ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly

December 26, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Down and Back! Goaltender Adam Berkhoel was assigned to the Gladiators on Monday, December 19th and appeared in the Gladiators 4-3 loss at Augusta on Tuesday night. The netminder made 23 saves in the loss to the Lynx. On Thursday, Berkhoel was recalled to the Thrashers and backed up former Gladiator Michael Garnett in Atlanta's 6-5 shootout loss against the Washington Capitals. Berkhoel then made the trip with Atlanta for the Thrashers 1-0 win against New Jersey on Friday night. The netminder has now seen action in the NHL, AHL and ECHL this season.

Still on a roll! Scott Kelman was assigned to the Gladiators last week from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. Kelman left the Gladiators with a four game point scoring streak underway. After returning to Gwinnett prior to the Gladiators 6-3 win over the Toledo Storm, Kelman had an assist in the win while extending his streak to six games with a goal in the Gladiators 4-3 loss to the Augusta Lynx on Tuesday night. Kelman's six game point scoring streak is currently his second longest of the season as the forward had a point in eight straight games for the Gladiators from October 28th through November 22nd.

When do we Rest? The Gladiators finished out what would have been their toughest stretch of the 2005-06 season playing 11 games in 19 days before the holiday break. The Gladiators got an extra day of rest last week as the Gladiators December 16th road game in Greenville was postponed due to weather for January 12th due to lack of power and bad weather in Greenville. Gwinnett went 5-3-2 during the stretch and posted a 7 game unbeaten steak (5-0-2) as well. The Gladiators jump into another difficult week following the holiday break playing 5 games in six nights beginning on December 26th in Columbia.

No Holiday Cheer! The Gladiators dropped their final game before the team's holiday break for the third consecutive season in a 4-3 loss to the Augusta Lynx on December 20th. Gwinnett lost 5-2 last year in Greenville while dropping a 5-3 decision during the team's inaugural season in Columbus before the holiday break. The Gladiators are 1-1-0 in the first game back from the break, losing last year to Columbia while knocking off the Florida Everblades during the 2003-04 sesaon.

Trading Card Night! Tuesday, December 27th is the Gladiators annual team trading card night as the first 2,000 fans will receive a set of Gladiators team trading cards courtesy of Allgood Termite and Pest Control, Kick 101.5 FM and the Gwinnett Daily Post. The Gladiators host the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:05 p.m.

Zooperstars Live! The wacky and zainy Zooperstars will be making their third Arena at Gwinnett Center appearance on Thursday, December 29th as the Gladiators host the Augusta Lynx at 7:05 p.m.

Last Week's Games: 0-1-0, 0 pts.

December 20th, Augusta 4, Gladiators 3 - L

Gwinnett jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period on goals by Guillaume Desbiens and Scott Mifsud. Augusta tied the game before the end of the first period with two goals within two minutes. Scott Kelman scored his seventh goal of the season to give Gwinnett a 3-2 lead after two periods but Augusta posted two goals within the first five minutes of the third period for the win. Jimmy Sharrow, Jeff Dwyer and Danny Eberly each had a helper for the Gladiators in the loss while Adam Berkhoel made 23 saves in his first game with the Gladiators this season after being assigned from the Atlanta Thrashers on Monday.

This Week's Games:

Monday, December 26th, @ Columbia Inferno, 7:05 p.m. - wdun.com

Second trip of the season to Columbia and third meeting of the year against the Inferno, Gwinnett is 1-0-1 against the Inferno. Pascal Pelletier has posted a team high 5 points against Columbia this year.

Tuesday, December 27th, vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

Gwinnett and South Carolina combined for a season high 15 goals in the last meeting between these two teams on November 25th. This game is South Carolina's first trip to the Arena at Gwinnett Center this year.

Thursday, December 29th, vs. Augusta Lynx, 7:05 p.m. - wdun.com

Gwinnett is 2-1-1 against Augusta this season following the 4-3 loss in Augusta on December 20th. The Gladiators are unbeaten in regulation at the Arena at Gwinnett Center against the Lynx with a 2-0-1 record. Following this game, the Lynx will make just one more trip to the Arena at Gwinnett Center this season on April 8th.

Friday, December 30th, @ Florida Everblades, 7:30 p.m. - wdun.com

Saturday, December 31st, @ Florida Everblades, 7:30 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

The Gladiators are 2-2-0 against the Everblades with home ice being key in this season with each team's two wins coming at home. Florida won the last two meeting back on December 3rd and 4th in Estero, FL with Gwinnett winning in Duluth on November 11th and 12th. Scott Kelman has posted a team high 5 assists against the Everblades this season.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue the 2005-06 ECHL season on the road on Monday, December 26th as they travel to Columbia to take on the Inferno at 7:05 p.m. The Gladiators offer several ticket packages for different needs as well as group outings, suites and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com. The Gladiators play all 36 home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center located on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth and are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers.

Check out the Atlanta Gladiators Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 26, 2005


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