Scout Available for Adoption
Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Gladiators assistant coach Rick Emmett hung out with Scout, a male labrador who is available for adoption from the Gwinnett County Animal Control as part of the Gladiators partnership with the Homeless Pets Foundation. Scout was a found adult stray dog, and is sweet and full of energy!

He can be adopted from the Gwinnett County Animal Control and his animal ID is #30409. You can contact the shelter for more information at 770-339-3200.




Maximus at Relay Kids Walk
Thursday, May 16, 2013

On Friday, May 10th, Maximus made his annual trip out to the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds to be part of the Kids Walk presented by the Law offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates

Maximus started his evening by greeting walkers during the Survivors’ Walk around 7:00 pm. He then took position for the Kids Walk featuring a full lap followed by t-shirts and candy thrown out to the crowd. The Kids Walk was open to anyone 15 and under and was led by Maximus, Gary Martin Hays, Audrey Hays, and the Berkmar High School Marching Band.

At the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds last Friday night, about 12,000 people joined to celebrate cancer survivors, honor lost loved ones and continue the fight against cancer. This year’s Gwinnett Relay had more than 6,000 participants who have raised more than $1.3 million so far, according to the ACS website.



Fundraiser sprouts Garden
Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The Gwinnett Gladiators recently visited Montgomery Elementary School, located in DeKalb county, to award the PTA with a fundraising check for $1160.90. The school earned the money when its chorus came out to perform God Bless America at the conclusion of the regular season vs. Greenville. According to Stephanie Johnson, PTA President, the money earned by the PTA will help create an organic garden at the school to help enhance student learning in both math and science classes. If your school, church, athletic organization or other non-profit is interested in learning more about the fundraising program offered by the Gwinnett Gladiators please contact the front office at 770-497-5100.


Settles Bridge Earns Guitars
Thursday, May 09, 2013

The Gwinnett Gladiators recently paid a visit to Settles Bridge Elementary School to present the chorus program a check for $1720.20. The chorus earned the money by singing the National Anthems prior to the March 23 Gladiators game versus the South Carolina Stingrays. According to Stacy Gray, the chorus teacher, the money raised will be used to buy a classroom set of acoustic guitars to enhance the overall learning experience of students in the music program. If your school, church, athletic organization or other non-profit is interested in learning more about the fundraising opportunities with the Gwinnett Gladiators please contact the front office at 770-497-5100.


Equipment Sale Was Monday
Tuesday, May 07, 2013

The Gwinnett Gladiators will hold their annual Equipment & Merchandise Sale on Monday, May 13th from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Equipment items include, but are not limited to: tape, socks, used practice jerseys, sticks, helmets, gloves, and pants. The Gladiators Merchandise Department will also hold a large clearance sale that evening.

The sale will be held in the Gladiators Locker Room and fans are invited to park in back of the arena. Please enter the Gwinnett Center complex from Satellite Boulevard and proceed behind the buildings, past the loading docks and down to where you’ll find other cars parked in back. Doors will not open until 6:00 PM. Cash, check, or charge are welcome.

If you have any questions about the Gladiators Equipment Sale, please contact Thomas Anderson at 770-497-5119.





Weekly Update for 5/6
Monday, May 06, 2013

The Gwinnett Gladiators ended their playoff run for the Kelly Cup on Tuesday, April 30 in Cincinnati, OH at the US Bank Arena with a 5-3 loss to the Cyclones. Cincinnati posted the win to capture the best-of-seven series 4-games-to-2 over the Gladiators.

This week’s Games:
Season Complete

Last Week’s Results:

Tuesday April 30: Cincinnati 5, Gwinnett 3 — L
The Gwinnett Gladiators season ended in a 5-3 loss to the Cincinnati Cyclones in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal as the Gladiators drop the best-of-seven series 4-games-to-2. Gwinnett twice led the contest with a 1-0 lead from Joey Haddad just 2:09 into the first and again at 3-2 after Sacha Guimond’s 2nd goal of the post season 5:01 into second. Cincinnati took a 4-3 lead with a pair of second period goals from Josh McFarland and Michael Embach, and Garrett Wilson put the game away at 13:50 of the third period for Cincinnati.

News & Notes:

Post Season: The Gladiators had their best showing in the post season since the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs this year as they advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. After a first round series sweep of the South Carolina Stingrays, the Gladiators advanced to the second round for the first time since 2008. Gwinnett has advanced past the opening round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs in four of 10 seasons in Gwinnett.

Power Play Goals! The Gladiators currently share third in power play goals in the ECHL in the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs with nine in 10 playoff games. Gwinnett converted on 22 percent of power play chances in the post season. In the second round series against Cincinnati, the Gladiators collected five power play goals on 27 power play chances. During the regular season, the Gladiators ranked 15th and converted on 15.9 percent of their power play chances.

Scoring Leader: Forward Casey Pierro-Zabotel finished the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs as the team’s leading scorer with nine points in the post season. Pierro-Zabotel picked up one goal and eight assist over the playoff stretch. The Ashcroft, BC native also led the team in scoring in the regular season with 75 points in 66 games. He was also named to the ECHL’s first team for the 2012-13 season.

Between the Pipes! Rookie goaltender Louis Domingue played in all 10 Gladiators playoff games and posted a 6-4 record in the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Domingue picked up two shutouts to tie the team record for most playoff shutouts in a Gladiators post season career. The Mont. St. Hilaire, PQ native earned a 2.23 GAA and a 0.926 save percentage in the post season. In the regular season, Domingue posted a 0.904 save percentage and a 2.69 GAA in 34 games with Gwinnett. The rookie netminder shares 4th overall in the ECHL among goaltenders in the playoffs.

Rookie: Forward Evan Bloodoff led all Gladiators rookies in scoring in the post season with eight points off of five goals and three assists. He notched three of his four goals on the power play and shares second overall in the ECHL in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for most power play goals in the post season this year.


Upcoming Events:

2013-14 Season Ticket Plans! Gladiators Full Season Ticket Plans as well as Gladiators mini season ticket package are on sale for the 2013-14 Season. Fans can reserve their seats for the upcoming season by logging onto the official team website www.gwinnettgladiators.com or by calling the Gladiators office at 770-497-5100 for all the details.

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Glads Support Homeless Pets
Monday, May 06, 2013

In the 2012-13 season the Gwinnett Gladiators began a partnership with the Homeless Pet Clubs and the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter to address the issue of homeless pets in Gwinnett County and the larger metro Atlanta area. The Gladiators organization was the first business in Gwinnett county to form a community club with the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter. A community club is a group or organization in the community who agrees to highlight one animal to sponsor at the shelter in need of a forever home through networking or other promotional means. Since becoming a community club in late November, the Gladiators organization has been able to assist 6 shelter animals in finding forever homes.

The Homeless Pet Clubs were also highly visible at Gwinnett Gladiators games throughout the season. Homeless Pets held a series of fundraising events at Gladiator games each time raising awareness about their organization and also holding on-site adoption events at games. Through their fundraising efforts the Homeless Pets Foundation was able to raise $470.00 to further their mission of finding all homeless animals a forever home. According to Dr. Michael Good, president and founder of the Homeless Pet Clubs and Homeless Pets Foundation, the money raised will be used to provide medical care to animals in need and also be used to rescue 10 animals from shelters. For more information on how you can adopt a pet please contact the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter at 770-339-3200. If your school, church, athletic organization or other non-profit is interested in learning more about the Gwinnett Gladiators fundraising program please contact the office at 770-497-5100.




Glads Season Ends with Loss
Tuesday, April 30, 2013

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Gwinnett Gladiators season came to an end in Cincinnati Tuesday night at US Bank Arena, as the Cyclones topped Gwinnett 5-3.

With the win Cincinnati takes the best-of-seven series, four-games-to-two. Game 6 was originally slated to be played in Gwinnett, but a scheduling conflict at the Arena at Gwinnett Center forced the game to be played in Cincinnati.

Louis Domingue made 20 saves in a losing cause, while Michael Houser turned aside 18 shots in the win.

Gwinnett drew first blood, as a Justin Weller point shot was deflected point blank by Justin Bowers over Houser for a 1-0 Gladiators lead. Ryan Donald had the second assist on the goal just 2:09 into the game.

The Cyclones drew even at 8:19 on a David Pacan tally, and only 2:47 later David McDonald pushed Cincinnati’s lead to 2-1 through one period.

A wild second period saw Gwinnett bounce back to regain the lead. 2:39 into the period Doug Jones hammered home a rebound to tie the game with Bowers and Evan Bloodoff assisting.

At 5:01 the Gladiators struck again. Sacha Guimond took a pass from Alex Belzile and blasted a slapshot under Houser for a 3-2 Gwinnett lead. However, the Cyclones bounced back for two goals before the period was over.

A John McFarland one-timer beat Domingue at 11:08, and a questionable call gave Cincinnati a five-on-three power play. Mike Embach cashed in on a backdoor set-up at 17:37 to put the Cyclones ahead for good at 4-3.

13:50 into the third Garrett Wilson scored to give Cincinnati breathing room, and the Gladiators would fall 5-3.

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Weekly Update for 4/29
Monday, April 29, 2013

The Gwinnett Gladiators trail the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinals 3-games-to-2 to the Cincinnati Cyclones. Gwinnett dropped Games 3 & 5 to the Cyclones at the US Bank Arena while the team posted a 4-2 win in Game 4 of the series last week. Game 6 is Tuesday while Game 7, if necessary, is Wednesday.

This week’s Games:
Monday, 4/29: Practice in Cincinnati - Noon
Tuesday, 4/30: Game 6 @ Cincinnati - 7:35 p.m.
Wednesday, 5/1: Game 7 @ Cincinnati - 7:35 p.m. (if necessary)
Thursday, 5/2: TBA
Friday, 5/3: TBA
Saturday, 5/4: TBA
Sunday, 5/5: TBA

Series Update: The Cincinnati Cyclones lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series 3-games-to-2 following a 3-2 double-overtime win over the Gladiators in Game 5 on Saturday night. Cincinnati is led in scoring in the series by Trevor Lewis and David Pacan. Lewis, who has notched the game winner in overtime for Cincinnati, as well as Pacan have each notched six points off of three goals and three assists. Game 6 is Tuesday at the US Bank Arena while Game 7, if necessary, will also be at the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati. Due to building conflicts at the Arena at Gwinnett Center, the final five possible games of the series have been scheduled for Cincinnati. Gladiators will receive home-team privilege for Game 6 which grants the Gladiators last change and the team will be wearing their home "whites" jerseys despite the game being played in Cincinnati.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals:
#3 Gwinnett vs. #2 Cincinnati
Game 1: Cincinnati 3, Gwinnett 2
Game 2: Gwinnett 3, Cincinnati 0
Game 3: Cincinnati 5, Gwinnett 0
Game 4: Gwinnett 4, Cincinnati 2
Game 5: Cincinnati 3, Gwinnett 2 (2OT)
Game 6: Tuesday, April 30th @ Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Game 7: Wednesday, May 1st @ Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)
(Cincinnati Leads Best-of-seven series 3-games-to-2)

Last Week’s Results:

Wednesday, April 24: Cincinnati 5, Gwinnett 0 — L
The Cincinnati Cyclones responded from a 3-0 loss in Game 2 with a 5-0 win over the Gladiators in Game 3. Following a scoreless first period, the Cyclones took a 1-0 lead on the Gladiators early in the second period on a power play goal by John McFarland. The Cyclones added two more markers, one from Mathieu Aubin and McFarland’s second of the night, before the end of the second to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Michael Pelech chased Louis Domingue 6:22 into the third while David Pacan rounded out the scoring for the Cyclones at 12:44 of the third period. Gwinnett was outshot in the contest by a 38-23 margin.

Friday, April 26: Gwinnett 4, Cincinnati 2 — W
The Gladiators answered in Game 4 with a 4-2 victory over the Cyclones. Gwinnett opened a 3-0 lead on the Cyclones early in the second on two first period goals by Domenic Monardo and Casey Pierro-Zabotel and second period marker by Doug Jones. The Cyclones got on the board just 21 seconds after Jones’ goal 3:35 into the second. Evan Bloodoff had his first goal of the series for Gwinnett with 46 seconds left in the second to regain the three goal lead for Gwinnett. David Pacan added the Cyclones second goal of the game at 7:48 of the third but Cincinnati could get no closer.

Saturday, April 27: Cincinnati 3, Gwinnett 2 — 2-OTL
The Cincinnati Cyclones took a 3-games-to-2 series lead with a 3-2 double-overtime win over the Gladiators in Game 5 of the series. Trevor Lewis had the game winner for the Cyclones 12:29 into the second extra frame. Gwinnett opened the scoring on Joey Haddad’s 4th goal of the post season just 2:36 into the first period. Cincinnati then took control of the first period before pounding home the tying goal off the stick of Garrett Wilson at 14:16 of the opening period. The teams exchanged goals in the second with Wilson adding his second of the night before Evan Bloodoff tied the score at two with 2:58 left in the second period. Gwinnett was outshot 16-2 in the opening period as the Cyclones more than doubled-up the Gladiators in shots with a 48-20 shots-on-goal margin. Louis Domingue finished with 45 saves for Gwinnett in the overtime loss.

News & Notes:

Stellar: Gladiators goaltender Louis Domingue has been stellar in net for the Gladiators in the post season. The rookie netminder tied a league post-season high with 45 saves in the Gladiators 3-2 double-overtime loss to the Cincinnati Cyclones on Saturday night. Domingue currently leads all rookie netminders in the post season with a 1.93 goals against average and his .936 save percentage is tops among all ECHL goaltenders in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Game 6: The Gladiators will skate in the first Game 6 in team history on Tuesday night when they battle the Cincinnati Cyclones in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series is just the fifth all-time best-of-seven series in team history. Of the best-of-seven series the Gladiators have skated in, three series went five games and one series went four games.

Facing Elimination: The Gladiators are 4-7 all time when facing elimination and are 5-13 all time including the team’s time in Mobile when facing elimination in a playoff series. In the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Gladiators twice extended the series before falling in a deciding Game 5 to the South Carolina Stingrays and extended the Kelly Cup Finals in 2006 to Game 5 before falling to the Alaska Aces. The Gladiators other win when facing elimination was a deciding Game 5 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves in the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Hot Hand: Gladiators rookie forward Domenic Monardo leads the Gladiators in goals scored with three against the Cyclones in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Monardo had goals for Gladiators in both Games 1 & 2 in Gwinnett as well as in Game 4. The rookie out of Lake Superior State has notched four goals and three assists in nine Kelly Cup Playoff games with Gwinnett.

Special Teams: The Gladiators notched another power play goal in Saturday’s 3-2 double overtime loss to the Cincinnati Cyclones for their ninth extra man goal of the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Gladiators have converted on 23.1% of their man advantage chances in nine post season games. Gwinnett is 5-2 in the post season when scoring a power play goal and 1-1 when they do not convert on the man advantage.

Firsts! Rookie forward Doug Jones picked up his first goal of the post season April 26th in the 4-2 win over the Cyclones. Regular season leading scorer, Casey Pierro-Zabotel also picked up his first goal of the playoffs on the power play in the win over Cincinnati. In the regular season, Jones posted 50 points in 61 games and Pierro-Zabotel led the team with 75 points in 66 games.

Upcoming Events:

Kelly Cup Playoffs: The Gladiators continue the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Playoff Tickets are now available with two different ticket packages to choose from to reserve your playoffs tickets. Choose either the Gladiators "Pay as we Play" or three game "Playoff Strips" to catch all the action. Get all the details online at www.gwinnettgladiators.com.

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Youth MS Earns Reward
Monday, April 29, 2013

The Gwinnett Gladiators recently paid a visit to Youth Middle School, located in Walton County, to present the band program a check for $949.90. The band earned the money when it came out to perform the National Anthem during Pink in the Rink Weekend prior to the February 17th game versus the Florida Everblades.  According to Raymond Castleberry, the band director, the funds earned will help purchase new band instruments and sheet music for the band students. If your school, church, athletic league or other non-profit organization is interested in learning more about the fundraising opportunities with the Gwinnett Gladiators please contact the front office at 770-497-5100.