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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

December 17, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Seven in a Row! The Gladiators won their 7th consecutive game with Saturday's 5-4 win over the Augusta Lynx at the James Brown Arena. The seven game winning streak is the Gladiators longest of the season and the third longest in team history. The Gladiators longest winning streak in team history was 9 games and occurred during the 2005-06 season from January 21st to February 10th. The second longest streak of 8 consecutive wins also occurred during the 2005-06 season.

Some Firsts! Three players notched their first goals of the season last week for Gwinnett. Tomas Pospisil notched his first goal in Thursday's 5-1 win over Charlotte. Matt Anderson scored for Gwinnett in the Gladiators 4-1 win over the Columbia Inferno while Chad Denny picked up a marker for Gwinnett in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Augusta Lynx. For Denny and Pospisil, it was their first professional goal.

Short Order: Gladiators forward Tomas Pospisil shares first for the Gladiators team lead in game winning goals with a pair on the season. He notched the game winning goal for Gwinnett in back to back games on December 13th and December 14th. Pospisil has two game winning goals in just 6 games this season for the Gladiators. He shares first on the Gladiators with Derek Nesbitt, Andy Brandt, Dirk Southern and Mike Vigilante who all also have 2 game winning goals on the year.

From Chicago! Forwards Matt Anderson and Tomas Pospisil were both assigned to Gwinnett on Wednesday and appeared in all three games for the Gladiators over the weekend. For Pospisil, it is the second time he has been assigned to Gwinnett this season.

Crunch Time! Netminder Craig Kowalski was called up to the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League on Saturday and backed up for the Crunch in their 9-2 win over Hamilton. This isn't Kowalski's first trip to the AHL as the netminder spent parts of the 2005-06 season with the Lowell Lock Monsters where he appeared in 20 games posting a 6-11-3 record.

A Streaker! Forward Jeff Campbell notched at least one point for the Gladiators in each of Gwinnett's past four games to extend his point scoring streak to 9 games. Campbell's nine game point streak is currently the longest on-going streak for the Gladiators. Derek Nesbitt holds the team record for this season with a point in 10 consecutive games from November 22nd to December 13th. During his current streak, Campbell has notched 3 goals and 11 assists for 14 points for the Gladiators.

Between the Pipes: Netminder Dan Turple continues to have a career year for the Gladiators. He has posted a .926 save percentage so far this season for Gwinnett to rank 7th overall in the ECHL. In addition, Turple has reached 7 wins faster this season than over last season. He reached 7 wins after 14 games with Gwinnett last year.

Coats For Kids: Saturday, December 22nd is the Gladiators 5th annual Coats for Kids Night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Donate a new or gently used coat and receive the opportunity to puchase up to 5 End Zone level tickets for $25 and up to 5 premium level tickets for $50. This offer is subject to availability and only availalbe at the Arena Box Office. For more information, log on to www.gwinnettgladators.com.

Last Week's Games:

December 11th, Gwinnett 3, Augusta 2 - SOW

The Gladiators remain in second place in the ECHL's South Division with the shootout win over Augusta. Derek Nesbitt extended his assist streak to 9 games with a pair of helpers while Mike Vigilante notched a pair of goals for Gwinnett. For Vigilante it was the fourth straight game that he collected at least one goal for the Gladiators. Vigilante's goals book ended a pair of markers by the Lynx with both Gwinnett goals coming on the power play. Jeff Campbell also notched two assists in the win for the Gladiators. Dan Turple recorded the win as he made 42 saves in the contest. Ryan Mahrle posted the game winning shootout goal for Gwinnett in the 6th round of the shootout.

December 13th, Gwinnett 5, Charlotte 1- W

Andy Brandt notched a pair of goals while Derek Nesbitt extended his assist streak to 10 games with a pair of helpers in the win. Mike Vigilante extended his goal-scoring streak to 5 games just 33 seconds into the game. Tomas Pospisil's first professional goal pushed the Gwinnett lead to 2-0 at the 8:22 mark of the first. Andy Brandt's first of two goals at the 12:37 mark pushed the lead to 3-0 while Jamie Milam notched his 8th goal of the season to give Gwinnett a 4-0 lead with 4:50 left in the opening period. After a scoreless second period, Brandt's second just five minutes into the third period gave the Gladiators a 5-0 lead. Charlotte snapped Dan Turple's shutout bid 12 minutes into the 3rd period. Gwinnett finished 2-for-5 on the power play while Jeff Campbell finished with a pair of assists in the game for Gwinnett.

December 14th, Gwinnett 4, Columbia 1 - W

Myles Stoesz notched his second goal of the season to snap a scoreless tie early in the second period while Tomas Pospisil recorded an unassisted goal for Gwinnett about 8 minutes into the second period, which proved to be the games winner as Gwinnett cruised to a 4-1 win over Columbia. The Inferno got within a goal later in the second but Matt Anderson's first goal of the season put the Gladiators back on top by a pair of goals half way through the middle stanza. Lou Dickenson put the contest out of reach at just 2:15 into the third period with his 8th goal of the year for Gwinnett. Jeff Campbell extended his assist streak to 8 games with a helper in the contest while Derek Nesbitt's assist streak was snapped in the win as the forward was held scoreless in the win. Craig Kowalski posted the win for Gwinnett making 23 saves for the Gladiators who were held scoreless on the power play going 0-for-2 on the man advantage.

December 15th, Gwinnett 5, Augusta 4 - W

Gwinnett held on for a one-goal win after holding a 5-1 lead early in the second period. Gwinnett stormed out to a 3-0 lead on the Lynx with goals by Myles Stoesz, Derek Nesbitt and Jeff Campbell in the first period. Augusta started to get back into the contest with a shorthanded goal less than two minutes in the second period but Chad Denny's first maker of the year and Lou Dickenson 9th goal of the season put Gwinnett up by a 5-1 margin just 4:38 into the second period. Augusta started to chip away at the lead scoring twice before the end of the second period. The Lynx got within a goal midway through the third period but could get no closer as Dan Turple won his seventh game of the season for Gwinnett making 38 saves for the Gladiators, with 17 saves alone in the final period to preserve the win. The Gladiators were held scoreless on the power play for the second consecutive game in the win.

This Week's Games:

Thursday, December 20th, @ Charlotte Checkers, 7:05 p.m. - AccessNorthGa.com

Gwinnett leads the season series against the Checkers with a 3-0-0 record and are 1-0-0 this season at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena after last week's 5-1 win over the Checkers. Andy Brandt leads all Gladiators in scoring against the Checkers with 5 points off of 3 goals and 2 assists in three games while Blake Bellefeuille leads the Checkers in scoring against Gwinnett with 3 points off a goal and a pair of assists.

Saturday, December 22nd, vs. Pensacola Ice Pilots, 7:35 p.m.- AccessNorthGa.com

Gwinnett won the first two meetings of the season against the Ice Pilots back on October 19th and 20th. Gwinnett outscored the Ice Pilots by a combined 10-5 margin while Jeff Campbell notched 6 assists for Gwinnett in two games to lead all players in scoring during the season series.

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

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

Thursday: Game @ Charlotte

Friday: 9:30 a.m. - 10:50 a.m., Ice Forum - Duluth

Saturday: Game vs. Pensacola

Sunday: Day Off

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Thursday, December 20th as they travel to Charlotte to take on the Checkers at 7:05 p.m. at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Catch all the play-by-play action in Friday's game online via AccessNorthGa.com audio stream 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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