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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

February 25, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


A Record Night! Forward Jeff Campbell single handedly helped the Gladiators to a 6-2 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves on Saturday night at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Campbell figured in all six of the Gladiators goals in the contest and finished with a +6, plus/minus rating in the contest. The Hensall, Ontario native collected 3 goals and 3 assists for the Gladiators in the win, setting a new all time Gladiators team record for most point in a game with six. Campbell snapped the previous record of five points held by five different players including himself.

Give the Man a Hat: Campbell posted the first hat trick of the season for the Gladiators in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves. Campbell notched the first hat trick since Colton Fretter recorded three goals for Gwinnett on February 9, 2007 against the Texas Wildcatters. For Campbell, it was his third career hat trick for the Gladiators.

Streaking Along! Lou Dickenson notched a pair of goals for the Gladiators in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Augusta Lynx to extend his point scoring streak to a Gladiators season high 16 games. Dickenson's streak dates back to January 11th as he has collected 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points for the Gladiators. Dickenson is just 3 games shy of tying the Gladiators all time record for most consecutive games with at least one point. Scott Mifsud holds the Gladiators record for most consecutive games with at least one point at 19 straight games during the 2006-07 season.

To the Post Season: The Gladiators clinched a 2008 Kelly Cup Playoff Berth with Sunday's 3-1 win over the Augusta Lynx coupled with the shootout loss by the Pensacola Ice Pilots. Gwinnett now has 71 points on the season in the ECHL's South Division while the 9th place Pensacola Ice Pilots cannot finish with any more than 71 points. Gwinnett clinched the playoff berth by holding the tie breaker, most wins - head to head, with Pensacola. The Gladiators have now advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs in each of the team's first five seasons. Qualifying for the Kelly Cup Playoffs on February 24th is the earliest that the Gladiators have secured a berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

From Fresno: The Gladiators acquired defenseman Joe Grimaldi from the Fresno Falcons last week in exchange for forward Stuart MacRae. Grimaldi appeared in all three games for Gwinnett over the weekend finishing +1 for the three games. So far this season, Grimaldi has notched 3 goals and 14 assists for 17 points in 49 ECHL games this season.

Leading the League. With six points against Mississippi on Saturday night and an assist on Sunday against Augusta, Jeff Campbell continues to lead the ECHL in scoring with 73 points. Campbell has notched 18 goals and 55 assists for Gwinnett in just 46 games. His 55 assists continues to lead the ECHL in that category.

To 20! Gladiators netminder Craig Kowalski notched his 20th win of the season in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves. Kowalski added his 21st win in Sunday's 3-1 victory over Augusta. Kowalski is 8 wins shy of tying a career best for most wins in a season and is 12 wins shy of tying the Gladiators record for most wins in a season. Sean Fields holds the Gladiators record with 32 wins posted during the 2005-06 season. Kowalski became just the 4th goaltender in Gladiators team history to post 20 or more wins joining Michael Garnett (21 - 03-04), Sean Fields (21 - 04-05 & 32 - 05-06) and Dave Caruso (23 - 06-07).

Last Week's Games:

February 22nd, Pensacola 3, Gwinnett 1 - L

Gwinnett took a 1-0 lead on the Ice Pilots just 24 seconds into the contest on Lou Dickenson's 23rd goal of the season but Pensacola rattled off the next three to take a 3-1 lead on the Gladiators in the third period. Pensacola tied the game at 1-1 in the second and then added two more in the third for the lead. Gwinnett cut the lead back to a goal on Chad Denny's 3rd marker of the season with just one second left in the third period. Craig Kowalski finished with 23 saves in the loss. Dickenson finished with a goal and an assist in the loss while Brad Schell and Jeff Campbell each notched an assist in the loss for Gwinnett.

February 23rd, Gwinnett 6, Mississippi 2 - W

Jeff Campbell posted a hat trick and finished as a +6 in a 6-2 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves. Lou Dickenson notched a pair of goals for Gwinnett while Brad Schell finished with a goal and an assist for Gwinnett in the win. Campbell gave Gwinnett a 1-0 lead before Mississippi tied the game at one. Gwinnett notched the next four goals to take a 5-1 lead. The teams then exchanged goals later in the third period as Gwinnett finished with the 6-2 win. Craig Kowalski posted his 20th win of the season for the Gladiators. Jeff Mason finished with a pair of assists for Gwinnett in the win.

February 24th, Gwinnett 3, Augusta 1 - W

Lou Dickenson notched a pair of goals in the first period to give the Gladiators an early 2-0 lead while Matt Anderson collected his 9th goal of the season to give the Gladiators a 3-0 lead. Augusta snapped netminder Craig Kowalski's shutout bid midway through the season period but the Gladiators held on for the win. Lou Dickenson extended his point scoring streak to 16 games in the win. With the victory, coupled with a Pensacola loss, Gwinnett clinched a Kelly Cup Playoff berth for the Gladiators. Andy Brandt finished with a pair of assists for Gwinnett in the win while Jamie Milam, Mike Hamilton, Tomas Pospisil and Jeff Campbell each notched an assist for the Gladiators. Gwinnett went 2-for-5 on the power play in the contest.

This Week's Games:

Friday, February 29th, @ Columbia Inferno, 7:05 p.m. - Accessnorthga.com

The Gladiators are unbeaten against the Inferno this season with a 4-0-1 record. The Gladiators only loss against Columbia came in the last meeting back on February 10th in a shootout at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Tomas Pospisil leads the Gladiators in scoring against the Inferno with 6 points off of 4 goals and 2 assists.

Saturday, March 1st, vs. Texas Wildcatters, 7:35 p.m. - Accessnorthga.com

Sunday, March 2nd, vs. Texas Wildcatters, 4:05 p.m. - Accessnorthga.com

All but one game this season between the Gladiators and the Wildcatters has been decided by one goal. The Gladiators only win during the season series came in the last meeting back on December 2nd, a 3-2 shootout win for Gwinnett. Netminder Craig Kowalski has posted a 1-1-1 record against the Wildcatters this season with a 2.86 goals against average and a .912 save percentage for Gwinnett.

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 - 1:40, Ice Forum, Duluth

Wednesday: 12:10 - 1:40, Ice Forum, Duluth

Thursday: 12:10 - 1:40, Ice Forum, Duluth

Friday: Game @ Columbia

Saturday: Game vs. Texas

Sunday: Game vs. Texas

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Friday, February 29th as they travel to Columbia to take on the Inferno at 7:05 p.m. at the Carolina Coliseum. Catch all the play-by-play action in Friday's game online via AccessNorthGa.com on Access Radio streaming 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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