Jacksonville, FL – The Atlanta Gladiators put up a season-high seven goals on the Jacksonville Icemen on Friday night in the first game of a three in three. Five different Gladiators registered a multi-point game as Atlanta improved to 13-4 on the season with its fourth win in a row.

After two overtime wins vs Greenville on Saturday and Sunday at home, the Gladiators hit the road for the first of three games in three days against Jacksonville. Atlanta started goaltender T.J Semptimphelter, while Jacksonville went with Scott Ratzlaff. 

Louis Boudon wasted no time opening the scoring, putting in the first of the night 1:02 into the first period to make it 1-0 Atlanta from Chad Nychuk and Isak Walther. A too many men penalty on Atlanta sent Jacksonville to the man advantage late in the period, but it was the Gladiators who capitalized – scoring two shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill 1:19 apart. Joey Cipollone scored from Carson Denomie with 3:48 left in the period, followed by Ethan Scardina’s first pro goal from Ryan Nolan and Ryan Conroy to put the Gladiators up 3-0. Ratzlaff’s night would end there, as he was relieved by Michael Bullion in net. The Icemen were able to get on the board 1:09 after Scardina’s goal, with an unassisted tally from Kolby Johnson to make it 3-1 before the period’s end. 

Only one goal was scored in the second period, and it belonged to Atlanta. On the power play, Isak Walther scored on a one-timer from the left circle to make it 4-1 Gladiators, with the assists coming from Boudon and Young. With the goal, Atlanta now has power play goals in three straight games – the longest streak this season. 

The Gladiators continued to assert their dominance in the third period with another power play goal, as Boudon earned his second of the night from Nychuk and Cody Sylvester to make it 5-1 Atlanta. Brody Crane got the Icemen back on the board with 7:13 left in the period, but the Gladiators tacked on two more goals from Sylvester and McNamee to make it a 7-2 final score. T.J. Semptimphelter stopped 31/33 in the win. Ratzlaff stopped 5/8 and Bullion 16/20 in net for Jacksonville. 

Louis Boudon finished the night with 2 goals and 2 assists and extended his point streak to five games (3g, 7a). Isak Walther had 1 goal and 2 assists, extending his point streak to five games (3g, 4a), and Chad Nychuk had 2 assists, extending his point streak to four games (1g, 5a). With an assist, Alex Young extended his point streak to three games (2g, 2a). Atlanta scored two shorthanded goals and went 3/3 on the penalty kill, while going 2/4 on the power play.

The Gladiators and Icemen will meet again on Saturday night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 7:00 PM before the scene shifts to Duluth on Sunday at 3:00 PM. Sunday’s game is Max’s Holiday Party, with the annual Sing for Santa, Jambo’s PJ toss, and the first 1,500 fans receiving a Gladiators ornament courtesy of Bare Bones Steak House. Join the battle, get your tickets HERE!