Despite the loss, fans at the Arena at Gwinnett center were treated to a first intermission ceremony inducting Gwinnett's first team captain, Cam Brown as the first member of the Gwinnett Gladiators Hall of Fame.
South Carolina got on the board first with an even-strength goal from Chris Chaput just 1:09 into the first period. Cail MacLean picked up a loose puck and flicked it down the wing to a waiting Chaput. Gwinnett's Jamie Milam hassled him at the blue line, but Chaput was able to keep the puck then beat Gwinnett goaltender Craig Kowalski to the stick side for the marker. MacLean and Travis Morin got assists on the goal putting the Stingrays up 1-0.
It was only fitting on a night honoring the Gladiators' first ever team captain and the ECHL's career leader in penalty minutes Cam Brown that there would be some fisticuffs and the players did not disappoint. Gwinnett forward Myles Stoesz and South Carolina defenseman Grant McNeil squared off at the 11:36 mark of the second period to the delight of the 5,791 Gwinnett fans at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
South Carolina added another goal with just two minutes to play in the second period. Sitting at the corner of the Gwinnett crease, Travis Morin tipped a slap shot from Rory Rawlyk past Kowalski and into the back of the Gwinnett net for the power play marker. Rawlyk and Paul McIlveen got assists on the power play goal at the 18:00 mark of the second period.
Chad Painchaud finally got the Gladiators on the board at the 9:53 mark of the first period. Painchaud, skating through the slot, took a centering feed from Guillaume Desbiens and beat South Carolina goaltender Davis Parley for the Gwinnett marker cutting the Gladiator's deficit to one. Desbiens and Brad Schell got assists on the even strength marker for Gwinnett, Painchaud's seventh of the season.
Gwinnett's lone goal was too little and too late as the Stingrays held on for the 2-1 win. Kowalski made 25 saves for the Gladiators in the loss as his record falls to 25-9-0-2 on the season.
The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Saturday, March 15th as they travel to Columbia to take on the Columbia Inferno at 7:35 p.m. at the Carolina Coliseum. 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.
