ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

December 22, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


On a tear! Brandon Kaleniecki notched his 7th goal of the season for the Gladiators in a 5-3 loss to Elmira on December 16th. Despite only skating in 14 games this season for the Gladiators, Kaleniecki ranks fifth in goals scored for Gwinnett with 7 on the year. He is averaging a goal every other game for the Gladiators and trails Jordan Fox's team leading 12 goals by just five markers.

Penalty Shot! The Gladiators were involved in their seventh penalty shot this season in a 4-3 loss to the Charlotte Checkers on December 19th. Friday's shot was the fourth that the Gladaitors have faced this season and the first seen by Kevin Nastiuk for Gwinnett. The Gladiators stopped the previous three shots faced and have scored on one of three penatly shots awarded to the team this season.

On pace: Gladiators forward Jordan Fox is on pace to set a new career high for most points in a professional season. The forward has notched 29 points for the Gladiators in 27 games averaging 1.07 points per game and is on pace to finish the year with 77 points. His previous professional best for most points in a season was 63 points notched last year while appearing in 8 AHL games with Albany and 60 games with IHL Flint.

Power Play Goals: Forward Brad Schell has recorded 6 power play goals for the Gladiators this season in just 23 games with Gwinnett. Despite missing four games this season, Schell is on pace to tie the Gladiators team record for most power play goals in a season. Schell is averaging about a power play goal every four games and is on pace to finish the season with 18 extra man goals this season for Gwinnett. The Gladiators record for most power play goals in a season is 18 shared by Colton Fretter (06-07) and Jon Awe (06-07).

Back from the A! Forward Matt Siddall was reassigned to the Gladiators from their AHL affiliate the Chicago Wolves on Sunday. Siddall appeared in two games while on recall to the Wolves but did not register a point. He began the season with Chicago before being assigned to Gwinnett on October 17th. Siddall posted an assist for the Gladiators in a 3-2 loss to the Elmira Jackals on December 21st in his first game back with Gwinnett.

Zooperstars Live! The Zooperstars are returning to the Arena at Gwinnett Center for the fifth consecutive season and will be making back to back appearances on December 26th and 27th at the Arena at Gwinnett Center when Gwinnett hosts the South Carolina Stingrays and the Florida Everblades respectively. The Zooperstars have appeared on Network TV and their appearance at the Gladiators games are sponsored by The Gwinnett Daily Post, Charter Communications, Fox 5 Atlanta, Kicks 101.5 and 104.7 The Fish.

Last Week's Games:

December 16th, Elmira 5, Gwinnett 3 - L

Gwinnett took a 1-0 lead on the Jackals late in the first period but Elmira tied the contest at one before the end of the first period. Elmira took a 2-1 lead on the Gladiators before Bruce Graham knotted the game at two with a power play goal sending the game tied into the second intermission. In the third, Elmira took a 3-2 lead on Gwinnett but the Gladiators answered with Jordan Fox's 11 goal of the season. Elmira scored the game winner with 8 minutes left in the third and added an empty net goal as time expired in the game. Josh Johnson posted 28 saves in the losing effort for Gwinnett.

December 19th, Charlotte 4, Gwinnett 3 - L

Gwinnett took a 1-0 lead on the Checkers on Jeff Dunne's second goal of the season 7:47 into the first period. The Gladiators held the lead till the final minute of the second where Charlotte tied the game at one. The Chece4rk then took a 2-1 lead before Chris Cava's second goal of the season tied the contest at two. Charlotte took a 3-2 lead on a shorthanded penalty shot goal midway through the third. Pat Bateman's 10th goal of the season tied the game at three but the Checkers notched the game winner with just 7 seconds left in the contest. Kevin Nastiuk posted 28 saves in the losing effort for Gwinnett.

December 22nd, Elmira 4, Gwinnett 3 - L

The Gladiators scored first for the third consecutive game on Jordan Fox's team leading 12th goal of the season. Fox scored the marker shorthanded just 1:48 into the contst. Elmira answered with a pair of goals before the end of the first period to take a 2-1 lead into the opening intermission. The Gladiators continued to battle and tied the game at two on Bruce Graham's 10th marker of the season at 11:33 of the second period. Andy Brandt and Matt Siddall notched the assists on the goal for Gwinnett on the power play. Elmira scored the only goal of the third period 12 minutes into the stanza and the goal stood as the game winner. Kevin made 16 saves in the loss for Gwinnett. Both teams posted a goal on the power play in the contest.

This Week's Games:

Friday, December 26th vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:35 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550 AM

The Gladiators posted a 3-2 win over the Stingrays in the last meeting between the two teams on December 2nd at the North Charleston Coliseum. Gwinnett trailed 2-0 before scoring three unanswered goals for the come from behind win. The Gladiators are now 1-0-1 on the season against the Stingrays as South Carolina won the first meeting of the season and first meeting at the Arena at Gwinnett Center by a 3-2 score in a shootout.

Saturday, December 27th vs. Florida Everblades, 7:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550 AM

The Gladiators face the American Conference's top ranked team in the Florida Everblades for the fifth time this season. Gwinnett is still looking for their first win of the season against the Everblades and are 0-4-0 on the season. Gwinnett has been outscored by Florida this season by a combined 18-3 margin including two shutouts. Brandon Kaleniecki notched the last goal for Gwinnett against the Everblades in the second period of a 3-1 loss at Florida on November 7th.

The Gladiators return to action on Friday, December 26th as they host the South Carolina Stingrays at the Aerna at Gwinnett Center at 7:35 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 22, 2008


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