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Atlanta Gladiators Honor Former Captain Derek Nesbitt with a 4-3 win in OT

By Yakiri Thomas / November 13, 2022

On Sunday the Gladiators face the Ghost Pirates for the second time this season. In a retirement ceremony during the first intermission at Gas South Arena, Atlanta retired the Seaforth, Ontario number of former captain Derek Nesbitt and raised his new banner in the rafters.

 

 

Nesbitt leads the Gladiators in all-time games played (512), goals (166), assists (258), and points (424). Nesbitt skated nine seasons with the Gladiators, including five as captain. Nesbitt first turned pro with the Gladiators in 2005 and helped lead the team to the Kelly Cup Finals as a rookie. The forward played under Head Coach Jeff Pyle as a rookie in his first pro season and as a veteran in his final pro campaign in 2021-22.

Ahead of the matchup Atlanta ranked second in the ECHL at 27.5% on the power play and is tied for the league lead with 11 power-play markers.

Atlanta started the scoring early in the first period with the Gladiators Eric Neiley scoring on a power play  marking his 2nd goal of the season.

 

In the closing seconds of the first period the Glads scored another goal by Gate Guertler assisted by Reece Vitalli.

At the end of the first period the Gladiators lead 2-0.

 

With 2:10 into the second period Savannah Daniel D’Amato scored their first goal of the evening. Minute later the Ghost Pirates tied the game with a goal by Logan Drevitch.

Close to the end of the 2nd period the Ghost Pirates Brent Pedersen scored the third goal for the team.

After two periods of play Savannah defense dominated resulting in the Glads trailing the Ghost Pirates 3-2.

Early in the third period the Glads made a comeback with Eric Neiley scoring a shorthanded goal to tie the score 3-3.

In a spectacular form during post game where the Glads honored and retired their former team captain Derek Nesbitt’s #17 in front of adoring fans, in the end Atlanta generated enough offense to send the game in a intense overtime to make a 4-3 comeback with a goal from Sanghoon Shin to seal the win.

Up Next: The Glads will return to home ice on Thursday Nov 24., t0 take on the Ghost pirates again. The puck drops at 7:30.

 

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