Gladiators Win on Pink in the Rink Saturday

The Gwinnett Gladiators collected a 2-1 victory over the South Carolina Stingrapys in front of a crowd of 7,732 Saturday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth. Defenseman Cody Brookwell had the game winner early in the third period.

The Gladiators broke the scoreless tie at 6:39 into the first period with a marker from Gwinnett’s leading scorer Pat Galivan. South Carolina’s netminder Phillip Grubauer retrieved the puck from behind the net to clear it, but Galivan was able to pick up the puck at the half wall and rifle it in for an unassisted goal to give the Gladiators a 1-0 lead.

Gwinnett ended the period on top 1-0, outshooting the Stingrays 16-to-4.

The Gladiators picked up a 2-0 advantage just 1:40 into the final period. Forward Tyler Murovich found Brookwell alone in the high slot where he slid the puck under Grubauer’s leg pad for the goal. Bryan Brutlag had the second assist.

Stingray Pierre-Luc O’Brien cut the deficit to just one after beating Gladiator netminder Ryan Zapolski in slot. Chris Higgins and Trent Campbell had the helpers.

The Gladiators held on to the 2-1 lead to defeat the Stingrays for the seventh time this season. Zapolski led the team to the win with a few clutch saves in the final period and came away with 21 saves on the night.

The Gladiators host their last day of Pink in the Rink Weekend Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. as they take on the Trenton Titans at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

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