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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly

March 31, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Still in Second! With a pair of wins last week, the Gladiators remain in a tie for second place in the ECHL's South Division with the South Carolina Stingrays with 91 points on the season. Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Florida Everblades ensured that the Gladiators can finish the 2007-08 season no lower than third place in the South Division. Gwinnett has already secured home-ice through the first round of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Gladiators will open the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs with Game 1 of the Division Quarterfinals at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Tuesday, April 8th at 7:05 p.m. Game 2 of the series will be on Thursday at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m.

A New Record! Gladiators rookie forward Myles Stoesz set a new ECHL record for most penalty minutes by one player in one ECHL game in the Gladiators 4-1 loss to the Everblades on Friday night. Stoesz finished a brawl filled contest with a new ECHL record 63 penalty minutes. Stoesz snapped the old record shared by Ron Majic of Hampton Roads, who had 62 penalty minutes against Wheeling on February 24th of 1995, and Greg Capson of Greensboro, who had 62 penalty minutes against Raleigh on February 23rd of 1993. Stoesz's 63 penalty minutes in the contest moved him into the league lead for most penalty minutes this season with 299. The ECHL record for most penalty minutes in one season by one player is 512 minues set by Rob McCaig with Louisiana during the 1995-96 season.

Old Time Hockey! The Gladiators set a new team record for most penalty minutes in a game in Friday's brawl filled contest. The Gladiators shattered their old team record of 60 set last year against the Pensacola Ice Pilots on February 4th of 2006. After everything was sorted out, the Gladiators finished with 161 penalty minutes in the contest a new season high for penalty minutes by one team in one game. The Everblades' set a new team record in the contest for most penalty minutes by both teams in one game.

Another Blanking! Netminder Craig Kowalski collected his second shutout of the season with the Gladiators in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Everblades. It was Kowalski's third shutout this season after he collected a shutout while with the Syracuse Crunch in the American Hockey League back in December. Kowalski posted his first shutout of the season with the Gladiators in a 2-0 win at Columbia on February 29th. Michael Garnett holds the Gladiators team record for most shutouts by a goaltender in one season notching four with Gwinnett during the 2003-04 season.

To 20: Tomas Pospisil collected his 18th goal of the season for the Gladiators in Saturday's 2-0 win over Florida. Pospisil is looking to become the 4th Gladiator this year to record 20 or more goals this season. He would join Mike Hamilton (23), Jeff Campbell (24) and Lou Dickenson (28) with 20 or more goals on the season. Andy Brandt is also within striking distance of 20 or more goals on the year as he has 17 goals on the season. The Gladiators team record for most players with 20 or more goals in a season is 7 players set during the 2006-07 season.

Here and Gone: The Gladiators signed Tom Biondich last week and he appeared in all three games with the Gladiators against the Florida Everblades. Biondich was held scoreless in his professional debut. Biondich joined the Gladiators following the completion of his senior season at Robert Morris University. Biondich, a four-year starter at Robert Morris, helped the Colonials to an appearance in the CHA championship game this season. In his college career, the 5-foot-10-inch Biondich tallied 15 goals and 21 assists in 121 games.

To and from the AHL: Matt Anderson made his second trip in the month of March to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. Anderson helped the Gladiators to Wednesday's 5-4 win over Florida before being called up to the AHL. During his current recall, Anderson has appeared in two games with the Wolves but has been held scoreless. As the Gladiators lost Matt Anderson, Lou Dickenson was reassigned to the Gladiators from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. Dickenson was scoreless in six games with the Bears.

Last Week's Games: March 26th, Gladiators 5, Everblades 4 - W The Gladiators overcame a 4-2 third period deficit with three goals in the final 10 minutes of the third period to post a 5-4 win over the Everblades in the first meeting of the season in Florida. The Everblades opened up a 2-0 second period lead and held leads of 3-1 and 4-2 before the Gladiators stormed back in the third. Gwinnett posted a pair of power play goals to pick up the win while Craig Kowalski finished with 28 saves for the Gladiators in the victory. Gwinnett got goals from Tomas Pospisil, Bryson Busniuk, Ryan Mahrle, Jeff Campbell and Mike Hamilton in the win. Pospisil finished with a goal and two assists while Brad Schell notched a pair of assists for Gwinnett in the contest. Campbell tied the game at 4-4 in the third while Hamilton notched the game winner at 15:36 of the third for the win.

March 28th, Everblades 4, Gladiators 1 - L Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Jeff Campbell got the Gladiators back within a goal but Gwinnett could get no closer. Florida made it 3-1 before the end of the first period. The Everblades took a 4-1 lead on Preston Callander's hat trick. The game turned into a brawl after the Everblades fourth goal. There were three line brawls, Dan Turple and David Shantz fought at center ice while Craig Kowalski and Kevin Nastiuk, who replaced Turple and Shantz respectively, also got tangled up during one of the line brawls. In the end, Gwinnett finished with 161 penalty minutes while Florida amassed 113 penalty minutes in the contest. Myles Stoesz broke the ECHL record for most penalty minutes by one player in one game finishing with 63 minutes, breaking the old ECHL record of 62 minutes.

March 29th, Gladiators 2, Everblades 0 - W Gwinnett rebounded after the brawl filled game posting a 2-0 win over the Everblades to keep pace in the race for second place in the ECHL's South Division. Craig Kowalski notched his second shutout of season for the Gladiators making 18 saves for Gwinnett. Mike Hamilton broke a scoreless tie with a little over five minutes left in the third period. Tomas Pospisil had an assist on the goal while he also added an empty net goal to ice the contest for Gwinnett. Both teams finished with 10 penalty minutes in the contest, contrasting the night before.

This Week's Games: Tuesday, April 1st vs. Charlotte Checkers, 7:05 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550 The Gladiators lead the season series against the Checkers with a 4-2-1 record on the season. Charlotte is looking for its first win of the season at the Arena at Gwinnett Center as the Gladiators have won the only two meetings at the Arena at Gwinnett Center this season. Lou Dickenson has a team high 8 points against the Checkers this season off of 2 goals and 6 assists. Mike Hamilton's 5 goals leads all players in the season series in goals scored. Dan Turple has started 5 of the 7 games against the Checkers this season.

Friday, April 4th @ Columbia Inferno, 7:05 p.m. - AccessNorthGa.com The Gladiators are unbeaten in regulation against the Inferno this season with a 7-0-1 record and are a perfect 4-0-0 at the Carolina Coliseum this season. The Gladiators won the last meeting at Columbia 7-4 on March 15th. Gwinnett is led in scoring against the Inferno by Jeff Campbell who has 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points.

Saturday, April 5th vs. Charlotte Checkers, 7:35 p.m. - AccessNorthGa.com

This Week's Practice Schedule: Practices at the IceForum in Duluth are open to the general public. Arena at Gwinnett Center practices are not open to the general public. Media members wishing to attend practice at the Arena should contact the Gladiators PR staff at 770-497-5106 to facilitate building access. Monday: 11 a.m. - Arena at Gwinnett Center Tuesday: Game vs. Charlotte Wednesday: 10:30 - noon, Arena at Gwinnett Center Thursday: 1:20 - 2:50, Ice Forum, Duluth Friday: Game @ Columbia Saturday: Game vs. Charlotte Sunday: day off

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Tuesday, April 1st as they host the Charlotte Checkers at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Tuesaday's game on WDUN, News Talk 550.

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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