Monday, April 23, 2012

Gladiators Fall to TJ Hooker

The American Gladiators fell to TJ Hooker in the B League CAHL Championship game 5-4 on Sunday night at the MSA.  Gladiator captain Rob Lovaglio had a hat trick in the contest, but it wasn't enough to best the Hookers. Kevin Murray also had a goal in the contest.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Orange Crushed

The tough and scrappy American Gladiators defeated top-seeded 21 Jump Street 7-1 in the CAHL B-League Semi-Finals on Saturday, April 14th at the MSA.  Gladiator goalie Joe Renfro had another outstanding night, making 26 saves and registering a .963 SV%.  Gladiator Tom Osinkosky led the offensive charge for Big Red with a hat-trick and an assist in the contest.

In under three minutes of the first period, Red got up on the board when D-man Dalton Ford banked a pass up the left-wing boards to Osinkosky, who then sliced-and-diced his way through the Orange defense and wristed a shot past Jump Street goalie Will Bryant.  At 4:16, Ford fed centerman Curtis Stepian who skated in and ripped a deceptive backhand shot that beat Bryant to end the period 2-0 in the Gladiator's favor.  SOGs after 1 were 6 to 5 in the Red's favor.

The second period was characterized with back-and-forth rushes and one-and-outs from both teams.  At 9:24, Gladiator winger Jeff Howe fought through a front-door scrum and punched a shot past Bryant.  Osinkosky assisted on the goal.  The second period ended 3-0, with Bryant facing 8 SOGs and Renfro facing 12 in the frame.

Jump Street got a jump on the AGs in the third when defenseman Steve McIninch ripped a shot that sailed through a screen and went 2-hole, at 13:54.  Big Red answered back less than two minutes later when a shot from behind Bryant's net hit his skate, and was punched in by Gladiator captain Rob Lovaglio.  At 4:44 in the third, Osinkosky would skate the puck 90 feet, jook a defenseman, and slide the puck under Bryant's pads for the 5th goal of the night for the AGs.  Less than a minute later, Lovaglio wristed a shot high past Bryant, unassisted.  Osinkosky capped off the scoring at 3:33 with an assist from Bryan Slaughter to net a hatty and finish off the Orange 7-1.  SOGs were 27-23 in Jump Street's favor.  The Gladiators were 0/2 on the PP and 3/3 on the PK.

The Gladiators take on White (TJ Hooker) in the CAHL B-League Finals at 6:30PM tonight at the MSA.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Gladiators Put the Brakes on Starsky & Hutch

The American Gladiators defeated S&H 6-2 last night at the MSA.  The win earns the AGs 4th Place in the standings and the last spot in the B-League playoffs.

The Gladiators got on the board at 5:46 of the first period when winger AJ Maher wristed a shot into a yawning net, beating S&H goalie Kelsey Haley.  Maher was assisted by center Tom Osinkosky and defenseman Dalton Ford.  S&H answered back 10 seconds later when a turnover at the AG blueline led to a goal by "Grellow's" Vince Riccabona.  Osinkosky put the Red back up with a pretty shot that beat Haley 5-hole at the 1:22 mark.  Blueliner Rick Schmitt got the helper on the goal.  S&H's captain Ryan Cornett tied the game with a wrister that snuck under Gladiator goalie Joe Renfro's arm with just 13 ticks left in the first.  Shots in the first period were 13-5 in the Gladiator's favor.

At 12:44 in the second, Red center Curtis Stepian lifted a shot that beat Haley to put the AGs back on top.  Stepian was assisted by D-man Sean Waddle.  Eight minutes later, Gladiator captain Rob Lovaglio carried the puck coast-to-coast and stuffed the puck past Haley for Lovaglio's 12th goal of the season.  The second period ended 4-2, with the Gladiators outshooting their opponent 26-11.

The AGs kept the offensive pressure simmering in the third.  Lovaglio found the back of the net again at 13:02 with assists going to winger Kevin Murray and Osinkosky.  At 9:39, Stepian fed the point and D-man Schmitt capped off the scoring with a 55-foot slapper that knuckled its way to the top shelf, ending the game 6-2.

Gladiator netminder Joe Renfro was solid between the pipes, saving 14 of 16 SOGs for a .875 SV%.  Big Red went 2/2 on the PK and outshot S&H 37-16.  The AGs end their regular season on a 5-game winning streak, earning them 13 points for the season and the last spot in the B-League playoffs.  The Gladiators will take on the 1st Place Seed (Orange) on Saturday, April 14th at 8PM.  The B-League Championship Game is scheduled for Sunday, April 15th at 6:30PM.