ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Southern Assigned from AHL Manitoba

January 14, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators announced today that forward Dirk Southern has been reassigned to the Gladiators from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

Recalled to the AHL on December 12th, Southern appeared in 12 games while with Manitoba posting two goals and an assist for 3 points. He also collected 8 penalty minutes while on recall to the AHL.

Southern has skated in 14 games this season for Gwinnett posting a goal and 8 assists for 9 points. He also ranks first on the team with a +8, plus/minus rating this season.

Southern skated in 23 games with the Gladiators during the 2007-08 season where he notched five goals, seven assists and 14 penalty minutes. The 6-foot, 185-pound center missed a majority of last season due to a leg injury sustained on December 14th against Columbia.

Southern played with the Augusta Lynx in his rookie season in 2006-07 where he posted 10 goals and 21 assists in 61 games.

Before turning pro, Southern played collegiate hockey at Northern Michigan University. With the Wildcats, he tallied 122 points from 43 goals and 79 assists in 149 career collegiate games. As a senior, he was the recipient of the Bill Joyce Best Forward Award in 2006 and as a freshman was named the Don Waddell Best Freshman in 2003 while at Northern Michigan

Southern was drafted in the 7th round, 218th overall, by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the 2003 Entry Draft.

The Gladiators return to action on Wednesday, January 14th as they host the Florida Everblades at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m.

Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier 'AA' Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that will have 21 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 864 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Eighteen of the 23 teams have played at least five years in their current city.

The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.

The Gwinnett Gladiators open their sixth season as a proud member of the ECHL in October of 2008 - 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 January 14, 2009


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