ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly

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


Into the Playoffs! The Gladiators have already clinched a 2008 Kelly Cup Playoff berth and are looking to secure a top 4 seed to ensure home ice in the first round of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Gwinnett needs just 6 points to secure a top 4 seed and home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Currently in a tie for 5th place, Charlotte cannot finish with any more than 88 points on the season while the Gladiators currently have 83 points on the season. Gwinnett and South Carolina currently share second in the South Division; both teams five points ahead of the 4th place Florida Everblades.

Moving on up! Craig Kowalski notched his 26th win of the season in the Gladiators 7-4 victory over the Columbia Inferno on March 15th and is climbing the ranks among all-time netmiders in Gwinnett team history. Kowalski's win total in his first season in Gwinnett puts him in second place all-time among Gladiator netminders behind only Sean Fields who recorded 53 wins from 2004-06. Kowalski also sits in fifth place all-time in the Gwinnett and Mobile combined top ten. The Clinton Township, MI native's 2.34 goals against average and 0.920 save percentage would both be good for second place in the Gwinnett record book, behind Michael Garnett in both cases.

Back and Forth! Jeff Campbell and Cincinnati forward David Desharnais continue to flip-flop in the top spot in the ECHL for most assists on the season. Campbell led the league prior to last weekend's games while Desharnais and Campbell shared the league lead during the weekend but a midweek game for Cincinnati has pushed Desharnais back in the ECHL lead for most assists on the season. Campbell currently has 60 helpers on the year while Desharnais has tallied 63 assists this season with Cincinnati. Campbell and the Gladiators have 9 games remaining in the regular season while Desharnais and the Cyclones have 12 games remaining this season.

A Career High! Matt Anderson had a career high for goals in a game in the Gladiators 7-4 win over the Columbia Inferno on Saturday, March 15th. Anderson netted a pair of goals for the Gladiators in the win which was a career high for the forward. He tied his career high for points in a game as he also had an assist for Gwinnett in the win. In addiiton to Saturday's night's win, Anderson posted three points (1g, 2a) on January 17th at Charlotte.

To 20! Jeff Campbell became the second player this season to notch 20 goals on the season for the Gladiators. Campbell collected his 20th goal of the year in the Gladiators 5-3 win over the Augusta Lynx on Tuesday, March 11th. Campbell finished each of his first two full professional seasons, both with Gwinnett, with 30 goals on the year. He becomes the second player this season to reach 20 goals joining Lou Dickenson (28) with 20 or more goals on the year. Andy Brandt (17), Mike Hamilton (19), Tomas Pospisil (14) and Jamie Milam (12) are all within striking distance of finishing the year with 20 or more goals on the season.

A Career Year! Jeff Campbell is on pace to tally 71 assists on the season and total 95 points. Both marks would be career highs and Campbell has already set a career high in assists surpassing his total of 53 set in the 2005-06 season when he won the ECHL's most valuable player award.

Gone to the A: Three more players were called up last week to the American Hockey Leauge. Lou Dickenson was called up to Hershey this past week while Chad Denny was called up to the Chicago Wolves this past Wednesday. In addition, Dan Turple made his 3rd trip of the season to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. With the three call-ups this past week, it brings the Gladiators season total for call-ups to 21 on the year by 17 different players.

Hall of Famer! The Gladiators inducted former captain and current assistant coach Cam Brown into the Gladiators Hall of Fame during the first intermission of Saturday's 2-1 loss to the South Carolina Stingrays. Brown was the first captain in team history and scored the first goal in team history. He finished his ECHL career as the League's all time leader in games played and in Penalty Mintues.

Last Week's Games:

Tuesday, March 11th, Gwinnett 5, Augusta 3 - W

Gwinnett trailed three times to Augusta,1-0, 2-1 & 3-2 but posted three third period goals en route to the win. Jamie Milam finished with a goal and two assists for Gwinnett while Guillaume Desbiens notched his first goal of the season with Gwinnett, which proved to be the game winner for Gwinnett 2:59 into the third period. Gwinnett also got goals from Chad Painchaud, Bryson Busniuk and Jeff Campbell in the win. Campbell and Desbiens each finished with a goal and an assist in the win. Gwinnett went 1-for-4 on the power play while Dan Turple notched 36 saves in the win for Gwinnett as the Gladiators moved 4 points ahead of South Carolina into second place in the South Division.

Friday, March 14th, South Carolina 2, Gwinnett 1 - L

South Carolina jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 1:09 into the contest and added what proved to be the game winner with just two minutes left in the second period. Gwinnett got on the board on Chad Painchaud's 6th goal of the season half way through the third period. Brad Schell and Guillaume Desbiens each had an assist on the goal as Gwinnett could get no closer. Gwinnett finished 0-for-5 on the power play in the loss. Kowalski made 25 saves in the losing effort as the Gladiators winning streak was snapped at four games.

March 15th, Gwinnett 7, Columbia 4 - W

Gwinnett jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Columbia before the first intermission and cruised to a 7-4 win over the Inferno. Gwinnett got first period goals by Matt Anderson, Guillaume Desbiens and Tomas Pospisil. Gwinnett and Columbia exchanged goals in the second with the inferno twice cutting the Gladiators lead back to two goals at 3-1 and 4-2. Gwinnett then took a 6-2 lead to the locker room after two periods. Gwinnett got their three second period goals from Anderson, his second of the night, Chad Painchaud and Jeff Campbell. Columbia again got back within two goals, at 6-4, with a pair of third period goals. Gwinnett rounded out the scoring on Andy Brandt's 17th goal of the season. Craig Kowalski made 27 saves in the win. Gwinnett got a pair of assist s from Brad Schell, Painchaud and Brandt in the win. Gwinnett went 1-for-1 on the power play in the victory.

This Week's Games

Thursday, March 20th, vs. Florida Everblades, 7:05 p.m. - AccessNorthGa.com

The last meeting of the regular season between Gwinnett and Florida at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Gwinnett has not played at Florida yet this season. Gwinnett leads the season series with the Everblades 2-0-0 with a pair of wins at home during the first week of December. Craig Kowalski notched both wins for the Gladiators giving up just 3 goals combined in the two games while recording a 1.50 goals against average and a .956 save percentage.

Friday, March 21st, @ Charlotte Checkers, 7:35 p.m. - AccessNorthGa.com

Gwinnett and Charlotte have identical 3-2-1 records this season against each other but the Checkers have won the last three meetings between the two teams. The last four meetings have come at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena where the Gladiators have won just one game this season. Lou Dickenson, who is currently on recall to Hershey of the AHL, leads the Gladiators in scoring against the Checkers with 8 points.

Saturday, March 22nd, @ Augusta Lynx, 7:35 p.m. - AccessNorthGA.com

Gwinnett won the last three games against the Lynx, outscoring Augusta by a 16-7 margin. The Gladiators lead the season series with a 7-1-1 record on the year. Jeff Campbell leads the Gladiators in scoring against the Lynx with 16 points off of 6 goals and 11 assists on the season.

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Thursday, March 20th as they host the Florida Everblades at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Thursday's game online via Accessnorthga.com on Streaming Channel 3.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the Premier 'AA' Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that has 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08. The 25 teams includes the Mississippi (Biloxi) Sea Wolves, who return after missing two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the expansion Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals. The ECHL will play 900 games beginning Oct. 18 and concluding Apr. 5.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fifth season as a proud member of the ECHL - 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.

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ECHL Stories from March 15, 2008


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