Gwinnett Gladiators vs Trenton Devils

The Thrashers have been on a road trip for that past week leaving Blueland empty for 9 days. What's a hockey nut to do?? Head out to the Gwinnett Arena for some ECHL action of course! If you haven't been to a Glads game, you don't know what you are missing. It is just STUPID cheap. Seriously, you can sit on the glass for $30. My tickets were 1 row off of the glass and I paid $18 per ticket. And...get this...FREE PARKING! Yes that's right, FREE PARKING! I've been told they have a good beer selection, too. I don't like beer, so I don't know. Yeah, the action is not on an NHL level, but it's still professional ice hockey and that means it kicks ass.

Warm ups!


In town tonight were the Trenton Devils, the ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. I like the Devils organ-eye-zation, they like to keep it consistent. Whether it's NHL, AHL or ECHL you always know who they play for.


This little guy is Tony Zancanaro. He is the shortest guy on the ice. He's listed at 5'5'' hell, I"m 5'4''! He probably has to be a mean little bastard. He's a monster in the face off, he took most of them.





Prough is listed at 5'10'' and look how he towers over him. I was calling Zancanaro my "pocket Devil" because he could fit in my pocket.





My old buddy from Thrashers prospect camp, Mike Forney, stretching it out. Forney's pants were cut so high on the inside you could see his under garments. My husband pointed that out btw, I wasn't looking there.





Majestic pose...u r doin it right Adam Berti.





Goalie David Brown has been with Gwinnett for less than a month. Signed by the Glads on November 20th, David was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 8th round of the 2004 draft. Before signing with the Glads, he split time between the Wilkesbarre/Scranton Pens and the Wheeling Nailers. He still has the penguin on his mask.





David was also a stud in collegiate hockey. He attended the University of Notre Dame where in 2006-07 he led the nation in GAA with a 1.58. He was also named the Player of the Year in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.





Welcome to (the suburbs of) Atlanta, David!





The other Glads goalie, Danny Taylor was born in England.





He was drafted the same year David Brown was, but in the 7th round and by the LA Kings. He is still relatively new, he's only been in town a few months. He has the Hollywood sign on his mask.





He does some interesting stretches.





Super star!





On the other end of the ice, is an old friend, Dave Caruso. Caruso was a Gladiator back in 2006-07.





Oh and of course there is something else I love in Gwinnett.





It's my Mi'kmaq boyfriend, Chad Denny! (again, this is a joke, he is NOT my boyfriend, nor do I have delusions he is).





Chad excited! Chad laugh!





Chad waiting for the puck to do some warming up.





The Zamboni is full of seasonal cheer! The official crowd was listed as something like 2700 people...NO WAY. They were lucky to have 1000 people there. Apparently Friday and Saturday are their big nights. I've only been on 2 Sundays and now a Wednesday.



First period!


Out come the Glads!





Brown getting ready for action.





Brown stopping the puck.





This is the Glads' mascot, Maximus. He jumped up right beside me and kind of scared me. I was delighted. He took my cowbell and was ringing it, but more in a snooty "it's tea time" way. God I love a mascot.





Face off.





The Georgia Lottery is one of the sponsors of the Gladiators. They have this cool thing they do in intermission where they throw out these huge beach balls that look like lotto balls. I was so jealous one didn't come out on our side.



End of the first period, Glads are down 1-0.


Welcome to this end of the ice, Caruso!





Caruso tracking the puck.





Action in front of Caruso.





It was Toys for Tots night at the arena. The Marines collecting the toys were enjoying themselves.





Galivan in the face off.





Justin Coutu protecting his zone.






Caruso turns away a shot.





Chaos in front of and on top of Caruso.





Caruso: Dear God, please let Marty Brodeur retire so goalies in the Devils system can ever get a chance at the big club. Amen.





Maximus macking on some chicks.





Woo hoo! Glads score!





Chad Denny in the face off!

Glads ended the second period in better shape than the first. Thanks to goals from Berti and Galivan, we went into the third period tied with Trenton 2-2.




"I swear, it was this big!"



Third period!







Brown tracking the puck.





Brown making a save.





Boooooo Devils score. Notice the scary lady to the right. She scared the Devils.





Brown seemed to believe (correctly) that the goal was kicked in by Zacanaro, the Pocket-Devil. Brown chased the reff around the ice trying to make a case for it. It didn't work.





Brown is pissed.





Less than a minute left, we are down by a goal, off goes Brown for the extra skater.


The Trenton Devils win 3-2. Booooo! One day I swear I'm gonna go to a Glads game that they win. And I'm gonna go to a game where there is a crowd!