The Atlanta Gladiators put up a strong fight on home ice Friday night but ultimately fell short against the South Carolina Stingrays in a physical, penalty-filled contest at Gas South Arena. The game was a hard-fought battle filled with momentum swings and physical play, with tempers flaring throughout the contest and several penalties shaping the flow of the game.
Starting Lineups
South Carolina Stingrays
Forwards: Charlie Combs – Josh Wilkins – Micah Miller
Defensemen: Romain Rodzinski – Reilly Webb
Goaltender: Garin Bjorklund
Atlanta Gladiators
Forwards: Cody Sylvester – Jackson Pierson – Eric Neiley
Defensemen: Jeremy Hanzel – Chad Nychuk
Goaltender: Ethan Haider
First Period
South Carolina struck first in the opening period, setting the tone with an early offensive surge. Stingray defenseman Romain Rodzinski opened the scoring at 7:11, finishing off a setup from Justin Nachbaur and Ryan Hofer. Just moments later, the Stingrays found themselves shorthanded when Ben Hawerchuk was called for interference at 7:24. Despite the penalty, South Carolina’s penalty kill unit shut down Atlanta’s power play, keeping the home team off the board.
The Stingrays doubled their lead later in the frame when Austin Magera converted on a feed from Erik Middendorf at 14:39. Atlanta, however, found life late in the period, cutting the deficit in half with a shorthanded goal from Carson Denomie at 17:18—capitalizing on a South Carolina power play following a tripping penalty to Atlanta’s Michael Marchesan at 16:47.
GOAL (17:18, 1st Period): Carson Denomie puts Atlanta on the board with a shorthanded goal, scoring unassisted.
The Gladiators’ ability to score while down a man gave them momentum, but they still trailed 2-1 heading into the first intermission.
End of First Period Stats
Score: South Carolina leads Atlanta 2–1
Goal (7:11): Romain Rodzinski, assisted by J. Nachbaur, R. Hofer
Goal (14:39): Austin Magera, assisted by E. Middendorf
Goal (17:18): Carson Denomie (SHG), unassisted
Shots: South Carolina 14, Atlanta 6
Penalties: Ben Hawerchuk (SC), Interference (7:24); Michael Marchesan (ATL), Tripping (16:47)
Second Period
The Stingrays tightened their grip on the game in the second period, adding two more goals while maintaining strong defensive play. Justin Nachbaur extended the lead to 3-1 at 3:16, finishing a play set up by Hofer and Tyler Weiss. Midway through the period, South Carolina pushed their advantage further when Hofer tallied his tenth goal of the season at 14:47, with assists from Weiss and defenseman Jayden Lee.
Atlanta had an opportunity to close the gap late in the period when Stingrays forward Weiss was whistled for cross-checking at 2:13, but once again, South Carolina’s penalty kill held firm. The physicality escalated when Atlanta’s Tyler Drevitch was called for roughing at 16:09, giving South Carolina a power-play chance, but the Gladiators’ penalty kill held strong as well.
End of Second Period Stats
Score: South Carolina leads Atlanta, 4–1
Goal (3:16): Justin Nachbaur, assisted by R. Hofer, T. Weiss
Goal (14:47): Ryan Hofer, assisted by T. Weiss, J. Lee
Shots: South Carolina 13, Atlanta 11
Penalties: Tyler Weiss (SC), Cross-Checking (2:13); Tyler Drevitch (ATL), Roughing (16:09)
Third Period
Atlanta attempted a late comeback in the third, showing resilience with a pair of quick goals in the final minutes. The period also saw an eruption of fights and penalties that added to the intensity of the matchup. At 4:50, Ben Hawerchuk and Atlanta’s Ryan Cranford dropped the gloves, each receiving a five-minute fighting major. Just seconds later, a second fight broke out between South Carolina’s Justin Nachbaur and Atlanta’s Brenden Datema. Both players received five-minute fighting majors, but due to the altercation occurring before the puck dropped, they were also handed game misconducts, leaving their teams shorthanded for the remainder of the game.
Despite the heavy physical play, the Gladiators showed fight in the final minutes. Denomie struck again at 15:34, capitalizing on a pass from defenseman Derek Topatigh. Just 30 seconds later, Captain Eric Neiley pulled the Gladiators within one, finishing a play from Cody Sylvester and Chad Nychuk.
GOAL (15:34, 3rd Period): Carson Denomie pulled Atlanta within two, capitalizing on a setup from Derek Topatigh.
GOAL (16:04, 3rd Period): Eric Neiley cut South Carolina’s lead to one, scoring off assists from Cody Sylvester and Chad Nychuk.
However, South Carolina responded emphatically, sealing the game with two empty-net goals. Rodzinski netted his second of the night at 17:50, and Charlie Combs put the finishing touch on the win with a last-second tally at 19:59.
Though the Gladiators made a strong push, the Stingrays’ disciplined play and ability to withstand Atlanta’s physicality and late-game surge helped them secure the win.
End of Third Period Stats
Goal (15:34): Carson Denomie , assisted by D. Topatigh
Goal (16:04): Eric Neiley, assisted by C. Sylvester, C. Nychuk
Goal (17:50): Romain Rodzinski (5, EN), assisted by R. Webb, M. Miller
Goal (19:59): Charlie Combs (18, EN), assisted by J. Wilkins
Shots: South Carolina 4, Atlanta 12
Penalties: Ben Hawerchuk (SC), Fighting Major (4:50); Ryan Cranford (ATL), Fighting Major (4:50); Justin Nachbaur (SC), Fighting Major, Game Misconduct (4:54); Brenden Datema (ATL), Fighting Major, Game Misconduct (4:54); Romain Rodzinski (SC), Boarding (6:45); Derek Topatigh (ATL), Holding (10:40)
Final Game Summary
Final Score: South Carolina 6, Atlanta 3
Final Shots on Goal: South Carolina 31, Atlanta 29
Power Plays: South Carolina 0/3, Atlanta 0/3
Goaltending – South Carolina Stingrays
Garin Bjorklund (W) – 60:00 TOI, 29 shots against, 26 saves, 3 GA, 0.897 SV%
Goaltending – Atlanta Gladiators
Ethan Haider (L) – 57:57 TOI, 29 shots against, 25 saves, 4 GA, 0.862 SV%
Empty Net – 2 shots against, 0 saves, 2 GA
South Carolina’s Garin Bjorklund stood tall in net, turning aside 26 of 29 shots to backstop his team to victory. Ethan Haider made 25 saves on 29 shots for Atlanta but couldn’t hold off South Carolina’s attack, while the Gladiators surrendered two empty-net goals in the final minutes.
Three Stars of the Game
First Star: Ryan Hofer (1G, 2A)
Second Star: Romain Rodzinski (2G)
Third Star: Carson Denomie (2G)
With the win, the Stingrays punched their ticket to the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs, securing a postseason berth as they continue their push toward the playoffs.
Rematch Set for Tonight in North Charleston
The two teams won’t have to wait long for a rematch, as they’ll face off again tonight at 6:05 PM at North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, South Carolina. With tensions running high after a penalty-filled contest, both teams will be looking to make a statement.
The Stingrays will aim to continue their offensive success, while Atlanta will look to tighten up defensively and find a way to solve South Carolina’s penalty kill. Expect another fast-paced and physical matchup as both teams battle for critical points in the ECHL standings.
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