Gladiators Clinch Division Title With Shutout

The Gwinnett Gladiators got a 30 save performance from goaltender Marc Cheverie in a 2-0 shutout win over the Florida Everblades on Wednesday (March 28) night at the Germain Arena in Estero, FL. Gwinnett clinched the South Division title with the victory over the Everblades. With the win, the Gladiators can finish no lower than second in the Eastern Conference heading into the 2012 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Cody Brookwell broke a scoreless tie 4:26 into the second period. Brookwell notched his 4th goal of the season as he found a loose puck in the slot and flipped it past Everblades netminder John Muse for the goal. Jake Drewiske and Tyler Murovich provided the assists on the marker.  

Doug Jones put the game away for the Gladiators midway through the third period. Jones slipped in over the Everblades blue line and ripped as shot over the shoulder of Muse for this second goal of the season to give Gwinnett a 2-0 lead. Nikita Kashirsky collected an assist on the goal for Gwinnett.

The Gladiators and Everblades skated to a scoreless first period. Florida outshot the Gladiators by an 11-9 margin through the first 20 minutes of the game.  Florida finished with a 30-19 shots on goal advantage in the game.  

The Gladiators face the Everblades again at the Germain Arena on Friday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m.

The Gladiators are the ECHL Affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres and the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League and are members of the ECHL, the Premier "AA" Hockey League and play all home games at the 11,355-seat , located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.

(Editor's note: This game report provided by the Gwinnett Gladiators.)