ECHL Series Recap: Cincinnati Cyclones vs Atlanta Gladiators | 01/11-01/12/2025

The Cincinnati Cyclones and the Atlanta Gladiators faced off in a highly anticipated back-to-back series on January 11th and 12th, at the Gas South Arena, the home ice of the Gladiators. The first game of the series was particularly special as it was Wizard Night for the Gladiators, adding an extra layer of excitement and magic to the atmosphere. With starting lines featuring key players like Josh Burnside, Chas Sharpe, and Justin Vaive for the Cyclones, and Cody Sylvester, Derek Topatigh, and Anthony Firriolo for the Gladiators, fans were in for an exciting display of hockey.

Saturday – January 11, 2025

Starting Lines

Cincinnati Cyclones: Josh Burnside, Chas Sharpe, Justin Vaive, Braeden Kressler, Jacob Frasca, and Pavel Cajan (Goalie)

Atlanta Gladiators: Cody Sylvester, Derek Topatigh, Anthony Firriolo, Eric Neiley, and Drew DeRidder (Goalie)

Period 1

In a thrilling moment during an odd-man rush, the Cyclones took the lead with a goal by Braeden Kressler, who unleashed a fierce shot into the net after a stunning cross-ice pass, igniting the home crowd’s anxiety. Shortly after, at 0:58, Atlanta was penalized for having too many men on the ice, giving Cincinnati a power play opportunity. However, the Cyclones couldn’t capitalize on it.

Then, at 11:24, Blake Murray raced down the ice on a breakaway, skillfully lifting an incredible backhand shot over Pavel Cajan’s glove. The arena erupted with cheers as the goal, assisted by Anthony Firriolo, tied the score! At 12:15, Cincinnati’s Dante Sheriff was penalized for hooking, giving Atlanta another power play chance, but they were unable to convert.

Period 2

The Cyclones surged ahead with their second goal on the rush, as Tristan Ashbrook fired a shot on net, brilliantly assisted by Steven MacLean. The score stood at 2-1 in favor of Cincinnati. The Cyclones dominated the Gladiators’ zone, relentlessly trying to clear the puck. However, the Gladiators made a sharp interception near the neutral zone and sent the puck flying towards Pavel Cajan.

The Cyclones quickly regained their momentum, putting intense pressure on Atlanta’s net. Despite a valiant effort by Connor Galloway with a powerful shot, Cincinnati’s defense held strong. Drew DeRidder later showcased his skills with some impressive saves, keeping the netminder on high alert. The Cyclones continued to keep the pressure on Atlanta.

The Gladiators’ Jackson Pierson came close to scoring, but couldn’t quite find the back of Cincinnati’s net. Another grade A chance came at the stick of Blake Murray, followed by another from Jeremy Hanzel. Drew DeRidder was nearly caught off guard as the Cyclones almost found a way past him.

A delayed penalty on Atlanta was called as Michael Marchesan was penalized for tripping at 12:53 after a huge hit along the boards took both Marchesan and a Cyclone to the ice. On the penalty kill for the second time, the Gladiators needed to keep their kill unit focused on the Cyclones, which they were able to do, successfully killing off the penalty.

Later, the Cyclones beat the defense of Atlanta as Justin Vaive put one in the net. Adam Tisdale and Remy Parker were credited with the assist on the goal that occurred at 15:16 in the middle frame. Drew DeRidder gloved down a shot off the stick of Ryan McCleary. The puck was dug in up along the boards as both teams tried to gain control. The Cyclones got the puck and worked it down to Atlanta’s end, but the Gladiators were able to regain control.

The Gladiators got another powerplay opportunity as Derek Topatigh was cross-checked in the back. Mathieu Gosselin was sent to the sin bin for that move at 19:02. Then, in the next moments, an interference call was made on Derek Topatigh, who went to his respective box, much to the dismay of the fans.

Period 3

As the third period began, the Gladiators found themselves under immense pressure, still grappling with a penalty kill that carried over from the end of the second period. The tension was palpable as Tristan Ashbrook launched a powerful shot towards the net, only to be met with a spectacular save by Drew DeRidder. The crowd erupted in cheers, acknowledging the crucial stop that kept the Gladiators in the game.

Just as the Gladiators returned to full strength, Cincinnati launched another fierce attack. The puck whizzed dangerously close to the net, nearly finding its way home. The Gladiators’ defense held firm, and the game remained on a knife-edge, thrilling fans with every passing second.

The Gladiators then managed to create two excellent scoring opportunities. Derek Topatigh went down but kept the play alive, showing incredible determination. However, just as the momentum seemed to be shifting, Eric Neiley was taken down, adding to the drama and intensity of the game.

Zach Yoder then unleashed a shot that nearly gained speed past Pavel Cajan, keeping the fans on the edge of their seats. Finally, after several plays that could have warranted a call, the Gladiators were awarded a penalty for interference against Justin Vaive at 4:16, giving them a crucial opportunity to capitalize.

Easton Armstrong’s shot was blocked by Rhett Parsons, but the Cyclones weren’t done yet. They kept the pressure on with two solid chances on the net by Patriks Marcinkevics and a rebound attempt by Jackson Pierson. However, Pavel Cajan came up with huge saves for Cincinnati, maintaining the intense back-and-forth battle.

Atlanta continued to apply pressure, with Cody Sylvester firing a shot on Pavel Cajan. Eric Neiley followed up with another attempt just as Justin Vaive returned to the ice, keeping the heat on and the excitement high.

The Gladiators managed to put the puck in the offensive zone, but the Cyclones quickly snagged it back, keeping the Gladiators on their toes. Anthony Firriolo then had a shot on the net that was carrying some weight, but Pavel Cajan made the save. A delayed penalty was called as a Cyclone went down, leading to Atlanta’s Carson Denomie heading to the penalty box at 14:19 for tripping. The Gladiators successfully killed off the penalty and fought hard for the puck as they returned to full strength. They pulled Drew DeRidder, which paid off as Derek Topatigh took a shot, and on the rebound, Randy Hernández found the net, bringing Atlanta within one.

After a shot on the Atlanta net, which Drew DeRidder stopped, some strong antics behind the net led to a stoppage of play, adding to the game’s already high drama as it wound to its final moments. The Gladiators pulled Drew DeRidder once more, but this time it didn’t go their way. A shot on Pavel Cajan was blocked, and the Cyclones capitalized with an empty-netter, sealing the game with a final of 4-2.

Final Summary:

The Cincinnati Cyclones secured a 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Gladiators. The game started with an early goal by Braeden Kressler, putting Cincinnati in the lead. Atlanta responded with a breakaway goal by Blake Murray, tying the game. In the second period, Cincinnati pulled ahead with goals from Tristan Ashbrook and Justin Vaive. Despite a late third-period goal by Randy Hernández, Cincinnati sealed the win with an empty-net goal by Braeden Kressler. The Cyclones outshot the Gladiators 35-20 in the game which was marked by several penalties, but neither team capitalized on their power play opportunities.

Three Stars of the Game

1. Cincinnati – Justin Vaive: Scored a goal and provided strong leadership on the ice.
2. Cincinnati – Braeden Kressler: Scored two goals, including the game-winning empty-netter.
3. Cincinnati – Steven MacLean: Provided key assists and was instrumental in setting up plays.

Sunday – January 12, 2025

Starting Lines:

Cincinnati Cyclones (CIN): Josh Burnside, Chas Sharpe, Justin Vaive, Braedan Kressler, Jacob Frasca, and Pavel Cajan (Goalie)

Atlanta Gladiators (ATL): Derek Topatigh, Anthony Firriolo, Easton Armstrong, Eric Neiley, and Ethan Haider (Goalie)

Period 1

In the early moments of the game, a shot from Atlanta was intercepted before it could reach the net. Randy Hernández was denied just as he attempted to take a shot on Pavel Cajan. Anthony Firriolo took a high shot at Cajan, which he easily caught with his glove. A chance by Cody Sylvester hit the crossbar and then struck Cajan’s right shoulder, but unfortunately, it didn’t result in the fortunate bounce he was hoping for. Cajan then made another glove save on a subsequent shot by Firriolo.

Haider got a hand on the shot by Remy Parker and gloved it down. A cross-checking penalty was called on Firriolo at 7:39 after he took down a Cyclone. Now on the man advantage, the Cyclones kept the play in Atlanta’s zone, with Haider making a full-bodied save on a shot by Josh Burnside.

We returned to full strength as play continued behind Atlanta’s net. The Gladiators worked the puck into the Cyclones’ zone, leading to a backhand pass from Neiley to Christian Hausinger, which was stopped by Cincinnati. Blake Murray got a good look at the puck and rushed Cajan’s net but couldn’t score. A penalty was called on Cincinnati’s Steven MacLean for cross-checking after some retaliation to the hit by Murray.

A one-timer by Hanzel was fanned as the Gladiators kept the puck in Cincinnati’s zone. Ethan Haider successfully blocked the puck on a shot taken by the Cyclones. Justin Vaive made several good shots on Haider, but the netminder was able to track and stop them. However, he was beaten by Tristan Ashbrook, with Jacob Bengtsson and Chris Dodero assisting at 14:36. On a breakaway, the puck was carried by Eric Neiley, but his shot was gloved by Cajan.

The Cyclones received a penalty for cross-checking after Hernández was hit by Bengtsson. Bengtsson was sent to the penalty box for boarding, granting the Gladiators a power play. During this advantage, the Gladiators created several solid opportunities as both Murray and Sylvester took shots on goal. The slap shot from Marcinkevics was stopped, as were the shots by Hanzel and Pierson, who took the feed from Hanzel. We returned to full strength with under 30 seconds left in the period. A shot at the buzzer by Galloway, who raced in, went just wide of the net.

Period 2

A nice sliding shot from Armstrong from the left of Cajan bounces off the crossbar. Carabia goes down hard along the boards. A near wrap-around attempt by the Gladiators was just off the mark. Hernandez gains some speed and rushes the net, but the shot goes wide. Bollers slides his stick on the puck, just missing the goal. Topatigh is blocked by Vaive as Atlanta works the puck harder than seen in the first period.

After some confusion up front, the Cyclones find the net yet again, pushing the puck past Haider. The goal came at 6:09 off the stick of Griffin, with assists from Dante Sheriff and Rhett Parsons. The score is now 2-0 in favor of Cincinnati.

Atlanta responded moments later as the Gladiators’ slapper by Connor Galloway found its way home, marking his first professional goal.

Rhett Parsons got in the face of Eric Neiley, who seemed willing to drop the gloves, but nothing came from the other side of that conversation. Cody Sylvester would be the one that headed off to the penalty box for high sticking, and the Gladiators were on the penalty kill at 7:27.

The Cyclones followed with a response of their own, as they got a shot up front by Sheriff and extended their lead on the power play. The score is now 3-1 in favor of Cincinnati, with Griffin and Sharpe assisting on the goal at 8:30. Moments later, Parker and Firriolo go to the box, the former for unsportsmanlike conduct and the latter for hooking, at 9:33 and 9:26 respectively. We play four aside. Another penalty just after we returned to full strength, this time McCleary headed to the sin bin for tripping at 11:34.

The Gladiators effectively capitalized on the power play themselves when Sylvester took a shot from the right circle, surpassing Cajan and bringing Atlanta within one. We are now at a score of 3-2, Cincinnati. Topatigh and Murray assisted on that goal at 12:36.

At 18:22, Connor Galloway was penalized for tripping, resulting in the Gladiators facing another penalty kill. The Cyclones worked the puck and nearly got a good look at Haider, but he made the save as the Gladiators cleared. A shot is fanned by the Cyclones’ Griffin off the pass from Sheriff. Atlanta goes down by another man as Topatigh is called for hooking at 19:26. Sharpe’s shot is blocked as the Gladiators cleared the puck with the buzzer sounding the end of the period.

Period 3

The Gladiators successfully cleared the first penalty, just after a pop-up shot on the breakaway was tipped away from danger by Haider. Later, Mathieu Gosselin was sent to the box for interference at 1:10. Shortly after that, Atlanta returned to full strength. Atlanta then tied things up on the power play when Easton Armstrong deflected a shot into the net at 3:07.

Blake Murray took a shot, but it was stopped by Cajan. Patriks Marcinkevics got another shot on Cajan, but it went high. Another power play chance for Atlanta came at the hands of Sikic. Murray got a good look at Cajan off a pass from Neiley, but no dice on the shot. Sylvester had a shot that went off the post. The Gladiators kept the pressure on the Cyclones, finding the groove they needed.

Atlanta found the net, but there was no initial call for the goal on the play by Sylvester. After a review by the officials, it was ruled a good goal. The Gladiators got the go-ahead marker, and we are now at 4-3 in favor of Atlanta. Pierson and Armstrong assisted on that goal at 9:48.

We have another penalty on Cincinnati for too many men on the ice, served by Sheriff at 11:15. On the power play, Atlanta got a good chance at the net but were denied. A glove save by Haider kept a safe hold on the lead for Atlanta as the Gladiators worked to continue the pressure on the Cyclones with under four minutes in the game remaining.

Gosselin’s shot goes high and wide, and the Gladiators get the puck on the following play. We now have some back-and-forth action as both teams fight for the edge. Haider later made a glove save. Cipollone nearly had the net, but the shot missed, and the net came off the moorings. Cajan was pulled from the net, and later a spinning shot by the Cyclones went wide of the net, but Haider made the stop, leaving fans gaping. After the faceoff, Cody Sylvester put this one to rest as he snagged the hat trick on an empty net at 19:12. We now had a score of 5-3 in favor of the Gladiators with just over 40 seconds remaining. And that was where the game stood, with a series split between the Cyclones and the Gladiators.

Final Summary:

Three Stars of the Game:

1. ATL – C. Sylvester: Sylvester was instrumental in Atlanta’s victory, scoring a hat trick, including the game-winning goal and an empty-netter to seal the win.
2. ATL – E. Armstrong: Armstrong contributed significantly with a goal and an assist, playing a key role in Atlanta’s comeback and maintaining pressure on Cincinnati.
3. CIN – T. Ashbrook: Ashbrook was a standout for Cincinnati, scoring a goal and providing an assist, making him a crucial player in their offensive efforts.

Goaltending

Series Summary

 The back-to-back series between the Cincinnati Cyclones and the Atlanta Gladiators at Gas South Arena was nothing short of spectacular. The first game on January 11, which was also Wizard Night, added a magical touch to the evening, reminiscent of a Quidditch match at Hogwarts. The Cyclones took an early lead with a goal by Braeden Kressler, setting the tone for a fiercely competitive match. Despite a valiant effort by the Gladiators, including a breakaway goal by Blake Murray, the Cyclones managed to secure a 4-2 victory, thanks to additional goals from Tristan Ashbrook and Justin Vaive, and an empty-netter by Kressler.

The excitement continued on January 12, with the Gladiators determined to even the series. Despite the Cyclones’ early lead with goals from Griffin and Sheriff, the Gladiators fought back with goals from Connor Galloway and Easton Armstrong. The turning point came when Cody Sylvester scored the go-ahead goal after a review, and later sealed the game with an empty-netter, completing his hat trick. The Gladiators emerged victorious with a 5-3 win, splitting the series 1-1.

After the game on January 12, Gladiators’ goalie Ethan Haider reflected on their performance, saying, “When we just play our style of hockey, I think we were being more physical. We were getting to the dirty areas, getting to the front of the net. I think that’s when we’re playing our best hockey.” Cody Sylvester also shared his thoughts on his hat trick, stating, “It’s always fun scoring three goals in the game. My teammates made some good plays neatly at the end, got the puck out of the zone and it kind of a easy empty net for the hat trick.”

Coach Nesbitt discussed the changes in mindset between Saturday and Sunday’s games, noting, “I think we were more engaged, more assertive, and maybe not early on in the game, but we got to it.”

“This has been a team that hasn’t quit all year and it’s been a character side of us, and I just think that we just got to find ways to be more consistent again, not be down ourselves and no one’s going to feel sorry for you in this game. So, more consistent in that effort and the assertiveness that we saw near the end of it.”

-Coach Derek Nesbitt

Both games were marked by some intense action, impressive saves from both teams’ netminders, and relentless efforts from their key players. The Cyclones and Gladiators showcased their skills and determination, leaving fans with unforgettable moments throughout the weekend. It was a series that would have made even Harry Potter proud, with its spellbinding moments and magical atmosphere.

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