ECHL Game Recap: South Carolina Stingrays vs Atlanta Gladiators | 01/08/2025

The South Carolina Stingrays looked set the tone early in the first period. Despite the Atlanta Gladiators‘ efforts to fight back, including goals in the second and third periods, the Stingrays maintained their strong offensive and defensive play. The Stingrays ensured they stayed ahead throughout the game, while Atlanta struggled to find their momentum and were unable to close the gap.

Starting Lines:

• South Carolina Stingrays (SC): Jayden Lee, Blake Thompson, Josh Wilkins, Kyler Kupka, Erik Middendorf, and Garin Bjorklund (goalie)
• Atlanta Gladiators (ATL): Anthony Firriolo, Derek Topatigh, Cody Sylvester, Eric Neiley, Joey Cipollone, and Drew DeRidder (goalie)

Period 1

Atlanta conceded an early goal as Micah Miller from South Carolina passed the puck to Austin Magera, giving the ‘Rays a lead just under a minute into the game. Zac Funk also contributed with an assist on this play. The Stingrays maintained their offensive pressure, but the Gladiators fought back, with Ryan Cranford taking a shot on Garin Bjorklund. A shot from the right side of the net by Andrew Jarvis almost found its way in, followed by a near miss from Zach Yoder that went wide.

Carson Denomie was penalized for hooking, which presented the Gladiators with their first challenge on the penalty kill at 9:39. Austin Magera’s one-timer was saved by Drew DeRidder, followed by a shot from Charlie Combs that was also turned away by DeRidder’s glove. Ben Hawerchuk scored to put the Stingrays ahead 2-0, with an assist from Jacob Graves. However, the Gladiators quickly answered back as Cranford redirected a powerful shot past Bjorklund, assisted by Derek Topatigh at 12:54. The score stood at 2-1 in favor of South Carolina.

Combs launched a shot against Atlanta, successfully finding its way into the back of the net while evading DeRidder’s reach at 14:45. Assisted by Tyler Weiss and Ryan Hofer, the score now stood at 3-1, with South Carolina holding on to the lead. Later in the game, Erik Middendorf scored against DeRidder, with an assist from Josh Wilkins, bringing the score to 4-1 at 17:13.

Goals:

• 1:30: South Carolina – M. Miller (11) from Z. Funk, A. Magera
• 12:35: South Carolina – B. Hawerchuk (3) from J. Graves
• 12:54: Atlanta – R. Cranford (5) from D. Topatigh, J. Pierson
• 14:45: South Carolina – C. Combs (9) from R. Hofer, T. Weiss
• 17:13: South Carolina – E. Middendorf (14) from J. Wilkins, K. Kupka

Period 2

Kyler Kupka tallied the fifth goal for South Carolina at 4:46. The Gladiators struggled to match the Stingrays’ offensive intensity. Assists came from Lee and Thompson. The score sat at 5-1 in favor of South Carolina. Drew DeRidder would have greatly benefited from additional defensive support in front of the net to help shift the momentum.

The wide-angle shot taken by Jarvis from the left of Bjorklund missed the net. The Gladiators found themselves on the penalty kill for the second time as Randy Hernández received a penalty for high sticking. Despite being short-handed, the Gladiators managed to score when Denomie netted a goal during a breakaway. The score stood at 5-2, with South Carolina still in the lead. Moments later, they regrouped as they returned to full strength and launched another offensive on South Carolina.

Jackson Pierson attempted a sliding low shot on the net, but Bjorklund skillfully deflected it away from danger. Jayden Lee was called for delay of game when the puck was launched into the stands at 14:40. Atlanta was now on the power play, hoping to make good use of the man advantage. Unfortunately, they did not add to the scoreboard but still worked the puck more effectively in the Stingrays’ zone. Anthony Firriolo put a nice shot on Bjorklund, but the netminder was able to make the stop. Jeremy Hanzel kept control of the puck, and Patriks Marcinkevics tried to help force the offensive surge, but the Stingrays managed to clear it. At the end of the middle frame, the score stood at 5-2, with Atlanta able to keep more of the play on the Stingrays’ side of the ice.

Goals:

• 4:46: South Carolina – K. Kupka (15) from J. Lee, B. Thompson
• 8:59: Atlanta – C. Denomie (6) (Short-Handed)

Period 3

Joey Cipollone setup Jarvis perfectly, but the shot just missed the mark, followed by another close attempt from Anthony Firriolo. Funk from South Carolina then fired a shot that went wide of DeRidder’s net. Topatigh skillfully controlled the puck, allowing the Gladiators to resume their offensive push. Armstrong then took his shot on Bjorklund, but unfortunately, it missed the net. Galloway nearly had his first goal as he took a shot on Bjorklund, but was unable to connect. The Gladiators got their second power play as Middendorf went to the box for holding the stick at 7:29.

On the power play, a shot by Neiley was deflected. Sylvester passed it back to Neiley, but his next shot went wide. Back to full strength, South Carolina kept the pressure on the Gladiators. The Gladiators, with the puck, made several shots on Bjorklund that just missed their target. Neiley got the puck and made a surge on the net, but South Carolina got in his way.

Ryan Cranford found the back of the net, slipping the puck past Bjorklund to bring the Gladiators within two goals. The score stood at 5-3 at 14:54, with assists from Marcinkevics and Firriolo.

With under two minutes left, Atlanta pulled DeRidder and worked the puck furiously, desperately trying to get another goal. The Stingrays got the empty netter with the goal made by Wilkins at 18:26. With under a minute left, Jacob Graves managed to get another past DeRidder who came out of the net to try to make the stop, driving the score up to 7-3.

Goals:

• 14:54: Atlanta – R. Cranford (6) from P. Marcinkevics, A. Firriolo
• 18:26: South Carolina – J. Wilkins (10) from E. Middendorf (Empty Net)
• 19:22: South Carolina – J. Graves (1)

Game Summary

1st Period:

• 1:30: South Carolina – M. Miller (11) from Z. Funk, A. Magera
• 12:35: South Carolina – B. Hawerchuk (3) from J. Graves
• 12:54: Atlanta – R. Cranford (5) from D. Topatigh, J. Pierson
• 14:45: South Carolina – C. Combs (9) from R. Hofer, T. Weiss
• 17:13: South Carolina – E. Middendorf (14) from J. Wilkins, K. Kupka

2nd Period:

• 4:46: South Carolina – K. Kupka (15) from J. Lee, B. Thompson
• 8:59: Atlanta – C. Denomie (6) (Short-Handed)

3rd Period:

• 14:54: Atlanta – R. Cranford (6) from P. Marcinkevics, A. Firriolo

Three Stars of the Game:

1. SC – J. Graves
2. SC – K. Kupka
3. SC – E. Middendorf

South Carolina had a strong start with four goals in the first period, which ultimately set the tone for the game. he Stingrays took an early lead with a goal from Micah Miller, followed by goals from Ben Hawerchuk, Charlie Combs, and Erik Middendorf, ending the first period with a 4-1 lead. Despite the Gladiators’ efforts to fight back, including a short-handed goal by Carson Denomie in the second period and a goal by Ryan Cranford in the third, the Stingrays maintained their dominance. Kyler Kupka added another goal for the Stingrays in the second period, and Josh Wilkins and Jacob Graves sealed the victory with late goals in the third period. The final score was 7-3 in favor of the Stingrays.