Some ECHL Love: Gwinnett Gladiators vs Wheeling Nailers

When I saw that there was such a long road trip in the beginning for the Thrashers, I thought "cool, I'll go to some Glads games." Well their season opener wasn't until last night, so that plan was a bust. They won by the way, defeating the Wheeling Nailers 4-1. So my friend Shauna and I headed out to Duluth to the Gwinnett arena today to see them take on the Nailers again!


I was excited about this game for a couple of reasons. First of all, Chad Denny, my Mi'kmaq boyfriend was playing (for the record Chad is in no way, shape or form my boyfriend, it's a joke. He is however 100% Mi'kmaq). Second, Zach Parise's older brother, Jordan Parise is the goalie for the Wheeling Nailers. I thought that was pretty cool.


We had good seats for watching, but not for pictures. I couldn't take a picture to my right at all because we were by the penalty box. That end of the ice looked like a house of mirrors. There were poles in the way of what I could see, but I got a few pics.


Warm up time!


Jordan Parise came out, skated to the Glads side stretched a second and then went back over to the Nailers side. Ballsy! I like it.





Woo Hoo! Chad Denny! Chad drives a Cadillac and calls it the "Chadillac." I love it!





More Chad





Matt Caruana stretching it out. How can you NOT love someone named Couch. He's a big boy, at 6'4'', he's one of the biggest Gladiators.





Goalie Josh Johnson. I was excited to get to see him play because at the game I went to last season, Joe Fallon played. Fallon is gone now as the Glads changed their affiliation from the Blackhawks to the Blue Jackets and Fallon was Chicago property.





Johnson warming up.





Welcome to Atlanta....WHO? This poor little pumpkin's name wasn't even on the roster on the website. Could be because he's only been a glad for about 3 days. The Gladiators agreed to terms with Jon Horrell on October 15. Jon was born in Beckenham, England and played parts of two seasons with the University of Findlay and the University of Bowling Green before making his pro debut with the CHL's Wichita Thunder.





Stretch it out, Johnson.





Did I mention Chad Denny was there??





Swarming the goalie.





Chad looking intense. Good thing I got warm up pics, didn't get any action shots :(





On the other side of the ice, back up goalie Jordan Alford (yes, both of their goalies are named Jordan) was stretching and then just kind of toppled over. Kind of cute.





First Period!




Parise in net. I'm very disappointed because Parise is NOT a lid flipper. I waited all night for him to put his mask up. No luck.





Face off. Sit back, Jon! You are going to get bopped in the head leaning over the boards like that.





ECHL boys know how to mix it up, too! Loya and Miller had a good dance, Miller won.





Have a seat on the Couch! Michael Couch and Ryan Schnell have a go at each other. Unfortunately, Couch didn't win this one. I was kind of surprised. How can you NOT love someone named Couch. He's a big boy, at 6'4'', he's one of the biggest Gladiators.





The ONE Nailers fan. Great.





More face off.





Parise is stunned after a goal.





Intermission entertainment...musical whor...I mean chairs. Just kidding ladies. You did a great job and surprisingly, the lady in the stiletto boots won. I couldn't walk on those things on carpet, let alone ice.





Second period.




Face off





Second intermission entertainment...chuck a puck! GOD I love chuck a puck.





Yes Maximus! Right here Maximus! Maximus is pointing at the most awesome fan in the building!





Yet another face off.


Glads lose 3-1. I'm hoping I can make it out to more games this season. Sunday seems a good day to go, you are the only ones there! Go Glads!