DULUTH , Ga. – After missing the ECHL playoffs for the first time since moving from Mobile, the Gwinnett Gladiators went back to the proverbial drawing board to put together a team that would turn things around. The fruits of their labor have resulted in the best start in Gladiator team history. With a roster composed of seasoned professionals and invigorated youth, the team opened the season undefeated in October (5-0-0-2) and continue to lead the Eastern Conference’s South division through November 25. If you were to compare this year’s team to a movie, the first thought that comes to mind is “Back To The Future”. As Coach Jeff Pyle was putting the team’s roster together, he looked for players that had been a part of his past successes to serve as the foundation for this year’s squad. Leading that charge was right winger Derek Nesbitt (Egmondville, ON), who tallied eight goals and ten assists in 11 games, was part of Pyle’s 2006 American Conference Championship team. Nesbitt’s hot start earned him ECHL October Player of the Month honors and a call-up to AHL Peoria on November 11. In addition to Nesbitt, Pyle traded for Andy Brandt ( Wausau, WI), who played three seasons in Gwinnett before being traded to Victoria prior to the 2009-2010 season. Brant’s leadership on and off the ice, along with his four goals and three assists in 17 games, has proven to be the binding needed for attaining a strong melding of experience and youth. Mixing in with the cast of experienced players is a strong group of rookies that have made major contributions to the team’s explosive start. Leading the Gladiator youth movement is Aaron Bendickson, (Thief River Falls, MN) who tallied eleven points (3 goals, 8 assists) in eight games in route to earning the ECHL Rookie of the Month honor for October and a call-up to AHL Rochester . Rookie Goalie Chris Carrozzi ( Nepean, ON) has been solid between the pipes with a 2.22 goals against average in 11 starts and a 7-2-0-2 record while stopping 310 shots. The Gladiators’ strong start has not gone unnoticed, as shown by the AHL call-ups of Bendickson, Nesbitt, rookie forwards Michael Davies ( Chesterville, MO) and Ryan Garbutt ( Winnipeg, Manitoba), who was ranked second among all ECHL players in scoring at the time of his call-up. Despite the call-ups, the team has continued to rally with a November record of 5-4-0-1 and is looking to build momentum for a return to the ECHL playoffs. Contact David.Stewart@prohockeynews.com
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