Gladiators invade South Carolina

DULUTH - The Gwinnett Gladiators skate into the Palmetto State this weekend, with a Friday night game against the South Carolina Stringrays in North Charleston, and a Saturday night game with the Greenville Grrrowl. On Sunday, the Gladiators return to the Arena at Gwinnett Center to play host to the Charlotte Checkers in a 4:05 pm game.

Despite tallying the game's first goal off the stick of Mike Vigilante 1:19 into the first period, the Gladiators couldn't get past the Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday night in a 2-1 loss at the Cricket Arena in Charlotte.

For the second consecutive night, Mike Vigilante posted the game's first goal, this time beating Charlotte netminder Alex Westlund over the shoulder from the top of the left wing face off circle. Peter Flache moved the puck up the wing to Vigilante to add an assist while Gladiators goaltender Adam Berkhoel picked up his first point of the season as he also picked up a helper on the goal. Charlotte got on the board late in the first period on the power play.

Dusty Jamieson skipped past a Gladiators defenseman and snapped a shot from the right wing faceoff circle past Berkhoel to tie the game. Rory Rawlyk and Eduard Pershin added the assists on the goal at 17:48 of the opening period.

Mike Wirll gave the Checkers their first lead of the game, and the only lead they would need, as he jammed the puck past Berkhoel 48 seconds later. Ryan Lang whipped a pass to an open Wirll along the goal line to set up the tally. Dan Preston also picked up an assist on the goal.

Coming off his first professional shutout, Adam Berkhoel made 18 saves for the Gladiators in the loss while Gwinnett out shot the Checkers by a lopsided 50-20 margin in the loss. Gwinnett falls to 23-15-7 on the season but remain in third place in the ECHL's South division, as the rest of the division was idle tonight.

The Gladiators travel to South Carolina on Friday and are at Greenville on Saturday before hosting the Charlotte Checkers at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Sunday. It's a Kroger Family Day on Sunday and fans can get 4 premium level tickets, 2 caps, 2 programs and 1 Kroger Family Meal Deal (8 piece chicken dinner and a 2 liter Big K soft drink) for just $40 only at the Arena at Gwinnett Center Box Office.

The Central Division Champion Gwinnett Gladiators continue their second season on the road in South Carolina on Friday, February 18th at 7:05 p.m. The Gladiators offer several ticket packages for different needs as well as group outings, suites and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to www.gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators play all 36 home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center located on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth and are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers.