Gladiators Stay Undefeated, Take Down Savannah 4–2 in Home Win

The Atlanta Gladiators continued their perfect start to the 2025–26 season on Saturday night, defeating the Savannah Ghost Pirates 4–2 at Gas South Arena. The crowd was fired up early as Atlanta netted not one, but two shorthanded goals in the first period, setting the tone for an electric home win.

The Gladiators returned home to kick off a three-game homestand, beginning with their first meeting of the season against Savannah. Ethan Haider got the start in net for Atlanta, while Evan Cormier took the crease for the Ghost Pirates.

Before puck drop, the Gladiators opened the night with a heartfelt tribute to former player, captain, and ECHL Hall of Famer Cam Brown. To honor his legacy, Atlanta will wear commemorative helmet stickers for the remainder of the season.

The game got off to a defensive start, with Savannah pressing early and generating several scoring chances. But it was the Gladiators who struck first — Joey Cipollone put Atlanta on the board 6:15 into the opening frame, assisted by Cody Sylvester and Mike McNamee. Minutes later, Cormier denied Isak Walther on a penalty shot following a hooking call on Evan Nause, keeping it a one-goal game.

Then the Gladiators’ penalty kill took over. Midway through the period, Chad Nychuk buried a shorthanded goal at 13:53, assisted by Louis Boudon. Just 34 seconds later, Ryan Nolan struck again — unassisted — to give Atlanta back-to-back shorthanded tallies and a commanding lead. The first period ended with Atlanta killing another penalty and up 3–0.

The second period began much like the first ended — with the Gladiators on the penalty kill. Atlanta held strong before the Ghost Pirates broke through at 14:25 when Philip Waugh scored, assisted by Josh Davies and Hunter Johannes. A big hit from Nychuk with under five seconds left sparked a scuffle, resulting in multiple roughing penalties and a Gladiators power play to open the third.

Savannah killed off that early penalty and used the momentum to pull within one as Josh Davies found the back of the net unassisted early in the third. Atlanta wasted no time responding — Mickey Burns extended the lead to 4–2 on a feed from Ryan Nolan and Alex Young.

The physical play continued through the third, including a double minor that sent Atlanta on a four-minute penalty kill. The Gladiators’ special teams unit stayed perfect, shutting down all five of Savannah’s power plays and holding firm behind Ethan Haider, who stopped 32 of 34 shots.

With a dominant performance on the penalty kill, including two shorthanded goals, and Haider’s steady play in net, the Gladiators remain undefeated at 5–0 — the only unbeaten team left in the ECHL.

Atlanta will look to keep the streak alive on Sunday when they host the South Carolina Stingrays at 3:10 p.m. The Gladiators and Ghost Pirates will meet again on November 8th in Savannah.