The Gwinnett Gladiators are 53 games into their 10th Anniversary season and currently lead the South Division of the ECHL by two-points while holding down second in the Eastern Conference. Rookie goaltender Mike Lee is a big reason Gwinnett sits atop their division.
Gwinnett (31-19-2-1) has won 31 games to this point in the season and Lee has been between the pipes in 14 of them. The Roseau, Minnesota native is 14-11-1-0 in his rookie season including a five start winning streak and two shutouts. His 2.23 goals-against-average puts him third in the ECHL, while his save average (0.916) is second best in the league. The 22-year old Lee has twice earned the Reebok Goalie of the Week honor.
Lee has been called up to the American Hockey League for two stints with the Portland Pirates this season and is 3-0 in three starts with an impressive 1.31 GAA. His SAV% is an incredible 0.960 (95-of-99 chances) in 184 minutes of play.
The Saint Cloud State alum was selected to the All-Star squad and made 18 saves in his one period of play in the ECHL All-Starts 7-3 win over the host Colorado Eagles.
Lee was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the third round of the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft with the 91st overall pick. He was assigned to Gwinnett by Phoenix (by way of Portland of the AHL) on October 7th, 2012.
Gwinnet has 65 points and leads the Greenville Road Warriors (63) by two points in the South with Florida (57), South Carolina (54) and Orlando (49) rounding out the division. The Glads have a favorable schedule the rest of the way with 12-of -19 remaining games against clubs below them in the standings with only one head-to-head matchup with Greenville. The Glads and Road Warriors have been in a battle for the division lead all season and are scheduled to play on the final day of the season-the only game left between the top two teams in the South Division.
The Gladiators return to action Friday night at 7:00 p.m. when they welcome the Wheeling Nailers to The Arena for the first of three Pink in the Rink promotions. Pink in the Rink is the Gladiators annual women’s cancer fundraiser that includes the ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center being dyed pink. The Gladiators will be raising money and awareness for women’s cancers as well.
The Gladiators are the ECHL affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League and play home games at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. The ECHL is the Premier "AA" League.
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