ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

January 7, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators ended last week with a record of 3-1-0-0 and earned six points. Gwinnett remains in the top spot in the South Division with a total of 49 points and an overall record of 24-12-1-0. The Gladiators will play their next two games at home at the Arena at Gwinnett Center against Kalamazoo on Saturday and Sunday.

This week's Games:

Monday, 1/7: Practice at the Gwinnett Arena @10:30 AM

Tuesday, 1/8: Practice at the Gwinnett Arena @10:30 AM

Wednesday, 1/9: Practice at the Gwinnett Arena @10:30 AM

Thursday, 1/10: Practice at the Gwinnett Arena @10:30 AM

Friday, 1/11: Practice at the Gwinnett Arena @10:30 AM

Saturday, 1/12: Game vs. Kalamazoo - @7:05 p.m.

Kalamazoo Preview: Kalamazoo is currently ranked fourth in the North Division. This is the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Wings have won their last two games, a 2-1 shootout win against the Toledo Walleye and a 7-3 victory over the Evansville IceMen. Kalamazoo has posted a 4-5-1-0 record in their past 10 games. Kalamazoo is lead by forward Eric Kattelus with 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 34 games. Wings goaltender Joel Martin has a save percentage of 0.917 and 2.65 GAA in 29 games this season. Kalamazoo has posted a 2-3-0-0 record when playing a South Division team this year.

Sunday, 1/13: Game vs. Kalamazoo - @4:05 p.m.

Last Week's Results:

Monday, December 31: Gwinnett 3, Evansville 1 W

The Gladiators swept the season series against the IceMen with a 3-1 win on Monday. Tyler Murovich scored a pair of goals for Gwinnett. The first came just 22 seconds into the contest and the second goal came 39 seconds into the second period to widen the margin to 2-0 for Gwinnett. Rookie Scott Arnold picked up his third goal of the season 5:32 into the third on a power play to make the score 3-0. Matt Schepke ended the Gladiators' shutout bid 14:45 into the third period for the lone IceMen goal.

Wednesday, January 2: Fort Wayne 4, Gwinnett 2 - L

The Fort Wayne Komets defeated the Gladiators 4-2 at the Memorial Coliseum. Forward Thomas Beauregard put the Komets on the board with the first goal 8:00 into the first period. Beauregard widened the margin after scoring another goal 13:56 into the first. Evan Bloodoff put the Gladiators on the board with an unassisted goal 14:19 into the second period. Cody Brookwell evened the score 2-2 with only nine seconds left into the second with assists from Alex Belizile and Scott Arnold. Corey Elkins gave the Komets the lead with a goal 16:01 into the third followed by an empty net marker by Kaleigh Schrock with 33 seconds left in the game to top off the win.

Friday, January 4: Gwinnett 3, South Carolina 2 - W

"ªThe Gladiators notched a 3-2 win over the South Carolina Stingrays at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Friday. All-Star forward Casey Pierro-Zabotel scored the first marker of the game 13:42 into the first period, putting the Gladiators on top. Chris Langkow scored a pair of goals half way through the second period, just 94 seconds apart, to put the Stingrays up 2-1. Doug Jones answered 12:46 into the second to tie the score at two. Defenseman Russ Sinkewich scored the game-winning goal 6:53 into the third to put the Gladiators back on top.

Saturday, January 5: Gwinnett 4, Florida 3 - OTW

Russ Sinkewich scored the game-winning goal for the second night in a row just 2:09 into the overtime period. Alex Belzile put the Gladiators on the board with his third goal of the season 3:57 into the first period. Leigh Salters tied the score with a power play goal 11:03 into the first. Alex Hutchings put the Everblades on top of Gwinnett early in the second period with another power play goal. Captain Andy Brandt scored 12:15 into the second for Gwinnett and then Doug Jones put the Gladiators ahead of Florida with a marker just three minutes later. Brayden Irwin's tally 8:43 into the third period sent the game into overtime.

News & Notes:

A Winner! Defenseman Russ Sinkewich notched his third goal of the season in Saturday night's 4-3 overtime win over Florida. On Friday night, he also scored a goal in the 3-2 win over South Carolina, which proved to be the game-winner for Gwinnett. All of the defenseman's goals with the Gladiators this season have been game-winners as he also notched the game-winning goal for the Gladiators in a 5-3 win over South Carolina on December 27th. His three game-winning goals are the first game-winning goals of his career.

All-Stars: Forward Casey Pierro-Zabotel was selected as a starter and goaltender Mike Lee was chosen as a reserve for the ECHL All-Star Squad for the 2013 ECHL All-Star game in Loveland, Colorado on January 23rd. With two selections, it is the seventh time in nine games that more than one player has represented the Gladiators in the ECHL All-Star Game.

On the Kill: Heading into Saturday's game against Florida, Gwinnett ranked first in the league on the penalty kill, however Gwinnett gave up three power play goals on Saturday and ended the week ranked fifth overall in the ECHL on the penalty kill. Gwinnett has killed off 85.1 percent of opponents' power play chances this season, and have given up 21 power play goals this year on 141 chances. The Gladiators have given up multiple power play goals in a game just four times this season.

Point Streak: Forward Alex Belzile has a three-game point streak, the longest for the forward this year. In Wednesday's game, he earned one assist against the Fort Wayne Komets. In Friday night's game he picked up another assist against the South Carolina Stingrays. In Saturday's game, Belzile posted one goal and two assists, and had an assist on the game-winning goal in the 4-3 overtime win over the Florida Everblades. He has earned a total of five points in the last three games.

Between the Pipes: Goaltender Louis Domingue has been stellar for the Gladiators in net this season. Despite dropping a 4-3 decision in his first start of the season back on opening night to the South Carolina Stingrays, Domingue has won 11 of his last 13 starts and has posted a 11-3-0-0 record on the season for Gwinnett. Domingue went 23-8-4 last year with the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Upcoming Events:

Andy Brandt Bobblehead Night: Saturday, January 12, 2013 is Andy Brandt Bobblehead $5 Frenzy Night. Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to get your hands on a one of a kind piece of Gladiators history featuring Andy Brandt, the Gladiators All-Time games played leader in team history. For just $5, you can score one of these limited edition bobbleheads sure to turn a few heads!

Kroger Family Sunday: Sunday, January 13th is the third Kroger Family Sunday of the season. Kroger Family Sundays offers you four corner level tickets, $5 Gladiators merchandise coupon, and a Kroger Family Meal for only $50. The Kroger Family Meal includes an 8 piece Combo Pack Baked Chicken, 1 lb. Deli Salad or Coleslaw, 12 ct. dinner rolls, 18ct. cookies & a 2 liter Big K Soft Drink. You may purchase your tickets at the Arena at Gwinnett Center Box Office or online via the Gladiators official website www.gwinnettgladiators.com

2012-13 Season Ticket Plans! Gladiators Full Season Ticket Plans as well as Gladiators mini season ticket package are on sale for the 2012-13 Season. Fans can reserve their seats for the upcoming season by logging onto the official team website www.gwinnettgladiators.com or by calling the Gladiators office at 770-497-5100 for all the details.

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