Game Preview: Gladiators at Icemen, March 30 2019

GAME NOTES

Jacksonville Icemen vs. Atlanta Gladiators

Saturday, March 30, 2019 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena   Home Game #36

Referee: Chris Pontes (#12)  Linesmen: Cole Ruwe (#42) & Julien Fournier (#83)

About Today’s Game: Tonight’s ECHL South Division match-up features the Jacksonville Icemen and the Atlanta Gladiators. It’s Fan Appreciation Night!  The entire Icemen organization would like to thank you for your continued support and for being the best fans in the ECHL!

Atlanta (72 pts) moved into fourth place in the South Division with a 6-2 win over the Icemen last night. The Gladiators now move into playoff positioning for the first time since October 24 when the team held fourth place with five points.  On December 29, Atlanta trailed South Carolina and Jacksonville by a total of 19 points in the standings but have made a remarkable comeback following the new year and now trail third place Jacksonville (74 pts) by a mere two points.  South Carolina (70 pts) dropped to fifth place last night, and trails Atlanta by two points.  Atlanta and South Carolina will play one another three more times before the close of the regular season next weekend, including a 3:05 p.m. match-up tomorrow afternoon in North Charleston.   

Series History:  Tonight’s contest marks the tenth and final meeting between the two teams this season.  Atlanta leads the season series 5-2-2-0 while also leading the All-Time series 12-5-3-0. 

About the Icemen:  Forward Kris Newbury is currently riding a four-game point & assists streak (5 assists) and currently leads the Icemen against the Gladiators with four goals and seven points….The Icemen are tied for fifth in the league with a 29.87 shots-against per game average…Defenseman Dajon Mingo recorded his 11th goal of the season last night and has now collected points in six of his last seven games (2g, 7a).

About the Gladiators:  Last night Nick Bligh continued his assault on the Icemen by recording his ninth goal of the season in games against Jacksonville.  In total, Bligh has posted nine goals and two assists in eight meetings with Jacksonville this season.  Bligh and teammate Derek Nesbitt share the team lead in scoring with 49 points.  Nesbitt has logged ten points in eight games played against the Icemen and is currently riding a five-game points streak (2g, 6a) heading into tonight’s play.  Tonight marks the 1,000th ECHL game for head coach Jeff Pyle.  Only two other coaches have coached in 1,000 ECHL games -- Icemen head coach Jason Christie (1,147) and John Marks (1,008). 

The 2018-19 Jacksonville Icemen Season is Presented by Community First Credit Union

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