Germain, FL - Craig Kowalski posted his second shutout of the season while Mike Hamilton notched the game winner for Gwinnett breaking a scoreless tie late in the third period to help the Gladiators to a 2-0 win over the Florida Everblades on Saturday night at the Germain Arena. The Gladiators remain in a tie for second place in the ECHL's South Division with 91 points as the South Carolina Stingrays beat Columbia tonight to keep pace with the Gladiators.
The Gladiators and Everblades skated to a scoreless first period as the two teams came out tentative after yesterday's brawl filled contest. Gwinnett held the Everblades to just 2 shots in the first period tying a team season low for fewest shots allowed in one period. The Gladiators previous season low of 2 shots was set at Charlotte on March 4th.
The game remained scoreless through two periods. Both Gladiators netminder Craig Kowalski and Everblades goaltender David Shantz kept the game scoreless as both teams had opportunities in the second period to break a scoreless tie. Florida had a goal disallowed early in the second period as the puck was deflected in with a high stick, but the disallowed goal keeped the game a 0-0 tie.
Mike Hamilton broke the scoreless tie with 5:32 left in the third period. Walking down the right wing wall, Hamilton ripped a slap shot over the shoulder of Shantz for his 23rd goal of the season. Tomas Pospisil collected an assist on the game winning goal as he picked up a rebound in the Gladiators zone and moved the puck thorugh the neutral zone before leading Hamilton sliding into the Florida zone.
Pospisil iced the contest for the Gladiators adding an empty net goal with 52 seconds left in the third period. Pospisil picked up the loose puck just outside the Gladiators blue line and wove thorugh the neutral zone before flicking the puck into the empty net from just inside the Everblades blue line for his 18th goal of the season.
Kowalski finished with 18 saves for the Gladiators in the 2-0 win. The shutout was Kowalski's second of the season for the Gladiators this year. Both teams were unsuccessful on the power play in the contest as both teams went 0-for-5 on the man advantage.
The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Tuesday, April 1st as they host the Charlotte Checkers at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Tuesaday'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.
Saturday
May 3rd, 2025
9:56AM
