The Gwinnett Gladiators begin their 11th season of ECHL hockey on Saturday with the opening of training camp. The team released the camp schedule on Wednesday, and it includes ten on-ice sessions and two preseason games as they prepare for the 2013-14 season opener on October 18th against the Greenville Road Warriors at The Arena at Gwinnett Center.
Training camp will open on Saturday with an on-ice session set for 10:30 a.m on the North Rink at the Duluth Ice Forum. Sessions are open and free to the public, and are a great chance to get out and see the new look Gladiators.
On-ice sessions are scheduled every day from Saturday, October 5th until Thursday, October 10th at 10:30 a.m. The first preseason game will be Friday, October 11th against South Carolina on the road. The Glads will squeeze in another session on Saturday, October 12th before hosting Greenville on Sunday at the Ice Forum. After an off day on Monday the 14th, the team will have two final on-ice sessions at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday before facing the Warriors on opening night.
The Gladiators received four players from their National Hockey League affiliate, the Phoenix Coyotes, on Tuesday. Forwards Josh Currie and Philippe Halley, goaltender Chris Rawlings, and returning defenseman Justin Weller were assigned from the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League.
"We’re excited about getting all of these guys," said Gladiators Head Coach Rick Emmett. "This is a great base to work with for the upcoming season, including getting back a second-year defenseman in Justin Weller. We’re happy to have these young men be a part of the Gladiators organization."
The Gladiators 2013-14 roster now sits at 15, including forwards Currie, Halley, Stefan Schneider, Alex Hutchings, Evan Bloodoff, Jeremie Malouin, Kurtis Bartliff, Dirk Southern, Joey Haddad, and C.J. Lee. Weller, Martin Lefebvre, Devon Krogh and Jonathan Narbonne currently make up the defensive core, and Rawlings is currently the lone goaltender.
The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the Premier "AA" Hockey League and are affiliated with the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL. All home games are played at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.
Atlanta’s only professional hockey franchise opens their 11th season on October 18th against division rival Greenville. Subscribe for the latest team news and contest announcements.
