Glads snap skid, beat Stingrays

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Gwinnett Gladiators snapped a two game losing skid with a 5-3 win over the South Carolina Stingrays at the North Charleston Coliseum on Friday night.

Jamie Milam posted three assists in the win for Gwinnett while Craig Kowalski posted a handful of spectactular saves for Gwinnett finishing with 48 saves to post his 7th win of the season. With the win, Gwinnett improves to 10-3-1 on the season.

Jim Jackson posted his 6th goal of the season ripping a slapshot from the left wing point past South Carolina netminder Davis Parley to give Gwinnett a 1-0 lead just 3:10 into the first period. Jamie Milam and Lou Dickenson hooked up to set up Jackson on the marker for Gwinnett.

South Carolina tied the game at 1-1 on a goal by Marty Guerin at 4:44 of the opening period. Moving in on a 2-on-1 break, Guerin finshed the play for the Stingrays beating Gladiators netminder Craig Kowalski for the marker. Travis Morin and Cail MacLean collected the assists on the goal for the Stingrays.

Lou Dickenson regained the lead for the Gladiators late in the first period. Tapping the puck to himself and Slipping past a South Carolina defender in the neutral zone, Dickenson beat Parley to the stick side on a breakaway for the marker. Milam had his second assist of the game throwing the puck into the neutral zone to Dickeson. The marker came at 16:43 of the first period.

Gwinnett took a 3-1 lead on the Stingrays 8:08 into the second period. Mike Hamilton was able to pick up a rebound along the goal line and flick the puck over the shoulder of Parley for his 4th goal of the season. Milam added his third assist of the game for Gwinnett while Derek Nesbitt also had a helper on the power play goal for Gwinnett.

South Carolina again cut the Gladiators lead to one goal. Despite a handful of great saves by Kowalski throughout the period, Steve Pinizzotto was able to tuck the puck just inside the goal post at the 13:55 mark of the second period for the Stingray's second marker of the game. Travia Morin and Chris Chaput collected the assists on the goal for South Carolina.

Andy Brandt pushed the Gladiators lead to 4-2 with his 4th goal of the season. Picking up a rebound in the slot, Brandt beat Parley to the short side for the goal. Dirk southern and Ryan Mahrle posted the assits on the goal coming just 1:03 into the third period.

South Carolina got back within a goal right as a power play expired with 2:33 left in the third period. Andrew Andricopoulos was able to find a loose puck in the high slot and rip a slapshot past Kowalski for the marker. Morin and MacLean posted the assists on the goal for South Carolina.

Hamilton's second goal of the night with just five seconds left in the contest put the game away for the Gladiators. Taking an outlet pass in the neutral zone from Nesbitt, Hamilton threw the puck into the empty net from the South Caroina blue line for the goal.

Kowalski finished with 48 saves for his 7th win of the season while the Gladiators went 1-for-4 on the power play. South Carolina was unsuccessful on their seven man advantage chances.

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Saturday, November 24th as they host the Charlotte Checkers at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:35 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Saturday's game via Accessnorthga.com audio stream channel 3.

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.