Texas took a 1-0 lead on a power play goal midway through the first period. Gladiators netminder Craig Kowalski got a piece of David Schultz's slap shot from the left wing point but the puck trickled into the Gwinnett crease where Scott Champaign slipped behind the Gwinnett netminder and tapped the puck into the net for the goal. Jordie Preston also had an assist on the power play goal for the Wildcatters at the 10:45 mark of the first period.
The Wildcatters second power play goal of the first period gave Texas a 2-0 lead with just 43 seconds left in the stanza. Wide open in the left wing circle, Dan Welch took a rink wide pass and walked in untouched on Kowalski and flicked the puck up over the shoulder of the netminder for the goal. Marc Fulton and Ross Carlson posted the assists on the Wildcatters power play goal.
Mike Hamilton's 7th goal of the season on the power play cut the Texas lead in half. Walking out of the right wing corner, Hamilton deflected the puck off the stick of Texas netminder Peter Aubry and into the net for the goal. Lou Dickenson and Jeff Mason posted the assists on the power play goal for Gwinnett just 6:56 into the second period.
Mike Vigilante tied the game at two in the third period. Parked on the off wing, Vigilante took a rink wide pass from Nesbitt and jammed the puck past Aubry for the power play goal. Jeff Campbell also had an assist on the power play goal for Gwinnett coming just 3:21 into the third period.
After a scoreless third period, Hamilton posted the game winning shootout goal for Gwinnett in the 5th round of the shootout. Nesbitt and Campbell scored for Gwinnett in the first two rounds while McNabb and Carlson scored for Texas in the first and fourth rounds respectively setting the table for Hamilton's game winner.
Kowalski finished with 33 saves in the win for the Gladiators while Gwinnett went 2-for-5 on the power play. Texas finished 2-for-9 on the man advantage it the loss.
The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Thurday, December 6th as they host the Florida Everblades at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Thursday's game via AccessNorthGa.com "Access Radio" 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.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/12/204542