South Carolina Completes Weekend Sweep Over Atlanta
The South Carolina Stingrays continued their dominance over the Atlanta Gladiators, securing a 3-1 victory on home ice at North Charleston Coliseum on Saturday night.
Starting Lineups
South Carolina Stingrays
Forwards: Charlie Combs – Josh Wilkins – Micah Miller
Defensemen: Romain Rodzinski – Reilly Webb
Goaltender: Mitchell Gibson
Atlanta Gladiators
Forwards: Carson Denomie – Randy Hernández – Blake Murray
Defensemen: Jeremy Hanzel – Chad Nychuk
Goaltender: Drew DeRidder
First Period
The opening period was a defensive battle as both teams struggled to generate offensive chances. South Carolina goaltender Mitchell Gibson and Atlanta’s Drew DeRidder stood strong between the pipes, turning away all shots faced.
South Carolina had the first power-play opportunity of the game when Atlanta’s Carson Denomie was called for tripping at 16:05, but the Gladiators’ penalty kill held strong to keep the game scoreless. Atlanta later got a chance with the man advantage when South Carolina was assessed a too many men minor at 4:31, but their power play couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Despite a few opportunities at both ends, the period ended scoreless, with Atlanta holding a slight 7-5 shot advantage.
End of First Period Stats
Score: Tied 0–0
Shots: Atlanta 7, South Carolina 5
Penalties: Carson Denomie (ATL), Tripping (16:05); Bench Minor (SC), Too Many Men (4:31, served by J. Wilkins)
Second Period
The Stingrays broke the deadlock at 10:27 when Romain Rodzinski found the back of the net, finishing a play set up by Micah Miller and Tyler Weiss to give South Carolina a 1-0 lead.
GOAL (10:27, 2nd Period): Romain Rodzinski opens the scoring, burying a shot past Drew DeRidder off a feed from Micah Miller and Tyler Weiss!
Atlanta had two chances to respond on the power play, with Ryan Cranford heading to the box for tripping at 8:12 and Tyler Drevitch serving a high-sticking minor at 12:58. However, South Carolina’s penalty kill remained perfect, preventing the Gladiators from generating high-danger opportunities.
South Carolina took a pair of late penalties of their own, with Ben Hawerchuk called for slashing at 15:49 and Charlie Combs whistled for tripping at 19:36. Despite Atlanta’s man advantage, they couldn’t find the equalizer before the intermission.
South Carolina took control of the shot count in the second, outshooting Atlanta 13-4 and taking the lead into the final period.
End of Second Period Stats
Score: South Carolina leads 1–0
Goal (10:27): Romain Rodzinski (6), assisted by M. Miller, T. Weiss
Shots: South Carolina 13, Atlanta 4
Penalties: Ryan Cranford (ATL), Tripping (8:12); Tyler Drevitch (ATL), High-Sticking (12:58); Ben Hawerchuk (SC), Slashing (15:49); Charlie Combs (SC), Tripping (19:36)
Third Period
The Stingrays extended their lead early in the third period with a shorthanded goal at 1:14. Micah Miller raced down the ice, burying his 19th goal of the season, with an assist from Ryan Hofer, making it 2-0 South Carolina.
GOAL (1:14, 3rd Period): Micah Miller (SHG) extends the Stingrays’ lead with a shorthanded goal, finishing a setup from Ryan Hofer!
Atlanta’s frustrations boiled over, leading to multiple penalties late in the period. At 18:46, Derek Topatigh was assessed a roughing minor and a 10-minute misconduct, while Ben Hawerchuk received a roughing minor and a misconduct for South Carolina. Jace Isley also picked up a boarding minor in the same sequence.
South Carolina put the game out of reach at 14:23 when Dean Loukus scored his first professional goal, finishing off a setup from Josh Wilkins and Charlie Combs to give the Stingrays a commanding 3-0 lead.
GOAL (14:23, 3rd Period): Dean Loukus nets his first professional goal, putting home a pass from Josh Wilkins and Charlie Combs!
Atlanta finally broke through with just four seconds remaining in the game on the power play. Joey Cipollone found the net at 19:56, assisted by Jeremy Hanzel and Chad Nychuk, but it was too little, too late.
GOAL (19:56, 3rd Period): Joey Cipollone (PPG) puts Atlanta on the board late on the power play, tapping in a feed from Jeremy Hanzel and Chad Nychuk!
South Carolina completed the weekend sweep over Atlanta, winning 3-1 and outshooting the Gladiators 25-21.
End of Third Period Stats
Goal (1:14): Micah Miller (19, SHG), assisted by R. Hofer
Goal (14:23): Dean Loukus (1), assisted by J. Wilkins, C. Combs
Goal (19:56): Joey Cipollone (12, PPG), assisted by J. Hanzel, C. Nychuk
Shots: Atlanta 10, South Carolina 7
Penalties: Ben Hawerchuk (SC), Hooking (4:00); Drew DeRidder (ATL), Delay of Game (7:24); Derek Topatigh (ATL), Roughing (18:46); Derek Topatigh (ATL), Misconduct (18:46); Ben Hawerchuk (SC), Roughing (18:46); Ben Hawerchuk (SC), Misconduct (18:46); Jace Isley (SC), Boarding (18:46); Ryan Hofer (SC), Misconduct (19:56)
Final Game Summary
Final Score: South Carolina 3, Atlanta 1
Final Shots on Goal: South Carolina 25, Atlanta 21
Power Plays: South Carolina 0/4, Atlanta 1/5
Goaltending – South Carolina Stingrays
Mitchell Gibson (W) – 60:00 TOI, 21 shots against, 20 saves, 1 GA, 0.952 SV%
Goaltending – Atlanta Gladiators
Drew DeRidder (L) – 60:00 TOI, 25 shots against, 22 saves, 3 GA, 0.880 SV%
South Carolina’s Mitchell Gibson was outstanding in net, stopping 20 of 21 shots and earning the first star of the game. Atlanta’s Drew DeRidder made 22 saves on 25 shots, but his team struggled to generate offense.
Three Stars of the Game
First Star: Mitchell Gibson (20 SV, 1 GA, 0.952 SV%)
Second Star: Dean Loukus (1G)
Third Star: Micah Miller (1G, 1A, SHG)
Looking Ahead
With the win, the South Carolina Stingrays completed a two-game sweep of Atlanta and strengthened their position in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoff race, having clinched their berth with their win against Atlanta the night before.
The Gladiators, now on a three-game losing streak, will look to bounce back in their next outing. Meanwhile, South Carolina will try to carry their momentum forward as they continue their homestand. The Stingrays will celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with a Sunday afternoon matchup against the Jacksonville Icemen on March 16, 2025, at North Charleston Coliseum and the puck drop is set for 3:05 PM EDT.
Atlanta returns to action on home ice on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, for School Day #2 at 10:30 AM against the Orlando Solar Bears. Students from the Greater Atlanta Area will enjoy a unique educational experience and receive a hockey-related workbook as part of the event.
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