The Atlanta Gladiators went on the road to face the Allen Americans in back-to-back contests at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas, this past weekend. Both matchups between these teams had some stellar action on the ice for Gladiators’ fans watching or listening at home.
First up, on Saturday, October 28th, the Allen Americans take quick advantage of a few Gladiator turnovers early on, as forward Colton Hargrove makes it past Tyler Harmon to light the lamp at the 01:47 mark of the opening frame. The Atlanta Gladiators would respond later in the period to tie the game thanks to forward Micha Miller, who scored his second goal of the season. Mitch Fossier and Reece Vitelli were each credited with the assist on the goal.
The Americans struck back at the mid-point of the second period with goals made by Brandon Puricelli and Colton Hargrove, respectively. However, the Gladiators remained undaunted and reciprocated moments later with a goal made by Ryan Cranford, assisted by Michael Marchesan. Just over a minute later, the Gladiators would get a goal on the PP by forward Reece Vitelli, who was assisted by defenseman Aidan De La Gorgendiere and Jackson Pierson. This would tie things up once again at 3-3, where it would remain at the close of the second period.
The Gladiators would start the third period, pucks blazing as forwards were all over the Americans in front of the net, connecting with the back of the net 1:35 into the period, giving the Gladiators the lead. After that, the Gladiators would pile on two more unanswered goals. The first of these is tapped in by Micah Miller (his first as a Gladiator), with Reece Vitelli and Aidan De La Gorgendiere each earning credit for the assist on the play. Mitch Fossier would strike yet again at the end of the third frame, this time on an empty netter, putting away the Americans with a final score of 6-3. Notably, the trio of Fossier, Vitelli, and Miller, all of whom played on the 2nd line for Saturday’s matchup, earned a combined total of 10 points.
Atlanta Gladiators Goalie, Tyler Harmon, made 22 of 25 saves on the night while minding the net for the Gladiators.
The second game of the weekend would be an all-around showstopping performance by the Atlanta Gladiators. The Gladiators would have Gustavs Grigals as their netminder for the Sunday afternoon game. After a penalty on Americans’ Mikael Robidoux landed him in the penalty box for cross-checking, the Gladiators would head into a Power Play and would take advantage. Cody Sylvester slapped a pass to Mitch Fossier from behind the net as Fossier sent it home, giving the Gladiators the 1-0 lead. Luke Prokop would get the assist on the play after setting up the play for Sylvester, earning his first point as a Gladiator.
The Gladiators would make their first trip to the penalty box after Connor Casparie got a minor for tripping. On the PK, Mitch Fossier found the back of the net, getting the shorthanded goal, making it 2-0 for the Gladiators. Carson Gicewicz gets the assist on the play. The score remained as is, and the Gladiators closed out the second frame with the lead.
Allen tries to get some momentum back but gets the penalty for high sticking made by Americans’ Matt Sredl, giving the Gladiators yet another Power Play opportunity. The Gladiators’ first line makes its presence known not long after as Cody Sylvester edges the puck past the Americans’ goalie, Chase Perry. Alex Whelan gets the assist on the Power Play goal, which was the first of the season for Sylvester. The goal made it 3-0 for the Gladiators. Allen made a solid shot to the net on Grigals, but it was stopped short by the netminder. After a review by officials, it is a no-goal for the Americans.
Jacob Graves got sent to the box after a minor penalty, but once again, the Gladiators struck hard on the Americans, and the second line got another shorty. This time, the shorthanded goal was made by Micah Miller with an assist by Reece Vitelli. The game now sits at 4-0, Gladiators. On the breakaway just moments later, Gladiators’ Alex Whelan gets a second shorthanded goal past Perry. Gustavs Grigals makes a stunning save, and the Gladiators will end the 2nd period with five goals.
🤯🤯 HOW DID HE STOP THAT!?🤯🤯
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) October 29, 2023
There are glove saves and then there's this from @atlgladiators goalie Gustavs Grigals. He made 42 saves to shut out Allen, but none were better than this one! AMAZING!@ECHL @NanooksHockey @RiverHawkHockey @mkeadmirals pic.twitter.com/hAjBA6PHOz
The Allen Americans would get no satisfaction against the Gladiators in the third period either. The Gladiators score on the Power Play for the third time as Carson Gicewicz sends off a wrister shot and hits it home. The goal marks the first for Forward Gicewicz as an Atlanta Gladiator. Mitch Fossier and Luke Prokop each get the assist. The Gladiators are now up 6-0, and the Americans would remain unable to get any traction as the Gladiators solidly defend the net to finish out the third period, winning the game.
Atlanta’s Gustavs Grigals would put a stop to all 42 shots put before him in this impressive shutout win against the Americans, which was Grigal’s first professional shutout. In his two starts so far this season, Grigals has allowed just two goals while making 72 saves for the Gladiators. The Gladiators are also now the 38th team in ECHL history to score three shorthanded goals in a single game. They went going 3-for-6 on the power play as they added those three shorthanded goals.
Overall, The Gladiators may have started off the weekend with some mistakes in the form of a few turnovers in period one of Saturday’s game, but quickly rebounded. They continuously frustrated both the offensive and defensive lines of the Americans and dominated on special teams.
At 3-0 at the start of their season, the Gladiators head into a three-game home stand. First, they face off against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits for the first time this season on Wednesday, November 1st, at 7 PM. They then lineup against the Jacksonville Icemen on Friday night at 7:30 PM before taking on the South Carolina Stingrays Sunday afternoon.
Atlanta hockey fans can also see some collegiate hockey action prior to the Gladiators home game on Sunday as GA Tech faces off against UGA at 12:30 PM, followed by the Gladiators puck drop at 4 PM.
