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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Stingrays shutout Gladiators, 5-0

February 1, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Despite 31 saves from Dan Turple, the Gwinnett Gladiators were shutout for the second time this season as they dropped a 5-0 decision to the South Carolina Stingrays on Friday night at the North Charleston Coliseum. With the loss, the Gladiators fall to 25-13-4 on the season.

The Gladiators and the Stingrays skated to a scoreless tie through the opening period. South Carolina finished the period outshooting the Gladiators by a 14-13 margin with Gwinnett netminder Turple and Stingray's goalie Davis Parley standing strong in their respective nets.

South Carolina exploded for three goals in the second period to take a 3-0 lead after two periods on the Gladiators. Patrick McNeill broke a scoreless tie 5:12 into the second period ripping a slapshot from the right wing circle over the shoulder of Turple for the marker. Chris Chaput posted an assist as he dropped the puck off for Patrick McNeill as he slid in over the Gwinnett blue line. Grant McNeill also had an assist on the marker for South Carolina.

Paul McIlveen gave the Stingrays a 2-0 lead with a power play goal at 12:25 of the second period. With the Gladaitors whistled for too many men on the ice, South Carolina capitalized on the power play as McIlveen was able to slip into the slot out of a pile up behind the Gwinnett net and beat Turple for the marker. Chaput and Nate Kiser collected the assists on the goal for South Carolina.

The Stingrays pushed their lead to 3-0 with less than a second left in the second period. After the puck bounced off an official in the neutral zone, McIlveen picked up the loose puck and flew into the Gladaitors zone ripping a shot wide of the Gwinnett net. Mike Gabinet picked up the rebound off the back dasher board and whipped the puck past Turple with 2 tenths of a second left in the second period. Matt Scherer also had an assist on the goal at 19:59 of the second period.

South Carolina took 4-0 lead on the Gladiators at the 14:04 mark of the third period. Sean Collins ripped a slap shot from the right wing circle past Turple for the marker. Matt Scherer dropped the puck off for Collins inside the Gwinnett blue line to set up the marker. Pierre-Luc O'Brien also had an assist on the goal.

Travis Morin rounded out the scoring for South Carolina with just 9 seconds left in the third period. On a 5-on-3 power play, Morin was able to slid the puck past Turple for the marker. Chaput added his third assist of the game for South Carolina while Patrick McNeill also had an assist on the goal.

Turple finished with 31 saves for the Gladiators in the losing effort while Gwinnett was held scoreless on four power play chances in the loss.

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Saturday, February 2nd as they host the South Carolina Stingrays at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:35 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Saturday'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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