Gladiators Are American Conference Champions

5/16/2006
MIFSUD SCORES GAME WINNER FOR GWINNETT

Scott Mifsud ripped a slapshot over the shoulder of Toledo netminder
Logan Koopmans just 2:57 into overtime to clinch the 2006 American
Conference title for the Gwinnett Gladiators. Gwinnett advances to the
Kelly Cup Finals for the first time in team history with the win as they
clinch the American Conference Finals series 4 games to 1 over the
Toledo Storm.

Gwinnett opened up a 2-0 lead on the Storm with goals 79 seconds apart
in the first period. Milan Gajic got the first goal for the Gladiators
at the 4:39 mark of the opening period. A Toledo defenseman misplayed
the puck at the Gladiators blue line and Gajic corralled the puck and
beat Storm netminder Logan Koopmans on a breakaway for the unassisted
goal.

Derek Nesbitt=3Fs 4th goal of the post season pushed the Gwinnett lead to
two goals. He picked up his own rebound along the goal line and flipped
the puck past an outstretched Koopmans for the tally. Rick Emmett had an
assist on the marker finding Nesbitt in the corner to set up the goal.
Nesbitt=3Fs tally came on a delayed penalty call against the Storm at the
5:58 mark of the first period.

Toledo stormed back in the second period with a pair of goals to tie the
game at two. Matt Zultek found a loose puck along the goal line and
flipped the puck past Gladiators netminder Sean Fields for the marker.
Mike Knight and Todd Jackson had the assists on the power play goal for
Storm.

Jason Maleyko evened the game at two at with 2:26 left in the second
period. Maleyko found a loose puck in the high slot and slid by a
Gladiators defenseman and flipped the puck past Fields for the goal.
Chris Blight and Robert Snowball had the assists on the goal for the
Storm.

Both teams had chances in the final period but Fields and Koopmans kept
the contest deadlocked at two as the game headed into overtime. Toledo
outshot the Gladiators in the third period by an 11-7 margin in the
third period.

Gajic set up the game-winning goal for the Gladiators at the 2:57 mark
of overtime he dropped the puck off for Mifsud walking in over the
Toledo blue line. The game winner by Mifsud was his third of the
playoffs for Gwinnett.

Sean Fields finished with 30 saves for the Gladiators as he collected
his fifth win of the playoffs for Gwinnett.



PLAYOFFS

ECHL FINAL IN OT 1ST 2ND 3RD OT TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
GWINNETT 2 0 0 1 3
TOLEDO 0 2 0 0 2 FINAL IN OT

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: GWN - MILAN GAJIC 8 (UNASSISTED) 4:39
GWN - DEREK NESBITT 5 (RICK EMMETT) 5:58
2ND PRD: TOL - (PP) MATT ZULTEK 7 (MIKE KNIGHT, SCOOTER SMITH)
13:39
TOL - JASON MALEYKO 2 (CHRIS BLIGHT, ROBERT SNOWBALL)
17:34
3RD PRD: OT: GWN - SCOTT MIFSUD 7 (MILAN GAJIC) 2:57

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: GWN - 0 OF 7, TOL - 1 OF 5.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD OT TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
GWN 15 10 7 2 34
TOL 6 13 11 2 32

GOALIES: GWN - SEAN FIELDS
TOL - LOGAN KOOPMANS

OFFICIALS: REF - JOE ERNST
LIN - AARON LUNDBOHM, JASON FINLEY

ATT: 2,169

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Gwinnett-Gajic 9 (unassisted) 4:39. 2,
Gwinnett-Nesbitt 4 (Emmett) 5:58. Penalties: Emmett, GWT (Hooking),
1:32. Koopmans, TOL served by Knight (Slashing), 6:18. York, GWT
(Elbowing), 13:30. Zultek, TOL (Ten minute misc.), 20:00. Keefe, TOL
(Roughing), 20:00.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Toledo-Zultek 8 (power play) (Knight;
Smith) 13:29. 4, Toledo-Maleyko 2 (Blight; Snowball) 17:34.
Penalties: Maleyko, TOL (Cross checking), 2:59. Knight, TOL
(Unsportsmanlike Cond), 6:03. Burke, TOL (Slashing), 8:42. Awe, GWT
(Roughing), 9:14. Magowan, TOL (Slashing), 10:21. Manson, GWT
(Slashing), 13:05.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: Zavitz, TOL (Delay of game),
1:02. Emmett, GWT (Interference), 8:00. Magowan, TOL (Hooking),
8:30. Eberly, GWT (Tripping), 8:59. Smith, TOL (Roughing), 18:01.
York, GWT (Roughing), 18:01.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 5, Gwinnett-Mifsud 7 (game winner) (Gajic)
2:57. Penalties: None.

Goalies: Gwinnett-Fields (32 shots, 30 saves; record: 5-1-0). Toledo-
Koopmans (34 shots, 31 saves; record: 2-4-1).

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue the 2006 Kelly Cup Playoffs in the
Kelly Cup Finals beginning next week. The Gladiators offer several
ticket packages for different needs as well as group outings, suites and
birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to
gwinnettgladiators.com.