tallied an empty net marker for the Gladiators with 52 seconds left to ice the game. Jeff Campbell also finished with a pair of helpers for the Gladiators in the win. Craig Kowalski recorded his second consecutive win for the Gladiators and finished with 28 saves for Gwinnett.

December 7th, Gwinnett 4, Florida 2 - W

For the second consecutive night, the Everblades took an early lead on the Gladiators but Mike Vigilante's 7th goal of the season midway through the first period tied the game at one. Tyler Plante of Florida and Craig Kowalski kept the game at 1-1 with a scoreless second period. The Everblades regained the lead just 2:49 into the third period. Gwinnett tied the game at two on Dirk Southern's first goal in nine games half way through the final period while Jeff Mason's first goal of the season proved to be the game winner as he notched the marker just three minutes after Southern's tying goal. Mike Vigilante added an empty net goal to put the game away with 43 seconds left in the third period. Derek Nesbitt finished with a pair of assists while Jamie Milam stayed tied for second in scoring among league defensemen with an assist in the contest. Kowalski finished with 37 saves for Gwinnett while the Gladiators went 2-for-6 on the power play in the win.

This Week's Games:

Tuesday, December 11th, vs. Augusta Lynx, 7:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

The Gladiators won the first meeting of the season between the two teams by a 2-1 score on October 27th. Gwinnett finished last season with a 2-1-1 record at the Arena at Gwinnett Center but Augusta won the season series with a 7-3-0 record as the Gladiators went 1-3-2 at the James Brown Arena last season. Gwinnett travels to Augusta on Saturday as well.

Thursday, December 13th, @ Charlotte Checkers, 7:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

The Gladiators defeated Charlotte in the first meeting of the season in a shootout by a 3-2 score on November 4th at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. This is the first of five meeting between the Gladiators and the Checkers in Charlotte this season. Gwinnett finished 2-2-0 at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena last year.

Friday, December 14th, vs. Columbia Inferno, 7:35 p.m. - AccessNorthGa.com

This is the first of nine meetings against the Inferno this season. The Gladiators lead the all time series against Columbia with a 20-8-3 record. Gwinnett finished last season with a 7-2-1 record against the Inferno.

Saturday, December 15th, @ Augusta Lynx, 7:35 p.m. - AccessNorthGa.com

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

Tuesday: pregame 10 a.m. - Game vs. Augusta

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

Thursday: Game @ Charlotte

Friday: pregame 10 a.m. - Game vs. Columbia

Saturday: Game @ Augusta

Sunday: Day Off

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Tuesday, December 11th as the host the Augsuta Lynx at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Tuesday's game on WDUN, News Talk 550.

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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