Swamp Rabbits Shut Out Gladiators in Thrashers Night Showdown

You just had to be there. Thrashers night at Gas South Arena was electric. A sold out crowd of 9,100 screaming fans dressed in Thrashers jerseys were ready to cheer on the home team Atlanta Gladiators. But the visiting Greenville Swamp Rabbits crashed the party. They silenced the crowd early when Austin Saint scored the first goal just 6:42 into the opening period. The Swamp Rabbits took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Things only got worse for the Gladiators from there. Ryan Francois extended the lead late in the second period before Josh McKechney put the game out of reach with a third Swamp Rabbits goal. When the final buzzer sounded, Greenville celebrated a decisive 4-0 shutout victory over the Gladiators on a night that was supposed to celebrate Atlanta hockey.

Thrashers Night Draws Sellout Crowd to Gas South Arena

The Atlanta Gladiators may have been shut out, but Thrashers night was still a win for hockey fans. A sold-out crowd packed Gas South Arena, the largest of the season, decked out in their retro Atlanta Thrashers gear to watch the Gladiators take on the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Lets just say the night was nostalgia for Atlanta’s very own Former NHL Team

Though the Thrashers left Atlanta for Winnipeg in 2011, their dedicated fans came out in full force to reminisce. The arena was a sea of Thrasher’s jerseys, t-shirts and hats, with fans of all ages sharing memories of games past. The Gladiators honored the city’s hockey history with giveaways and auctions of throwback Thrashers uniforms.

Fast and Furious First Period

The Swamp Rabbits came out firing in the first period, with Austin Saint scoring just 6 minutes in to give Greenville a 1-0 lead. The Gladiators had opportunities, but couldn’t convert, going scoreless in the opening frame.

In the second period Greenville’s offense was clicking on all cylinders, keeping the puck in Atlanta’s end for long stretches. The Gladiators defense struggled to keep up with the speed and physicality of the Swamp Rabbits forwards. The Rabbits extended their lead when Ryan Francois lit the lamp for Greenville’s second goal, and shortly after, Josh McKechney scored to make it 3-0.  Swamp Rabbits goaltender Jacob Ingham proved to be a brick wall, stopping every puck that came his way.

With a three-goal cushion, Greenville focused on shutting down Atlanta in the final period. By the end of the middle frame Greenville had imposed their physicality and speed on the game, and the scoreboard reflected their dominance. The Rabbits went to the locker room with a 3-goal lead and needing just 20 more minutes of solid play to secure the victory. The  Rabbits’ persistence paid off early in the final frame behind Brannon McManus, who tipped in a shot from the point to give Greenville a commanding 4-0 lead. Atlanta fizzled and had no answer for Greenville’s offensive onslaught, unable to generate any scoring chances of their own they had trouble sustaining any pressure in the offensive zone. When they did have an opportunity, Swamp Rabbits netminder Ingham was there to turn them away. The sellout crowd’s energy deflated noticeably as the score mounted in Greenville’s favor as the Swamp Rabbits skated off with a dominant 4-0 win, leaving the Gladiators with a bitter taste of what could have been.

Though the outcome wasn’t ideal for Atlanta fans hoping for a win on Thrashers night, the evening was a celebration of hockey in Atlanta – past, present and future. And after 13 years without a NHL team,  Thrashers faithful packed the arena, proving Atlanta still has love for the game and a new NHL team will be on the horizon. The best is yet to come!
Gladiators will look for redemption when the team return back to home ice for a back to back matchup against the swamp Rabbits on Sunday at Gas South Arena. Puck drop at 3:00 PM.