Gladiators knocked out of playoffs, downed by Stingrays 2-0

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Gwinnett Gladiators season comes to a close with a 2-0 loss to the South Carolina Stingrays in Game 5 of the Division Semifinals at the North Charleston Coliseum on Wednesday night. With the loss, the Gladiators are bounced out of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Gwinnett was blanked for the first time in the postseason this year in the loss.

Gwinnett gave up the first goal of a game for the first time during the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs as South Carolina took a 1-0 lead on Gwinnett just 2:53 into the first period. Matt Scherer threw a puck at Gladiators netminder Craig Kowalski to notch the goal for South Carolina. Kowalski looked to deflected the puck away from the net but instead redirected the puck into the net as it took a wierd bounce and eluded the netminder. Scott Romfo and Stingrays netminder Davis Parley collected the assists on the goal.

South Carolina took a 2-0 lead on the Gladiators with a power play goal 11 minutes into the second period. In a scramble in front of the Gwinnett net, Travis Morin found the loose puck in a gaggle of skates and sticks and flicked it over Kowalski's outstretched pad for the marker. Cail MacLean and Sean Collins notched the assists on the power play goal for the Stingrays.

The Stingrays clamped down defensively in the third period preventing Gwinnett from getting on the board as Parley came up with everything Gwinnett threw at the South Carolina net. After just 13 shots through the first two periods, the Gladiators posted 20 shots in the final period but could not get a marker in the contest. Gwinnett went 0-for-4 on the power play while South Carolina went 1-for-4 on the man advantage in the contest.

Kowalski notched 23 saves in the losing effort while Parley collected 33 saves in the win for South Carolina. The Shutout loss was the first shutout against Gwinnett in the post season since Charlotte posted a 3-0 win over the Gladiators in the clinching game of the 2005 Kelly Cup Playoffs to knock the Gladiators out that season.

The Gladiators concluded their fifth anniversary season with a 2-0 loss to the South Carolina Stingrays in Game 5 of the Division Semifinals. Season tickets for the 2008-09 season are on sale now. Log on to gwinnettgladiators.com or call the Gladiators office at 770-497-5100 for more information.

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.