Atkinson, Bolton Sign On

The Atlanta Gladiators announced Thursday that defensemen Josh Atkinson and Jacob Bolton have agreed to terms with the organization for the 2016-2017 season. Atkinson joined the Gladiators in late March from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. The 6-foot, 186-pound defenseman appeared in five games with Atlanta, notching two assists. In his senior year with the UAF Nanooks, Atkinson led the defensive corps with 13 assists and a total 16 points. The Spruce Grove, Alberta native also ranked fifth overall in team scoring and first in penalty minutes with 82 on the year. "Josh came in and made an impression right away," said Gladiators Head Coach Andy Brandt. "He’s a good defender, he’s strong on the puck, and he competes hard. He’s great in his own end, and we’re glad to have him back on board for this season." Having completed a four-year NCAA career at Holy Cross College, Jacob Bolton also joined the Gladiators back in March. The 6-foot-2, 212-pound defenseman earned three points (one goal, two assists) in seven games with Atlanta. Prior to turning pro, Bolton set career highs in his senior season at Holy Cross in assists with 17 and a plus/minus rating of +17, along with tallying 18 overall points. "Jacob is a guy that can play in all situations," said Brandt. "He’s extremely patient when it comes to keeping guys outside, and he has a lot of the tools you look for in a solid defenseman. "For us, we just want to hone in on his strengths and help him decide what kind of player he wants to be. " The Atlanta Gladiators 14th season kicks off at the Infinite Energy Arena on Friday, October 14th against the Toledo Walleye at 7:35 PM. For ticket information, visit the official team website at www.atlantagladiators.com or call the main office line at 770-497-5100. The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the nation’s premier "AA" hockey league. All home games are played at the 11,355-seat Infinite Energy Arena, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth – where parking is always free. The Gladiators have established an unrivaled commitment to excellence, maintaining a distinctive reputation for affordable and family-friendly sports entertainment and consistently ranked as one of the top “Things To Do” in the Atlanta area and across the North Georgia region. For all the latest team news, contests, and more visit AtlantaGladiators.com, or “like” the Gladiators on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AtlantaGladiators), follow the team on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ATLGladiators), Instagram (www.instagram.com/atlgladiators) or Snapchat (www.snapchat.com) at "gladshockey". -###-