 |
| POWER
PLAY |
2ND
- 21.5 |
| PENALTY
KILL |
1ST
- 87.0 |
| FORWARDS |
| JEFF
CAMPBELL |
26-65-91
(+17) |
| LOU
DICKENSON |
28-34-62
(+17) |
| MIKE
HAMILTON |
23-27-50
(-20) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| JAMIE
MILAM |
13-41-54
(+22) |
| JOE
GRIMALDI |
4-17-21
(+13) |
| JEFF
MASON |
5-15-20
(+9) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| CRAIG
KOWALSKI |
29-11-0
(2 SO)
2.33 GA
.923 PCT |
|
| DAN
TURPLE |
15-12-2
(0 SO)
3.16 GA
.905 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Gwinnett
vs South Carolina |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
|
1 |
APR.
18 |
GWINNETT
2 - S CAROLINA 5 |
SEED
3 |
2 |
APR.
19 |
GWINNETT
4 - S CAROLINA 5 (OT) |
SEED
2 |
44-23-2
(93) |
3 |
APR.
21 |
S
CAROLINA 1 - GWINNETT 4 |
47-22-2
(97) |
| |
4 |
APR.
22 |
S
CAROLINA 0 - GWINNETT 3 |
|
| |
5 |
APR.
23 |
GWINNETT
0 - S CAROLINA 2 |
|
|
South
Carolina Wins Series 3-2 |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW |
| |
Gwinnett
(defeated the Charlotte Checkers 3-0)
Forwards: The ECHL’s second leading scorer, Jeff
Campbell (26-65-9) has been kept out of the goal scorers
sheet in the playoffs, but Gwinnett did get goals from
seven different goal scorers against Charlotte. Mike Hamilton,
Jeff Mason, and Jim Jackson all have two goals each. What
is impressive is that Mason and Jackson are defenseman.
Sooner than later the Gladiators offense is going to kick
into high gear. They can get away with it against a team
such as Charlotte, but to face a team like South Carolina,
guys such as Brad Schell are going to have to pick up
their games if they are to get to the next round.
Defense: As mentioned before, Mason and Jackson
contributed on the blueline offensively already in the
playoffs, but ECHL Second Team All-Star Jamie Milam will
have to continue to be the stable force with such a young
defense. Four of the Gladiators defensemen are all rookies.
Goaltending: Craig Kowalski is 2-0-0 and leads the ECHL
playoff goaltenders with a goals against average of 0.50
and a .985 save percentage. Need we say more?
Playoff note
The Gladiators have not missed the Kelly Cup Playoffs
in their five year history since moving to Georgia from
Mobile, Alabama were they were known as the Mobile Mysticks
where they played from 1995-2002. The Gladiators have
reached the conference finals in 2004 and the Kelly Cup
Finals in 2006.
South Carolina Stingrays (defeated the Augusta Lynx
3-2)
Forwards: The line of Trent Campbell, Marty Guerin
and Stephen Werner are all in the Top 20 in playoff scoring
with six points each. Team captain Cail MacLean is hurting
with a back injury and his absence would detract from
the 'Rays power play. Matt Smith, who recently joined
the club after his college season ended, has picked up
a point-per-game since signing.
Defense: Rookie defenseman Sasha Pokulok is tied
for fourth in scoring by a defensemen. Like Gwinnett,
the Stingrays have four rookies on defense.
Goalies: The top three goaltenders in playoff goals
against average is playing in this series. South Carolina’s
rookie goaltender Josh Johnson is having a great playoff
run with a goals against average of 1.32 and a .944 save
percentage. Gwinnett's Kowalski and Dan Turple round out
the top of the GAA chart. Playoff note South Carolina
is in the ECHL playoffs for the 14th time, a league record.
The Stingrays won the Kelly Cup in 1997 and 2001. Last
season was the first season the Stingrays did not make
the playoffs. This year the 47 regular season wins was
a team record, and their 97 point season was the second
best in their 15 year history.
Series note
South Carolina won its last three home games against Gwinnett
and was 3-1-0 at home and 4-3-0 overall against the Gladiators,
who were 2-1-0 at home and 3-3-1 overall.
Prediction
This series could be the best the American Conference
will offer this season. It will definitly be a must see
for fans. Both teams draw fairly well at the game so both
teams should be able to feed off of their home crowd.
This series should go the full five games. Look for Gwinnett’s
goaltending to give the Gladiators a slight edge in the
end.
Gladiators in five.
|
|
| Game
1 |
Gwinnett
2 - S. Carolina 5 |
| by
Brian Jennings - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
S.
Carolina Leads Series 1-0 |
N.
Charleston, SC - In a series that was suppose to involve
great goaltending by both teams turned out to be a bit
of a slugfest as the South Carolina Stingrays won Game
1 over the Gwinnett Gladiators 5-2.
Gladiators goaltender Craig Kowalski entered the game
with a .50 goals against average. Needless to say that
will change having allowed 5 goals on 32 shots. Stingrays
goaltender Davis Parley made 26 saves on 28 shots. The
Gladiators went 1 for 4 on the power play, while the 'Rays
went 0 for 6.
The 'Rays Travis Morin had a good game with two goals,
while Trent Campbell and Sean Collins had two assists
each. Morin was named the star of the game.
Both teams came out rocking and rolling with 29 shots
on goal in the first period 16 of which were took by South
Carolina. It was Gwinnett who scored first on a Jeff Jackson
goal 2:39 into the game. Both teams would trade goals
the rest of the period to tie the game at one after the
first period.
From there on in it was all Stingrays as South Carolina
scored the game's last four goals, including Marty Guerin’s
fifth of the playoffs which ties him for the league lead
in goals scored.
Both teams won’t have long to think about Game 1 since
Game 2 is Saturday night at the North Charleston Coliseum.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
2 |
Gwinnett
4 - S. Carolina 5 (OT) |
|
by Brian Jennings
- PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
S.
Carolina Leads Series 2-0 |
N.
Charleston, SC - What was once billed as a goaltender's
series had all of a sudden become a shootout. That seems
to suit the South Carolina Stingrays just fine mind you.
The head coach’s on both teams might mind that scenario,
but the home fans in the stands won’t mind just as long
as the home team wins as the South Carolina Stingrays
won Game One over the Gwinnett Gladiators 5-2.
In a wild affair at the North Charleston Coliseum, both
teams scored nine goals in a back-and-forth, knock down,
drag them out battle that makes watching playoff hockey
fun to watch.
It didn’t look as though a shootout would take place in
the first period considering both teams combined for only
11 shots combined, but once the goals started trickling
in come the second period. After a 1-1 tie at the end
of the first, the Stingrays played their best period on
the night outshooting the Gladiators 10-8, and outscored
them 2-1 on goals by Chris Chaput and Trent Campbell,
both their third goals of the playoffs.
Gwinnett was not about to end their night quietly and
played what might have been their best period of the playoffs
outshooting South Carolina 12-3, and out scoring the Stingrays
2-1 on goals by Matt Anderson and Tomas Pospisil sending
the game into overtime.
Defenseman Nate Kiser played the role of hero scoring
unassisted at 8:06 to give the SC the win and the 2-0
lead in the best-of-five series with a chance to close
it out Monday in Gwinnett.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
3 |
S.
Carolina 1 - Gwinnett 4 |
|
by Brian Jennings
- PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
S.
Carolina Leads Series 2-1 |
Duluth,
GA - The Gwinnett Gladiators tag team of Guillaume
Desbiens and Jeff Mason made sure the team would not be
swept by scoring two goals each in the Gladiators 4-1
victory over the South Carolina Stingrays in Game 3 of
the best-of-five series.
Despite the Gladiators outshooting the Stingrays 18-10
in the first period, they could not crack the Rays Josh
Johnson, but late in the second period, Jeff Mason finally
scored at 16:06 to give Gwinnett a 1-0 lead.
The Stingrays tied the game at one with a Travis Morin
power play goal 1:15 later. Still the desperate Gladiators
continued to force the issue all night as Gwinnett outshot
SC in every period of the game, and 48-34 for the game
as both goaltenders were peppered repeatedly thanks to
15 power play goals on the night.
Desbiens scored 2:54 into the third period to give the
Gladiators the lead for good. The backbreaker for the
‘Rays was Mason’s shorthanded goal, his fourth goal of
the playoffs that gave the Gladiators a 3-1 lead.
Desbiens made sure there would be no comeback when he
scored on the power play to finish off the Stingrays on
the night. Craig Kowalski made 33 saves to receive the
game’s third star on the night.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com |
|
| Game
4 |
S.
Carolina 0 - Gwinnett 3 |
|
by Brian Jennings
- PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Series
Tied 2-2 |
Duluth,
GA - In a series that was built up as one with great goaltending, the goaltending finally came true. Gwinnett
Gladiators goaltender Craig Kowalski made 31 saves on the night to shut the South Carolina Stingrays 3-0, forcing Game 5 back
in South Carolina.
Jamie Milam's power play goal just 48 seconds into the second period proved to be the game winner. For Milam it was his
second goal of the playoffs. All three Gladiators goals came in the second period. Scott Marchesi and Bryson Busniak scored
their first goals of the playoffs on even strength goals to make the score 3-0 despite the Stingrays with most of the
pressure out-shooting Gwinnett 15-8 in the second period. Gwinnett outshot South Carolina in periods one and three. The
Gladiators dominated the first period by only holding the Stingrays to four shots.
Gwinnett went 1 for 10 on the power play while South Carolina only had three power play chances all night.
Game 5 will be Wednesday night. The winner will move on to the South Division finals and will face the winner of the Texas
Wildcatters/Columbia Inferno series. Texas leads the series 2-1. Game 4 of that series will also be played Wednesday night.
If Texas wins that series they will have home ice advantage over both Gwinnett and South Carolina. If Columbia comes back to
win the series, Gwinnett or South Carolina will have home ice advantage over Columbia.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
5 |
Gwinnett
0 - S. Carolina 2 |
|
by Brian Jennings
- PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
S.
Carolina Wins Series 3-2 |
N.
Charleston, SC - South Carolina Stingrays goaltender Davis Parley came up with his best game of the series with a stellar 33 save performance to give the Stingrays a 2-0 victory over the Gwinnett Gladiators in Game 5 of the best-of-five series.
With the win, the Stingrays will now face the winner of the Texas Wildcatters/Columbia Inferno series. That series is tied at 2-2 and will resume Friday. The South Division finals will also be a best-of-five series.
The Stingrays Matt Scherer didn’t wait long to play the role of hero scoring his first goal of the playoffs at 2:53 of the first period to give the Rays a 1-0 lead.
Travis Morin scored on a power play goal 11 minutes into the second period to give Parley more than enough offense on the night. South Carolina outshot Gwinnett through the first two periods 19-13, but it was all Gladiators in the third period. With the season on the line Parley had to be at his best making 20 saves to clinch the victory. The 'Rays had only 6 shots in the third period.
This will be the fourth time in team history that the Stingrays will have reached the third round of the playoffs. On two of those occasions the 'Rays went on to win the Kelly Cup title (1997 and 2001).
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| POWER
PLAY |
5TH
- 20.4 |
| PENALTY
KILL |
4TH
- 85.0 |
| FORWARDS |
| TRAVIS
MORIN |
34-50-84
(+16) |
| CHRIS
CHAPUT |
25-38-63
(+4) |
| PIERRE-LUC
O'BRIEN |
13-44-57
(+15) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| NATE
KISER |
5-22-27
(+13) |
| SCOTT
ROMFO |
7-16-23
(+10) |
| SEAN
COLLINS |
1-13-14
(+7) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| DAVIS
PARLEY |
24-9-2
(4 SO)
2.30 GA
.924 PCT |
|
| JOSH
JOHNSON |
23-13-0
(2 SO)
2.80 GA
.908 PCT |
|
|
|
