Atlanta Gladiators

The Atlanta Gladiators are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Duluth, Georgia. The Gladiators have played in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at Infinite Energy Arena, approximately 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Atlanta. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gladiators voluntarily suspended operations through at least the 2020–21 ECHL season.[2]

Atlanta Gladiators
CityDuluth, Georgia
LeagueECHL
ConferenceEastern
DivisionSouth
Founded1995
Home arenaInfinite Energy Arena
ColorsNavy blue, gold, light blue
     
Owner(s)Danor Vienna LLC[1]
General managerJeff Pyle
Head coachJeff Pyle
AffiliatesBoston Bruins (NHL)
Providence Bruins (AHL)
Websitewww.atlantagladiators.com
Franchise history
1995–2002Mobile Mysticks
2003–2015Gwinnett Gladiators
2015–presentAtlanta Gladiators
Championships
Division Championships3 (2005–06, 2011–12, 2012–13)
Conference Championships1 (2005–06)

The franchise originated as the Mobile Mysticks in 1995. They suspended operations in 2002 and moved to Duluth in 2003 where they were originally known as the Gwinnett Gladiators. They were the South Division and American Conference champions in 2006, falling four-games-to-one to the Alaska Aces in the Kelly Cup finals.

In 2015, the Gladiators became the affiliate of the Boston Bruins and their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.[3] They also changed their name to the Atlanta Gladiators that same year.[4]

History

Birth of the Gladiators

The franchise originated as the Mobile Mysticks who played in Mobile, Alabama, from 1995 to 2002. It suspended operations in 2002 due to declining attendance. After a year off, Toby Jeffreys, the owner of the Mysticks, relocated his franchise to Gwinnett County, Georgia, in 2003 and was rebranded the Gwinnett Gladiators. He then sold minority stakes of the franchise to local business owners to create Gwinnett County Hockey, LLC.[5] Jeff Pyle—who served as the Mysticks' head coach starting in 1998—returned to the franchise for their first season.

The Gladiators made an appearance in the 2006 Kelly Cup Finals, losing to the Alaska Aces in five games.

On July 13, 2011, Pyle was named head coach of the American Hockey League's Texas Stars.[6] The Gladiators announced on August 3, 2011, that John Wroblewski, former assistant coach for the Wheeling Nailers, had been selected to take Pyle's place as the team's head coach. The Gladiators won the ECHL South Division in the two years of Wrobelski's tenure.[7]

On August 7, 2013, Wroblewski was hired by the AHL's Rochester Americans as an assistant coach. Rick Emmett, a former defenseman for the Gladiators, took over as head coach.[8]

Emmett was relieved of his duties as head coach on December 2, 2014. At the time, assistant coach, and former Gladiator captain, Andy Brandt was named the interim head coach.[9] Brandt would remain the interim head coach through the remainder of the 2014–15 season before being named to head coach on March 21, 2015.[10] Former Valpellice Bulldogs head coach Mike Flanagan also joined the coaching staff in December 2014, serving as the team's assistant coach.[11]

Rebranding as Atlanta Gladiators

On September 9, 2015, the Gladiators organization announced that they would be known as the Atlanta Gladiators to expand their brand to include the entire Atlanta metropolitan area.[12] As part of the name change, the Gladiators updated their “primary” and “wordmark” logos to reflect the Atlanta designation. The rest of the Gladiators logos remained the same, as did the team colors.

After two seasons as head coach, Andy Brandt left to take the associate coaching position with St. Norbert College in 2017. The Gladiators would then hire two-time Kelly Cup winning coach Chuck Weber as his replacement.[13]

During the 2017–18 season, the franchise was purchased by Virginia-based ownership group called Danor Vienna LLC, headed by real estate developer P. Daniel Orlich.[1] Head coach Weber left after one season to take an assistant coaching position with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) NCAA Div. I men's team in order to be closer to home.[14] Jeff Pyle was then brought back as head coach and general manager after leaving for the AHL in 2011.[15][16]

In 2019, the Gladiators updated their primary colors from garnet and black to navy blue and gold.[17]

On October 1, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Gladiators enacted the ECHL's COVID-19 Voluntary Suspension policy and opted out of playing in the 2020–21 season. They announced after the season hiatus the Gladiators would return to play in the 2021–22 season.[18]

Affiliations

The Gladiators served as the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers and their AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves from their inception in 2003 until 2011, when the Thrashers franchise moved to Winnipeg and the Gladiators ended their affiliation with the franchise. The team also served as an affiliate for the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2008–09 season and for the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2009–10 season.[19][20]

On August 17, 2011, the Gladiators announced their affiliation with the Phoenix Coyotes and the Portland Pirates for the 2011–12 season.[21] They later announced an affiliation agreement with the Buffalo Sabres, and their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.[22] That affiliation lapsed at the end of the 2011–12 season, leaving the Gladiators affiliated exclusively with Phoenix for the 2012–13 season.[23] The Gladiators would carry that affiliation through the end of the 2014–15 season.

On August 6, 2015, the Gladiators announced a two-year affiliation deal with the Boston Bruins and their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.[3] In February 2017, the Gladiators and Bruins extended their affiliation for another two seasons[24] and then added fifth season for 2019–20.[25]

Season-by-season record
Regular season Playoffs
SeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsGFGAStandingYearWild Card Round
Conf. 1st round (2006–08)§		1st round
Conf. Quarterfinals		2nd round
Conf. Semifinals		3rd round
Conf. Finals		Kelly Cup
2003–0472422208922481933rd, Central2004No WC game in Western Conf.W, 3–2, MISW, 3–1, LOUL, 1–3, IDA—
2004–0572402417882412023rd, South2005—W, 3–1, MISL, 1–3, CHR——
2005–06725015071073042081st, South2006BYEW, 3–0, SCW, 3–1, FLAW, 4–1, TOLL, 1–4, AK
2006–0772412452892892563rd, South2007BYEL, 1–3, TX———
2007–0872442323932471983rd, South2008W, 3–0, CHRL, 2–3, SC———
2008–0972313515682142464th, South2009—L, 1–4, FLA———
2009–1072313353702432774th, South2010—Did not qualify
2010–1172303435682032504th, South2011—Did not qualify
2011–1272412074932142001st, South2012—L, 1–3, SC———
2012–1372432621892111911st, South2013—W, 4–0, SCL, 2–4, CIN——
2013–1472293832632032275th, South2014—Did not qualify
2014–1572204534471742637th, East2015—Did not qualify
2015–1672343152751892244th, South2016—Did not qualify
2016–1772273762622342786th, South2017—Did not qualify
2017–1872323523692052294th, South2018—L, 0–4, FLA———
2018–1972313083731972115th, South2019—Did not qualify
2019–2061292822622002304th, South2020—Season cancelled

Players

Current roster
Updated December 24, 2020.[26][27]
# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract

Notable players

References
  1. "Atlanta Gladiators sold to Virginia-based businessman". Gwinnett Daily Post. March 20, 2018.
  2. "ECHL confirms start date for 2020-21 season". ECHL. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  3. "Bruins and Gwinnett Gladiators Enter into ECHL Affiliation Relationship". Boston Bruins. August 6, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  4. "Glads Become ATL Gladiators". AtlantaGladiators.com. Atlanta Gladiators. September 9, 2015. Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  5. "Local Businessmen Join Gladiators Ownership Group". OurSportsCentral.com. May 16, 2003.
  6. Press release (July 13, 2011). "Gwinnett's Pyle named head coach of AHL's Texas Stars". ECHL. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  7. Press release (August 3, 2011). "Wroblewski named Gladiators head coach". ECHL. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  8. "Emmett Named Head Coach". Gwinnett Gladiators. August 7, 2013. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  9. "Official Website - Gwinnett Gladiators". www.atlantagladiators.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  10. "Official Website - Gwinnett Gladiators". www.atlantagladiators.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  11. "Official Website - Gwinnett Gladiators". www.atlantagladiators.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  12. "Official Website - Atlanta Gladiators". www.atlantagladiators.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-14. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  13. "Atlanta Gladiators name Chuck Weber head coach". axs.com. August 25, 2017.
  14. "Atlanta Gladiators in search of new head coach after Chuck Weber resignation". Gwinnett Daily Post. June 5, 2018.
  15. "Atlanta Gladiators bring back winningest coach in franchise history". Gwinnett Daily Post. July 6, 2018.
  16. "Gladiators Name Jeff Pyle as Head Coach". OurSportsCentral.com. July 13, 2018.
  17. "The New Look Atlanta Gladiators". OurSports Central. August 6, 2019.
  18. "Glad enact COVID voluntary suspension of season". October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  19. Michael Wagner (December 28, 2008). "Chicago Blackhawks Name Gwinnett Gladiators Their New ECHL Affiliate". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  20. Bart Logan (August 25, 2009). "Blue Jackets & Gladiators Become ECHL affiliates". firethecannon.com. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  21. Press release (August 17, 2011). "Glads sign affiliation agreement with Phoenix". Gwinnett Gladiators. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  22. Press Release (September 20, 2011). "Second Affiliate Added". Gwinnett Gladiators. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  23. Press release (August 7, 2012). "Glads back with Phoenix". Gwinnett Gladiators. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  24. "Gladiators Extend Affiliation Agreement with Boston Bruins". Atlanta Gladiators. February 15, 2017. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  25. "Gladiators Re-Up with Eastern Conference Champs". OurSports Central. August 15, 2019.
  26. "Official Site - Atlanta Gladiators: Team Roster". January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  27. "Atlanta Gladiators Roster". Elite Prospects. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
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