Sports stats



ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

December 15, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Penalty Shot! Myles Stoesz became the third Gladiator to attempt a penalty shot this season. Stoesz was the first Gladiator to score a penalty shot goal this season for Gwinnett. The penalty shot was the league leading fifth involving Gwinnett this season. The Gladiators netminder Josh Johnson faced two penalty shots earlier this year while Brad Schell and Pat Bateman were both unsuccessful on their chances.

From Behind! The Gladiators posted another come from behind win on Sunday over the Mississippi Sea Wolves. It was the Gladiators third two-goal come-from-behind victory this season. Gwinnett trailed the Sea Wolves 2-0 in the first period but scored twice in the second to tie the game at 2-2 before Jeff Mason notched the game winner in the third. The Gladiators trailed the Dayton Bombers 3-1 in the third in a 4-3 win on November 19th and Gwinnett overcame a 2-0 third period deficit at South Carolina on December 2nd.

Fire Away! The Gladiators set an ECHL season high for shots on goal in a game in a 4-2 loss at Mississippi on Saturday night. Gwinnett posted 62 shots on the Sea Wolves in the contest but could only muster 2 goals in the loss. The 62 shots was 5 shots shy of the Gladiators team record of 67 posted during the 2005-06 season. The ECHL league record for most shots in a game is 69 shots.

To the "A": The Gladiators had three players called up to the American Hockey League last week. Dirk Southern was called up to the Manitoba Moose while Matt Siddall was called up to the Chicago Wolves. Josh Engel returned to the Providence Bruins. All three players were called up on Thursday to the AHL and skated on Friday with their respective clubs.

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 game on December 16th. This offer is 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.

Last Week's Games:

December 10th, Mississippi 2, Gwinnett 0 - L

The Gladiators out shot Mississippi 33-22 but were blanked 2-0 by the Sea Wolves. Mississippi took a 1-0 lead early in the second period. Gwinnett had an opportunity on a penalty shot later in the second but was denied and the Gladiators could not convert on a 5-on-3 power play that lasted over two minutes early in the third period. Mississippi cemented the win with a goal late in the third period. Gwinnett went 0-for-9 in the loss as Kevin Nastiuk posted 20 saves in the losing effort for Gwinnett.

December 12th, Mississippi 4, Gwinnett 2 - L

After a scoreless first period, the Sea Wolves took a 2-0 lead with a pair of second period goals about three minutes apart. Brandon Kaleniecki's 5th goal of the season cut the Sea Wolves lead in half before the end of the second period. Mississippi notched the first two of the third period to take a 4-1 lead but Jordan Fox, 8 seconds after the fourth Mississippi goal cut the Sea Wolves lead in half to 4-2 at 8:55 of the third period. Gwinnett could get no closer as the Gladiators outshot the Sea Wolves by a 51-21 margin. Kevin Nastiuk posted 17 saves in the losing effort for Gwinnett.

December 13th, Mississippi 4, Gwinnett 2 - L

Mississippi scored two goals within the first five minutes and posted a 4-2 win over Gwinnett. Jordan Fox notched his team leading 10th goal of the season for Gwinnett on a 5-on-3 power play midway though the first. Mississippi scored again before the end of the first period to take a 3-1 lead into the second. Mississippi scored the only goal in the second to take a 4-1 lead. Myles Stoesz scored on a penalty shot in the third at 10:42 of the period but the Gladiators could get no closer. Gwinnett posted 62 shots on net in the loss while Josh Johnson recorded 16 saves for the Gladiators in the loss.

December 14th, Gwinnett 3, Mississippi 2 - W

Gwinnett fell behind 2-0 after the first period of play while Mississippi scored twice within the first six minutes of the contest. Gwinnett then scored three unanswered goals to post the win. Dan Sullivan's 3rd goal of the season 4:34 into the second period cut the lead to one. Brandon Kaleniecki's sixth goal on the power play tied the game at 2-2 with 7 minutes left in the second. Jeff Mason posted the game winner with just three minutes left in the third. The Gladiators held the Sea Wolves to just 18 shots in the win.

This Week's Games:

Tuesday, December 16th, vs. Elmira Jackals, 7:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

Sunday, December 21st, vs. Elmira Jackals, 4:05 p.m. - wdun.com

The Gladiators face the Jackals for the first and only two times this season at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Tuesday and Sunday. Gwinnett went 1-1-0 last season aginst Elmira and is 1-1-0 all time against the Jackals. Gwinnett won on the road in Elmira and posted the loss at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Friday, December 19th, @ Charlotte Checkers, 7:00 p.m. - wdun.com

Gwinnett looks to stay ahead of the Charlotte Checkers in the South Division as they make their second trip of the season to the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. The Checkers won the first meeting of the season in Charlotte by a 1-0 score on November 23rd. Gwinnett is 2-1-1 this season against the Checkers after posting a 3-2 win over Charlotte on December 7th at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

The Gladiators return to action on Tuesday, December 16th as they host the Elmira Jackals at the Aerna at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m.

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 15, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central