ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

Published on April 5, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gladiators closed out the regular season with a 3-0 shutout loss at the hands of last season's Kelly Cup Champion South Carolina Stingrays. Mustering a franchise-low 10 shots on goal, the Gladiators struggled to find offense but were kept in the game several times by highlight-reel saves from goaltender David Brown. Going 31-33-5-3 on the season, it was not the worst record the team had ever turned in (last year's was worse), but it is the first time the Gladiators will not participate in the post season.

A slough of call-ups and injuries throughout the season didn't help their chances. Despite ruling the road early in the season, Gwinnett finished at .500 on the road and briefly had winning numbers on home ice before losing their last four home games in regulation to finish two games under .500 at home and overall.

Absent: For the first time in the team's seven year history in Gwinnett, the Gladiators will not participate in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. They were eliminated from contention after finishing 0-4-1-0 in their final five games of the season.

Under .500: For the second straight year, the Gladiators finished under .500 on the season. With a home record of 16-18-0-2, a road record of 15-15-5-1, and an overall record of 31-33-5-3, the Gladiators finished with 70 points in the 20-team ECHL.

Cap'n Berti: Team captain Adam Berti finished the season with 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points to lead the team in both assists and points. Tom Zanoski, who played in just 42 games, led the team with 25 goals.

Shooter: Drew Paris finished with 196 shots on the season to finish with the most among all league defensemen.

Blueliners: Drew Paris finished with 45 points, the most among all rookie defensemen, while teammate and fellow defenseman All-Star Sam Roberts finished third among rookie defensemen with 40 points. Paris led all Gladiator rookies in points.

Special Teams: The Gladiators finished as the American Conference's best power play team, going 81-for-358 on the season, good for 22.6 percent. Meanwhile the Gladiators finished as the best road penalty killing team in the league, killing off 159 of 184 penalties on road ice, an 86.4 percent rate, which is more than 2 percent better than the next closest team.

Not a Chance: For the first time in Gwinnett's seven-year history, the Gladiators were held to zero opportunities on the power play in the final game of the regular season against South Carolina on Saturday. Just six penalty minutes were handed out the entire game. Gwinnett's Phil Youngclaus was whistled for a hooking penalty in the first period, and then was sent to the box in the second period, along with South Carolina's Spencer Carbery, as they were assessed matching minor roughing penalties. No penalties were called in the third period.

500 Club: Gladiators head coach Jeff Pyle coached his 500th game with the Gladiators in Gwinnett's 6-2 loss to Florida on Sunday, March 28. Now having coached seven full seasons with the team, he is the only head coach in the history of the Gladiators. His current number is 504.

Helper: With at least one assist in 10 straight games to open the season, Brad Schell set the league high assist streak from October 17 through November 13.

Point Man: Tim Miller had the league's third-longest point streak that included both goals and assists, but picking up at least a goal or assist in 10 straight games to cap off the streak at 13 points from February 24 until he was recalled by his AHL team Syracuse on March 16.

Last Week's Games:

- March 30, Charlotte 2, Gwinnett 1 - OTL

Matt Caruana broke the scoreless tie 7:09 into the second period with assists to Tom Zanoski and Pat Galivan before Mike Berube tied the game at one just 2:44 into the third period. The teams skated evenly through the rest of the third, and the game entered overtime, where Charlotte's Andrew Carroll scored with just 28 seconds left on the clock to take the two points and mathematically eliminate the Gladiators from playoff contention. Neither team scored on the power play, and David Brown made 34 saves in the loss.

- March 31, South Carolina 5, Gwinnett 1 - L

The Stingrays went up 2-0 before a minute had ticked off the clock in the opening period, as they cruised to a 5-1 victory over the host Gladiators. Adam Berti provided the lone marker for the Gladiators, sneaking a turnaround shot under the pads of South Carolina goaltender Beau Erickson at 6:47 of the third period to break up his shutout bid. Gwinnett finished 0-for-2 on the power play, and David Brown made 27 saves in his third straight loss.

- April 2, South Carolina 4, Gwinnett 3 - L

After being scored on just 13 seconds into the contest and twice more within 35 seconds of each other in the second period, the Gladiators had third period goals from Mike McLean, Dan Sullivan, and Scott Mifsud to rally for a 3-3 tie. But South Carolina's Trent Campbell notched his second goal of the night with just under three minutes remaining in regulation to doom the Gladiators. Gwinnett falls under .500 for the first time on the season. David Brown made 29 saves in his fourth straight loss.

- April 3, South Carolina 3, Gwinnett 0 - L

Gregg Johnson and Derek Keller scored 11 seconds apart in the first period, and Dylan Yeo scored his 14th goal of the season midway through the second, while the Gladiators finished with a franchise-low 10 shots on goal, as they were shut out in the last game of the 2009-2010 season. Just six penalty minutes were handed out, and Gwinnett did not have an opportunity on the power play for the first time ever. David Brown made 32 saves in the loss, while Beau Erickson had to make just 10 saves for his first professional shutout.

The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and Columbus Blue Jackets and play all home games at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.

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