The Atlanta Gladiators and Orlando Solar Bears met for a pivotal two-game series at Gas South Arena, with both teams bringing different motivations into the matchup. Though Orlando had already clinched a spot in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, Atlanta was looking to snap a losing skid and deliver a strong performance in front of the home crowd. The back-to-back contests featured high-intensity play, standout goaltending, and plenty of special teams action as the South Division foes battled through a spirited midweek series.
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
First Period
The first period was tightly contested, with solid goaltending and limited high-danger chances. Atlanta’s Drew DeRidder and Orlando’s Jon Gillies each made key saves to keep the game scoreless. Orlando edged Atlanta in shots 7–6 in the frame. The only penalty of the period came late, when Atlanta’s Carson Denomie was called for interference, but the Gladiators’ penalty kill remained strong. Both teams headed into the first intermission locked at 0-0.
Penalties:
15:38 – ATL #18 Carson Denomie – Interference (minor)
Shots on Goal:
ORL: 7 | ATL: 6
Score After 1: 0–0
Second Period
Orlando gained momentum early in the second period and struck twice in quick succession to build a 2-0 lead. The Solar Bears were able to break through with strong puck movement and net-front presence.
GOAL (6:11): Carson Focht (ORL) from Jack Adams and Ben Carroll
Focht posted up at the top of the crease and redirected Adams’ centering feed into the net for his first of the season.
GOAL (8:50): Anthony Bardaro (ORL) from Spencer Kersten and Ara Nazarian
Bardaro entered the zone with speed and converted on a quick give-and-go with Kersten and Nazarian, beating DeRidder low to the blocker side.
Atlanta responded quickly to cut the deficit in half with an unassisted goal by Alex Campbell on the turnover by the Solar Bears.
GOAL (9:48): Alexander Campbell (ATL) – Unassisted
Campbell created the chance cutting to the inside lane and ripping a short-side top-shelf shot past Gillies for his third of the season.
Late in the period, tensions escalated. A scrum in front of the benches led to multiple infractions, including a misconduct to Orlando’s Chris Harpur. Despite the added power-play time, no further goals were scored before the intermission.
Penalties:
17:43 – ORL #4 Chris Harpur – Roughing (minor)
17:43 – ORL #4 Chris Harpur – Misconduct (continuing altercation)
17:43 – ATL #27 Dylan Carabia – Roughing (minor)
17:43 – ATL #16 Cody Sylvester – Slashing (minor)
18:38 – ORL #19 Tyson Feist – Cross-checking (minor)
Shots on Goal:
ORL: 9 ATL: 13
Score After 2: ORL 2 – ATL 1
Third Period
Atlanta came out firing in the third period, dominating possession and peppering Gillies with 20 shots. Despite the lopsided shot totals, the Gladiators couldn’t solve the veteran goaltender early on. Atlanta killed off a high-sticking penalty to Anthony Firriolo and had several near misses on strong shifts from Randy Hernández and Alex Young.
With time winding down and the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker, Atlanta made their final push—and it paid off. Francis blasted a one-timer from the left circle off a Pierson cross-ice feed, tying the game with just 2.5 seconds remaining in regulation.
GOAL (19:57): Ryan Francis (ATL) from Jackson Pierson and Joey Cipollone
The goal electrified the home crowd and forced overtime after a dominant final frame for the Gladiators.
Penalties:
3:46 – ATL #12 Anthony Firriolo – High-sticking (minor)
14:10 – ORL #25 Milo Roelens – Roughing (minor)
17:10 – ORL #23 Tristan Follmer – Interference (minor)
Shots on Goal:
ORL: 5 | ATL: 20
Score After 3: ORL 2 – ATL 2
Overtime
Overtime started evenly until Atlanta’s Nick Wong was assessed a hooking penalty deep in the defensive zone. That gave the Solar Bears a 4-on-3 advantage.
Penalty (3:35): ATL #23 Nick Wong – Hooking (minor)
Just nine seconds into the man advantage, Orlando delivered the decisive blow front the front of the net.
GOAL (3:44): Aaron Luchuk (ORL) from Anthony Bardaro and Kevin Myllari – Power Play
Luchuk stepped into a pass at the top of the left circle and rifled a high shot past DeRidder to give Orlando the 3-2 overtime win.
Shots on Goal:
ORL: 3 | ATL: 1
Final Score: Orlando 3 – Atlanta 2 (OT)
Three Stars of the Game
- Anthony Bardaro (ORL) – 1 goal, 1 assist, OT helper
- Jon Gillies (ORL) – 38 saves on 40 shots
- Carson Focht (ORL) – 1 goal (game’s opening tally)
Final Summary
The Atlanta Gladiators battled back from a two-goal deficit to force overtime, but the Orlando Solar Bears emerged with a 3-2 victory Wednesday night at Gas South Arena. After a scoreless first period, Orlando built a 2-0 lead in the second with goals from Carson Focht and Anthony Bardaro. Alexander Campbell responded for Atlanta, scoring on an individual effort to cut the lead in half.
In the third, the Gladiators dominated possession and outshot Orlando 20–5. Their persistence paid off in the final seconds, as Ryan Francis buried a one-timer with just 2.5 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime. However, a late hooking penalty gave Orlando a power-play opportunity, and Aaron Luchuk capitalized just nine seconds into the man advantage to seal the win for the Solar Bears.
Goaltender Jon Gillies was instrumental for Orlando, stopping 38 of 40 shots, while Bardaro notched a goal and an assist in the win. Atlanta’s Drew DeRidder made 21 saves in the overtime loss.
The Gladiators earn a point in the standings but fall to 26-30-7-2 on the season, while the Solar Bears improve to 35-22-10-0.
Friday, April 4, 2025
After a dramatic overtime battle on Wednesday night that saw the Gladiators earn a point in a 3-2 loss to the Solar Bears, the two teams faced off again just 48 hours later in Duluth. With revenge on their minds, Atlanta responded with a poised, physical, and disciplined performance on Friday night—shutting out Orlando 3-0 and splitting the two-game series at Gas South Arena.
First Period
Atlanta came out energized in front of their home crowd, generating quality chances early and striking first just under seven minutes in. Cody Sylvester buried a one-timer from the slot off a slick setup from behind the goal line, notching his 46th point of the season, and giving the Gladiators an early edge over Solar Bears goaltender Jon Gillies.
GOAL (6:51): Cody Sylvester (ATL) from Randy Hernández and Jackson Pierson
Hernández made a strong play behind the net, feeding Pierson at the left post, who found Sylvester in the high slot. Sylvester snapped a clean shot past Jon Gillies for his 24th of the season.
Orlando tried to respond, registering 10 shots in the period, but Atlanta goaltender Ethan Haider was sharp throughout. The period also featured a spirited fight between Atlanta’s Brenden Datema and Orlando’s Kyle Bent at 17:10, energizing both benches.
Penalties:
2:52 – ORL #18 Hunter Thornton – Holding (minor)
17:10 – ORL #34 Kyle Bent – Fighting (major)
17:10 – ATL #5 Brenden Datema – Fighting (major)
Score After 1: ATL 1 – ORL 0
Second Period
The middle frame was chippy and penalty-heavy, with both teams combining for seven infractions. Atlanta had to kill off back-to-back minors to Anthony Firriolo and Tyler Drevitch, but their penalty kill remained perfect.
Tempers flared again late in the period as Orlando’s Milo Roelens and Atlanta’s Datema exchanged roughing minors. Kersten and Adams also picked up penalties earlier after an altercation in front of the benches. Despite all the special teams action, neither team found the back of the net in the second.
Haider continued his stellar play in goal, turning aside all seven Orlando shots in the frame.
Penalties:
5:44 – ATL #12 Anthony Firriolo – Holding (minor)
7:10 – ATL #74 Tyler Drevitch – Hooking (minor)
12:42 – ORL #24 Jack Adams – Roughing (minor)
12:42 – ORL #41 Spencer Kersten – Interference (minor)
16:28 – ORL #25 Milo Roelens – Roughing (minor)
16:28 – ATL #5 Brenden Datema – Roughing (minor)
20:00 – ORL #34 Kyle Bent – Roughing (minor)
20:00 – ORL #34 Kyle Bent – Game Misconduct (continuing altercation)
Score After 2: ATL 1 – ORL 0
Third Period
Atlanta took full control in the final period, outshooting Orlando 19–10 and scoring twice on the power play to put the game away.
GOAL (15:41): Alex Young (ATL) from Mickey Burns and Anthony Firriolo – Power Play
Young found open space once again at the top of the right circle and fired a quick wrister off a setup by Burns and Firriolo to double Atlanta’s lead.
GOAL (17:05): Alex Young (ATL) from Jeremy Hanzel – Power Play
Young struck again just 84 seconds later, this time hammering home a one-timer from Hanzel after a clean zone entry to make it 3-0.
The final frame saw continued penalty issues for Orlando, including two minors to Roelens and a cross-check from Anthony Bardaro. Atlanta’s bench also picked up a minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, but it did not affect the outcome.
Ethan Haider was rock solid between the pipes in Friday’s matchup, turning aside all 27 shots he faced to record his first professional shutout. Calm and confident throughout, Haider backstopped Atlanta to a complete team victory and earned first-star honors for his standout performance.
Penalties:
2:53 – ATL #74 Tyler Drevitch – Holding (minor)
7:10 – ORL #81 Anthony Bardaro – Cross-checking (minor)
8:10 – ORL #7 Tristan Bird – Roughing (minor)
8:10 – ATL Bench Minor (served by #10 Mickey Burns) – Unsportsmanlike conduct
8:10 – ATL #71 Joey Cipollone – Slashing (minor)
14:03 – ORL #25 Milo Roelens – Cross-checking (minor)
14:03 – ORL #25 Milo Roelens – Interference (minor)
18:59 – ATL #27 Dylan Carabia – Holding (minor)
Final Score: Atlanta 3 – Orlando 0
Final Summary
The Atlanta Gladiators put together a complete effort on Friday night, shutting out the Orlando Solar Bears 3-0 in front of 4,222 fans at Gas South Arena. Cody Sylvester opened the scoring in the first, and Alex Young added two third-period power-play goals to seal the win. Goaltender Ethan Haider earned first-star honors with a 27-save shutout.
Atlanta went 2-for-7 on the power play and was perfect on the penalty kill, holding Orlando scoreless on four chances. With the victory, Atlanta improves to 27-30-7-2 on the season, while Orlando falls to 35-23-10-0.
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