Glads Drop Preseason Finale 5-2
October 7, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release
DULUTH, GA - Hobey Baker finalist Shawn Hunwick stopped 36 shots for the South Carolina Stingrays, as they topped the Gwinnett Gladiators 5-2 Sunday evening at a packed Duluth Ice Forum.
Proceeds from the game went to the Southern Ice Hockey Association, a non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting youth hockey in the south.
The game brought the Gladiators preseason schedule to an end, as they now look to their October 13th regular season opener in South Carolina. Coyotes goaltending prospect Mike Lee made 19 saves in his Gwinnett debut, taking the loss.
Gladiators defenseman Cody Carlson opened the scoring with a slap shot from the slot, beating Hunwick high glove side to put Gwinnett up 1-0 at 17:42 of the first period. Doug Jones and Kyle Lawson had the assists on the power play goal.
South Carolina responded in a big way in the second, as Marcello Ranallo buried a centering pass from close-in to tie the game at 10:32. Patrick Cullen cashed in on a wrap-around to give the Rays a 2-1 edge at 12:04, and Ranallo capped the stanza scoring on a similar set-up to his first tally, pushing the Rays ahead 3-1 through 40 minutes.
The Gladiators made a game of it late in the third thanks to some nifty stick-work by Kale Kerbashian. The forward deked around a couple Stingrays, and got the puck to the low slot where Casey Pierro-Zabotel was able to beat Hunwick and bring Gwinnett within one at 17:18. Christian Ouellet had the second assist on the tally for his first point as a Gladiator.
Despite plenty of late pressure, the Rays held on and Dylan Clarke potted an empty-netter with just 61 seconds remaining. Hunter Bishop tacked on another goal with 30 seconds left, and the Rays prevailed 5-2.
The Gladiators outshot the Rays 38-24, and had 21 shots in the final period to South Carolina's six. Gwinnett finished 1-for-5 on the power play and held the Stingrays to an 0-for-4 night.
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