ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Shorthanded Gladiators Handed 6-3 Loss

February 8, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - Skating with just 14 skaters, two fewer than usual, the Gladiators (16-26-2-1) offense did what they could to keep the pace with the South Carolina Stingrays (20-18-1-6) offense, but they ultimately fell Sunday afternoon, 6-3. Derek DeBlois achieved the first hat trick for a Gladiators opponent this season with four tallies, while Garry Nunn almost had a hat trick for himself with two goals.

Before fans could even take their seats, the Stingrays bolted ahead to a 2-0 lead. Just 26 seconds into play, Patrick Gaul redirected a toss in front of the net by Adam Brown - the earliest goal the Gladiators have given up this season. 14 seconds later, Brown misplayed a puck behind the net and turned over the puck to Braden Pimm, who centered the puck on to Derek DeBlois. The forward beat Brown to the crease and tipped the puck in, untouched.

Down two in the first minute of play, the Gladiators hunkered down for the remainder of the period, and got one back in the midst of a 4-on-4-fest of alternating penalties to each side for over five minutes. On a two-on-one rush into the offensive zone at 12:04, Travis Ouellette had his stick held up by the trailing defenseman, but still managed to get the puck across to Will MacDonald on the right post. After an initial save by Adam Morrison, MacDonald lifted the quick rebound over a sprawling Morrison.

Referee Kenny Anderson's right arm was busy all afternoon, calling 15 penalties in the first 40 minutes of play. South Carolina got two power play goals in the first 7:30 of the second, both from DeBlois. The first came at 1:27, and the second came on a 5-on-3 for SC at 7:20. It was DeBlois' third goal of the afternoon, the first time the Gladiators have given up a hat trick this season.

The Gladiators would have their own 5-on-3 goal in the period at 12:52. After Wade Epp was ejected for elbowing James Melindy while already shorthanded, Garry Nunn slammed home a rebound to Morrison's right just eight seconds into the advantage.

Gwinnett would not cash in on the remainder of the five-minute major, but Nunn would score on a separate power play six minutes into the third period, shooting through a screen. That score made it 4-3, the Gladiators' closest deficit of the night, but they couldn't close the gap.

DeBlois tacked on a fourth goal at 9:03, and Andrew Ammon scored South Carolina's sixth at 17:02. Both goals were similar in that Brown made the initial glove save, but the puck squeaked out to the crease, and Stingrays forwards cleaned the puck into the net both times.

A total of 18 penalties were called to both teams in what turned into a penalty-fest. Gwinnett finished 2-for-7 on the power play, while South Carolina was 2-for-8. Adam Morrison made 18 saves on 21 shots and Adam Brown was 27-for-33.

The two teams will face each other twice next weekend. The next game will be on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at North Charleston Coliseum, and the follow up match will be on Saturday night at The Arena at Gwinnett Center for Pink in the Rink, Night 1 at 7:05 p.m.

For tickets and schedule information, visit the official team website at www.gwinnettgladiators.com or call the main office line at 770-497-5100.

The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the nation's premier "AA" hockey league, and are affiliated with the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL. All home games are played at the 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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