Haider Recalled to AHL as Gladiators Fall to Icemen 4-1

The Atlanta Gladiators received a major roster update on Saturday, as goaltender Ethan Haider was recalled from loan by the Milwaukee Admirals. The Gladiators are the proud ECHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators and Milwaukee, making the move a significant step forward in Haider’s development.

Haider, 24, has put together a standout sophomore campaign in Atlanta. In 32 appearances, he posted a 20-10-1 record, along with a 2.43 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage, and one shutout. His 20 wins are tied for the third-most in the ECHL this season, and he becomes just the seventh goaltender in Gladiators franchise history to reach the 20-win mark in a single season.

The former fifth-round pick of Nashville in the 2019 NHL Draft has shown clear growth from his rookie season. Last year, Haider went 18-15-2 with a 3.17 GAA and a .894 save percentage, adding four shutouts and earning a brief stint with Milwaukee, where he appeared in one game.

This season, Haider has already made an impact at the AHL level. He earned his first win with Milwaukee on November 15, stopping 22 of 23 shots in a 3-1 victory over the Texas Stars. Across his AHL career, Haider has appeared in two games, compiling a 1-0-1 record with a 1.07 GAA and an impressive .957 save percentage.

While the organization celebrated Haider’s call-up, the Gladiators were back in action Friday night, falling 4-1 to the Jacksonville Icemen at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in the second of three consecutive meetings between the teams.

Coming off a 2-0 loss at home earlier in the week, Atlanta entered the rematch looking to respond on the road. Haider got the start in net for the Gladiators, while Topias Leinonen started for Jacksonville.

Atlanta opened the game with strong energy, generating several early scoring chances but struggling to find the finish. A physical tone was set midway through the first period when Ryley Appelt dropped the gloves with Jaden Condotta, giving the Gladiators a spark.

Despite a power-play opportunity later in the period, Atlanta couldn’t capitalize. Jacksonville broke through with 7:04 remaining in the first, as Adam McMaster scored in transition off feeds from Jaques Bouquot and Holden Wale to give the Icemen a 1-0 lead.

The second period remained scoreless, with both teams tightening up defensively and limiting quality chances.

Jacksonville pulled away in the third.

McMaster struck again on the power play, ripping a shot from the left circle past Haider to extend the lead to 2-0 with 11:50 remaining. Less than a minute later, the Icemen made it 3-0 after a perfectly angled pass off the end boards found Craig Martin wide open on the backdoor. Martin finished the play with 9:08 left, assisted by Condotta and Tyler Kopff.

Atlanta managed to respond with a power-play goal of its own. Ryan Conroy fired a shot from the blue line that found the back of the net with 8:07 remaining, cutting the deficit to 3-1 and giving the Gladiators a late push.

But the comeback effort fell short.

Jacksonville sealed the win with an empty-net goal from Will Hillman in the final 30 seconds, closing out a 4-1 victory.

Haider finished the night with 23 saves on 26 shots, while Leinonen turned aside 22 of 23 for Jacksonville. The Gladiators went 1-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill, while being outshot 27-23.

Atlanta now returns home with another opportunity to bounce back, hosting the Icemen once again at Gas South Arena on Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 7:10 p.m. as the Gladiators look to even the series on home ice.