DULUTH - The Atlanta Thrashers may be moving to Winnipeg, but according to a team spokesman, the Gwinnett Gladiators aren't going anywhere.
Dustin Bixby, vice president of New Media Sales & Communications for the Gladiators -- a minor league hockey team originally affiliated with the Thrashers -- said his team was planning to play their upcoming season in Gwinnett County whether the Thrashers were there or not.
"I think the biggest thing for us is we've been fielding just an inordinate number of phone calls from people wondering if we were moving too, and that is just not the case," he said.
Bixby said the move could be a good thing for the Gladiators. He said Thrashers fans may start coming to the Gwinnett Center to get their "hockey fix."
True North Sports and Entertainment purchased the Thrashers in a deal announced Tuesday. The deal is reportedly worth $170 million. Winnipeg has been without NHL hockey since the Jets moved to Phoenix in 1996.
The Gladiators let their affiliation agreement with the Thrashers expire last year and are still looking for another NHL team partnership.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Thursday
May 15th, 2025
12:21PM
