Curtain call: On Fan Appreciation Day, the Glads close out Captain Eric Neiley's last home game with a 3-2 win over Jacksonville

Preview: Jacksonville Icemen (41-19-7-1/90 points/3rd place in the ECHL South Division) vs Atlanta Gladiators (27-31-7-2/63 points/6th place in the ECHL South Division)

Despite the rainy weather, it's a solid showing by the fans for Fan Appreciation Day, the last home game for the 2024-25 season for the Atlanta Gladiators (April 6, 2025 at 3pm EST in Duluth, GA at the Gas South District). With 5 games left in the season, the Glads have an opportunity to finish at or above .500 in the ECHL South, along with providing team captain Eric Neiley an amazing sendoff as he is retiring at the end of the season.

Ethan Haider (17-13-1-1 with 4 shoutouts, along with a 3.18 goals allowed average and a .893 save percentage) is between the pipes as he looks to build off his winning performance on Friday and slow down the Jacksonville Icemen (averaging 3.3 goals per game). Chris Grando (20 goals/31 assists/51 points) and Olivier Nadeau (26 goals/22 assists/48 points) lead an offense featuring 6 players with 40 or more points.

Cody Sylvester (24 goals/23 assists/47 points) and Derek Topatigh (11 goals/33 assists/44 points) look to lead Atlanta to another win in another game against a division foe. They'll give Justin Close (16-9-2 with 3 shutouts, along with a 2.29 goals allowed average and a .924 save percentage) a test as the Icemen defense allows a measly 2.6 goals per game.

Recap: Tha Glads' 3-goal 2nd period results in a win and sendoff for Team Captain Eric Neiley in his last home game of his career

Jacksonville takes an early 1-0 lead in the 1st period (17:24) on Dalton Duhart's 3rd goal of the season (assisted by Liam Coughlin and Bennett MacArthur).

In the 2nd period, the Atlanta Gladiators get going on one of their more impressive scoring runs of the season.

Joey Cipollone ties the game at 1 (6:29) with his 15th goal of the season (assisted by Zach Yoder and Eaton Armstrong). The Glads would make it 2-1 (15:00 in the 2nd period) on Anthony Firriolo's 4th goal of the season (assisted by Jordan Frasca).

After an extended review, Tyler Drevitch's goal (16:22 in the 2nd period) counts and gives Atlanta a 3-1 lead (his 2nd goal of the season assisted by Dylan Calabria.

Olivier Nadeau's goal at the 18:22 mark of the 3rd period (his 27th of the season, assisted by Bennett MacArthur and Noah Laaouan) close the margin to 3-2; despite having 6 skaters (as Jacksonville pulls the goalie), Atlanta holds on for the win.

Glads' goalie Ethan Haider turns away 28 of 30 shots to ensure the win (Jacksonville outshoots Atlanta 30-26).

For post-game, Atlanta Head Coach Derek Nesbitt and Atlanta forward Cody Sylvester share their insights on the game, their goals for the season, and (of course) the impact of Eric Neiley.

With the win, Atlanta is now 3 games under .500 with 4 games left in their season.

Notes: You may visit our site (click HERE) for our hockey coverage along with checking out our 2024-25 season playlist (click HERE). All photos and video are recorded via asnortonccs. The team's final 4 games are on the road as they'll return to the Gas South District for the 2025-26 season.