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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

December 8, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


A new Record: The Gladiators notched 9 goals in Saturday's 9-2 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves. The nine goals set a new Gladiators team record for most goals in a game in team history. The Gladiators snapped the old team record of 8 goals set during the inaugural season and then matched during each of the past four seasons. The Gladiators posted 8 goals in a contest seven previous times in team history.

In a Period: Gwinnett scored 5 third period goals en route to the 9-2 win over Mississippi on Saturday night. The five goals scored by the Gladiators tied the team record for most goals scored in a period in Gladiators team history. Gwinnett posted five goals in a period three times during the 2004-05 season and notched five goals in a period two times during the 2005-06 season. The five third period goals is also a season high for the Gladiators this year.

On the Power Play: The Gladiators set a new season high for most power play goals in a game posting 5 in Saturday night's 9-2 win over Mississippi. The five goals on the power play tied an all time Gladiators team record for most power play goals in a game. Gwinnett set the record on March 26, 2004 against Texas and then matched the feat three times during the 2005-06 season posting five power play goals against Columbia on January 29th, on March 22nd at Charlotte and also on April 7th against South Carolina.

A Career High! Gladiators defenseman Scott Marchesi notched a career high 3 points in the Gladiators 9-2 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves. Marchesi posted a goal and two assists to lead Gwinnett in scoring in the romp of Mississippi. The one goal scored in the game tied a career best while the two assists was also a career best for the defenseman.

Two in the third: The Gladiators trailed the South Carolina Stingrays 2-0 in the third period in Tuesday's win. Gwinnett posted its second, two-goal third period period comeback this season in the 3-2 win over the Stingrays. Gwinnett trailed 2-0 to the Dayton Bombers on November 19th but posted a 3-2 win for the first two-goal come from behind win of the season.

To 25: Forward Brandon Kaleniecki notched his 25th professional goal in the Gladiators 3-2 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Sunday. Kaleniecki entered the season with 21 goals in two seasons with Gwinnett and Las Vegas. He now has four goals with the Gladiators this season in 8 games with Gwinnett.

Engel Called up: Gladiators defemsen Josh Engel was called up to the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League on Thursday. Engel becomes the third player called up to the AHL this season and the second to Providence this season. Engel appeared in one game with Providence posting a -2 rating.

Firsts this season: Gladiators defensemen Jim Jorgensen and Preston Briggs notched their first goals of the season with the Gladiators in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the South Carolina Stingrays. Briggs' marker was his first in the ECHL while Jorgensen's tally was his first with Gwinnett. Jorgensen scored his first pro goal last season while with Las Vegas.

Glad to Donate Campaign: The Gladiators have teamed up for the second consecutive season with the US Marines and Toys for Tots. With a donation of a toy, fans will receive a coupon good for a buy-one-get-one-free offer for selected premium level tickets for the Gladiators games on December 12th and December 16th. This offer subject to availability and is only available in selected seating areas. Limit 8 tickets. 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.

Sing for Santa: The Gladiators 5th annual "Sing For Santa" Night is scheduled for Friday, December 12th when the Gladiators host the Mississippi Sea Wolves at 7:35 p.m. Local elementary school children will be at the game singing the national anthem and holiday favorites during the intermission entertaining the crowd. "Sing for Santa" is presented by RaceTrac, Action Awards, The Gwinnett Daily Post and Reynolds Plantation.

Last Week's Games:

December 2nd, Gwinnett 3, South Carolina 2 - W

The Gwinnett Gladiators snapped their nine period road scoreless streak in a 3-2 win over South Carolina. Gwinnett overcame a 2-goal third period deficit for the win. After South Carolina took a 2-0 lead 2:33 into the third, Brad Schell notched his 6th goal of the season for the Gladiators at 2:50 of the third. Preston Briggs tied the game at 2-2 with his first goal as a Gladiator midway through the third wile Jim Jorgensen's first goal as a Gladiator at 13:33 of the final period proved to be the game winner. Josh Johnson notched 21 saves in the contest for Gwinnett. Jordan Fox had three assists in the win for Gwinnett.

December 5th, Mississippi 4, Gwinnett 3 - SOL

Gwinnett picked up a point in a shootout loss to the Sea Wolves. Gwinnett took a 1-0 lead on Andy Brandt's second goal of the season but Mississippi tied the contest up at 1-1 before the end of the second period. Mississippi took a 2-1 lead on Gwinnett just 2:44 in to the third period. Goals by Jordan Fox and Brad Schell on the power play gave the Gladiators a 3-2 lead. Gwinnett couldn't hold the lead as the Sea Wolves sent the contest to a shootout scoring with 1:03 left in the third to tie the game at three. Each team scored twice in the first five rounds of the shootout before the Sea Wolves won the shootout in the 8th round. Kevin Nastiuk finished with 31 saves in the shootout loss.

December 6th, Gwinnett 9, Mississippi 2 - W

The Gladiators set a new team record for most goals in a game in Gwinnett team history in the win. The Gladiators finished with 5 power play goals in the win as Gwinnett notched 5 goals in the third period. Bruce Graham and Brad Schell each had a pair of goals for Gwinnett, Graham's both coming in the third period. Schell had one both in the second and third. Gwinnett opened up a 2-0 lead with a pair of first period goals by Jordan Fox and Pat Bateman. Gwinnett left 4-2 after two periods as Marchesi notched the other second period goal for the Gladiators. The defenseman finished with three points in the win for Gwinnett. Dan Sullivan and Jeff Dunne also scored for the Gladiators in the third. Kevin Nastiuk posted 21 saves for Gwinnett in the win.

December 7th, Gwinnett 3, Charlotte 2 - W

The Gladiators trailed for much of the game before taking their first lead of the contest on Brandon Kaleniecki's 25 professional goal late in the third period. The Checkers led 1-0 in the first before Jeff Mason tied the game at 1-1 before the end of the first period. Charlotte notched the only goal in the second period to take a 2-1 lead after two periods. Gwinnett scored twice in the third, Pat Bateman with his 9th goal of the season tied the game at 2-2 before Kaleniecki notched what proved to be the game winner at 17:28 of the third period. Gwinnett outshot the Checkers 38-32 in the win. Josh Johnson made 30 saves in the victory for Gwinnett.

This Week's Games:

Wednesday, December 10th, @ Mississippi Sea Wolves, 8:05 p.m. - WDUN, 550 AM

Friday, December 12th, vs Mississippi Sea Wolves, 7:35 p.m. - WDUN.com

Saturday, December 13th, @ Mississippi Sea Wolves, 8:05 p.m. - WDUN.com

Sunday, December 14th, @ Mississippi Sea Wolves, 6:05 p.m. - WDUN, 550 AM

The Gladiators face the Sea Wolves for the next four consecutive games with three of the four meetings coming at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Gwinnett will face the Sea Wolves for six of seven games in this stretch in December. Gwinnett is 4-1-1 after a shootout loss and a win over the weekend against the Sea Wolves. The Gladaitors set a new team record in last Saturady's 9-2 win over Mississippi for most goals scored in a game in the victory.

Sunday: Game @ Mississippi

The Gladiators return to action Wednesday, December 10th at 8:05 at Mississippi. The team returns home for a Friday matchup with the Sea Wolves at 7:35.

Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier 'AA' Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that will have 23 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 864 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Eighteen of the 23 teams have played at least five years in their current city.

The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.

The Gwinnett Gladiators open their sixth season as a proud member of the ECHL in October of 2008 - 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.

Check out the Atlanta Gladiators Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 8, 2008


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