Gladiators fall to Texas

BEAUMONT, TEXAS - The Gwinnett Gladiators could not use two assists by Jeff Campbell to get past the Texas Wildcatters in a 3-2 loss on Friday night at the Ford Arena.

The loss was the Gladiators first on the road this season as Gwinnett falls to 11-4-1 overall on the year. With the loss, the Gladiators fall into third place in the South Division as the Flordia Everblades won moving one point ahead of Gwinnett into second place in the division with 24 points.

The Gladiators used a pair of power play goals in the first period to jump out to a 2-0 lead on the Wildcatters thorugh one period. Derek Nesbitt posted the first of the two power play goals for the Gladiators deflecting Jeff Campbell's backhand shot from the right wing circle past Texas netminder Peter Aubry for the marker. Nesbitt's posted his 8th goal of the season on the power play just 2:20 into the first period.

Jamie Milam pushed the Gladiators lead to 2-0 with the second power play goal of the period and his fith goal of the year. Milam ripped a one-time slap-shot from the left wing point past Aubry for the marker. Campbell had his second assist of the game as he fed Milam at the point to set up the goal. Nesbitt also had an assist on the five-on-three power play goal with just 3:14 left in the first period.

Texas turned things around in the second period posting three goals to take a 3-2 lead after two periods. Scott Champagne got the Wildcatters on the board with a delayed penalty upcoming on Gwinnett. Champagne finished an odd man rush for the wildcatters beating Gladiators netmidner Craig Kowalski to the short side for the marker. Marc Fulton and John McNabb posted the assists on the goal at 10:34 of the second period.

Marc Taylor tied the game at two for the Wildcatters with a shorthanded goal at 15:17 of the third period. Knocking the puck away from a Gladiators defenseman along the Gwinnett goal line on the penalty kill, Taylor was able to flick the puck past Kowalski for the marker. Ross Carlson and Tim Cook were credited with the assists on the goal for Texas.

Jonathan Paiement then gave Texas a 3-2 lead with a power play marker with just 3:12 left in the middle stanza. Carlson had his second assist of the game for the Wildcatters setting up Paiement for the power play goal. John McNabb also posted an assist on the marker for the Wildcatters.

Texas clamped down defensively in the third period to hold on to the 3-2 lead for the win. Kowalski finished with 33 saves in the loss for Gwinnett. The Gladiators finished 2-for-5 on the power play in the loss.

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Saturday, December 1st as they travel to Beaumont, Texas to take on the Texas Wildcatters at the Ford Arena at 8:05 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Saturday's game via Accessnorthga.com 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.