Gladiators look to extend best-ever start

DULUTH – The Gwinnett Gladiators, off to the best start in team history at a 7-1-0, return to action this week looking to continue that run of success. The Gladiators host Mississippi Friday and Texas on Saturday.

Gladiators’ play-by-play announcer Dustin Bixby gives an insider’s look at the 2007-2008 season to date.

LEADER - Gladiators forward Jeff Campbell shares first in assists in the ECHL with 11 on the year with Victoria’s Pierre-Luc O'Brien. Campbell’s 11 assists along with his two goals help him share second overall in scoring in the ECHL with 13 points on the year.

ON THE KILL - The Gladiators penalty kill has improved over last season as Gwinnett currently ranks 2nd overall in the ECHL. The Gladiators have killed off 92.2% of opponents power play chances and rank second behind the Stockton Thunder in that category. Gwinnett’s four goals given up on the penalty kill shares second overall for fewest shorthanded goals allowed this season. Gwinnett finished 14th on the penalty kill last season in the ECHL.

PASSING BROWNIE: Gladiator assistant coach Cam Brown's record for most games played as a Gladiator is in jeopardy and will almost certainly fall within the next month. Jim Jackson stands only 4 games away from tying the record that Brown set over his three seasons with the club in Gwinnett. Brown racked up 97 points notching 43 goals and 54 assist with the Gladiators. Brown is entering his second season as an assistant coach for Gwinnett after ending his playing career following the 2005-2006 season. Brown played 211 games with the Gladiators.

PERFECTION ON THE ROAD: Gwinnett is the only team in the ECHL to remain unbeaten after playing on the road this season. After a pair of wins over the Mississippi Sea Wolves this past week, the Gladiators are 3-0-0 on the road. The only other team that has yet to record a loss on the road is Phoenix, but the Roadrunners have yet to play a road game this year. The longest winning streak on the road in ECHL history is a 10- game streak (three times).

BETWEEN THE PIPES: Netminder Craig Kowalski collected his ECHL league leading 6th win of the season for the Gladiators in yesterday’s 3-1 win over the Charlotte Checkers. Kowalski ranks fourth in goals against average with a 1.72 GAA in seven games this season for Gwinnett.

STREAKING ALONG - Dirk Southern notched a goal and an assist for the Gladiators in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Charlotte Checkers. With the two points yesterday, Southern extended his point scoring streak to seven games tying the Gladiators season high for most consecutive games with at least one point. Southern’s seven game point scoring streak is just one game shy of the league high for most consecutive games with a point.

HAT TRICK FOR READIN - The Gladiators Elementary Hat Trick for Reading Program presented by Suwanee Dental returns for the 2007-08 season. The Gladiators will be awarding elementary school children from Surrounding Metro Elementary Schools who complete the program with a ticket to the Gladiators game on November 10th.

This Week’s Games:
Friday, November 9th, vs. Mississippi, 7:35 p.m. – AccessNorthga.com Audio streaming
Gwinnett won the first two me-etings of the season against the Sea Wolves and lead the season series with a 2-0-0 record. With the wins, Gwinnett is now 5-4-2 all time against the Sea Wolves. Derek Nesbitt and Jeff Campbell each share first in scoring against the Sea Wolves this season with 4 points each in two games.

Saturday, November 10th, vs. Texas, 7:35 p.m. – AccessNorthga.com Audio streaming
The Gladiators face the Wildcatters for the first time this season since being knocked out of the 2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs by the Wildcatters in four games. Gwinnett leads the all time series against the Wildcatters with a 8-4-1 record all time.