ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gwinnett Bests Wildcatters 4-2

February 9, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Colton Fretter posted his second hat trick of the season to lead the Gwinnett Gladiators past the Texas Wildcatters 4-2 on Friday night on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. With the win, Gwinnett moves back into first place in the ECHL's South Division as the Gladiators improve to 28-13-5 on the season.

In his first game back from injury, Joel Stepp posted the game's first goal, sliding into the slot past a Texas defenseman before ripping a snap shot past Texas netminder Matt Yeats from 20 feet out to give Gwinnett a 1-0 lead. Blue Bennefield posted an assist as he jammed the puck up the wing to spring Stepp on the break. His 11th goal of the season came at the 15:45 mark of the first period.

Texas tied the game up while shorthanded. Parked behind the Gwinnett net on the penalty kill, Oliver Proulx bounced the puck off a Gladiators defenseman and past netminder Dave Caruso for the goal to tied the game at one. Leon Hayward also had an assist on the Texas goal posted at the 17:27 mark of the first period.

Texas took the lead at the 6:03 mark of the second period as Paul Albers collected a loose puck in the slot and flipped it past Caruso for the marker. Hayward had his second assist of the game, while Mark Rooneem also collected a helper on the marker for Texas to give the Wildcatters a 2-1 lead.

Fretter posted his 30th goal of the season to tie the game at two at the 8:02 mark of the second period. Matt York fed Fretter in the slot to set up the goal on the power play. Brad Schell set a new team record for most points with 89 in a season as he collected an assist on the marker for Gwinnett.

Gwinnett took a 3-2 lead on Fretter's second goal of the game. Stepp dropped the puck off for Fretter just inside the Texas blue line where Fretter ripped a slap shot past Yeats for the goal. Fretter's 31st goal of the season came at the 15:15 mark of the second period.

Fretter collected the hat trick at the 8:05 mark of the third period beating Yeats to the far post for the goal. Schell had his second assist of the night as he fed Fretter in the high slot to set up the final goal of the game. Scott Mifsud also had an assist on the goal for Gwinnett.

Caruso made 31 saves for this third straight win for Gwinnett. The Gladiators went 1-for-9 on the power play while keeping the Wildcatters off the board on the man advantage in the win.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fourth season as a proud member of the ECHL on February 10th as they travel to Augusta to take on the Lynx at 7:35 p.m. Season tickets 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 on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice 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.

Check out the Atlanta Gladiators Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 9, 2007


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