{"id":382789,"date":"2025-11-16T10:41:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T10:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/382789\/"},"modified":"2025-11-16T10:41:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T10:41:23","slug":"echl-atlanta-gladiators-vs-jacksonville-icemen-11-15-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/382789\/","title":{"rendered":"ECHL: Atlanta Gladiators vs Jacksonville Icemen | 11\/15\/2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Atlanta<\/a> came into Jacksonville<\/a> with a clear storyline in net and on the blue line. T.J. Semptimphelter drew the start for the second straight night, marking the first time this season a Gladiators goaltender started back-to-back games. He entered the night with a sparkling 4\u20131 record, a 1.01 goals-against average\u2014the best in the ECHL\u2014and a .953 save percentage. More than living up to everything the Gladiators have asked of him so far.<\/p>\n

In front of him, Atlanta skated with a reworked defense corps. Earlier in the day, the Gladiators and Milwaukee Admirals announced that Chad Nychuk and Jack Matier had been recalled, leaving Atlanta with five natural defensemen and Ethan Scardina sliding back to the blue line. The call-ups opened the door for Anthony Firriolo to draw back in and skate in his 100th professional game, a milestone moment on the back end. Despite the shuffle, the message from Head Coach Matt Ginn stayed the same: next man up, stick with the process, and win the hard areas.<\/p>\n

Jacksonville, meanwhile, entered on the back of a 4\u20133 win over Orlando in a school-day game on Thursday. The Icemen had raced out to a 4\u20131 lead in the first period, but then got heavily outshot 39\u201312 over the final two frames, surviving thanks to a 45-save performance from Scott Ratzlaff. Their special teams remained a mixed bag\u20140-for-3 on the power play Thursday and sitting at 17.9% on the season, with a penalty kill operating at 81.8% (17th in the ECHL)\u2014and those trends loomed over the opening minutes against Atlanta.<\/p>\n

Lineups<\/p>\n

Atlanta Gladiators Starting Lineup<\/strong><\/p>\n

Forwards:<\/strong> Kalan Lind (61), ALex Young (13), Joey Cipollone (71)
Defense:<\/strong> Ryan Conroy (8), Jack Robilotti (3)
Goaltender:<\/strong> T.J. Semptimphelter (35)<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Icemen Starting Lineup<\/strong><\/p>\n

Forwards:<\/strong> Chris Grando (13), Christopher Brown (10), Nathan Dunkley (7)
Defense:<\/strong> John Spetz (18), Brayden Hislop (23)
Goaltender:<\/strong> Cameron Rowe (31)<\/p>\n

First Period <\/p>\n

From the drop of the puck, the Gladiators looked like the more urgent team. They drove play early and forced Jacksonville into trouble, drawing the first penalty at 2:03 when Taos Jordan was called for cross-checking. Atlanta\u2019s first power play didn\u2019t cash in, but it set the tone: clean entries, quick puck movement, and sustained zone time that kept the Icemen pinned.<\/p>\n

Atlanta\u2019s pressure finally broke through at even strength.<\/p>\n

GOAL (5:17, 1st): Joey Cipollone (3) \u2014 Unassisted \u2014 Even Strength<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

It’s never too early to give away presents !
Joey takes the turnover and makes no mistake! <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8: Cipollone (3)<\/p>\n

1-0 ATL | 14:43 left in period 1 pic.twitter.com\/6LkMa1lt09<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Atlanta Gladiators (@atlgladiators) November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Cipollone created the chance himself, picking off a puck in the neutral zone and attacking with speed. His initial shot from the right side was turned aside by Cameron Rowe, but the rebound dropped in the blue paint, and Cipollone stayed with it, punching home his third goal of the season. With Lind, Young, Robilotti, and Conroy on the ice, the goal rewarded a group that had already tilted the first few shifts in Atlanta\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n

Jacksonville\u2019s discipline slipped again at 6:29 when John Spetz was called for hooking, sending Atlanta to its second Eco Electric power play. The Gladiators came inches away from doubling the lead\u2014Louis Boudon rang a shot off the crossbar, Alex Young was denied on a sharp look from the circle, and Isak Walther threaded a seam pass that forced Rowe into another key save. Even without a goal, the power play kept Atlanta in control and stacked momentum in their favor.<\/p>\n

At the other end, Semptimphelter\u2019s workload stayed light, but he remained composed when called upon. The Icemen managed just three shots in the opening 20 minutes, their best look coming on a quick release from the right side that he tracked cleanly. After carrying a heavy workload in South Carolina the night before, a quieter first period played right into Atlanta\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

By the horn, the Gladiators had outshot Jacksonville 9\u20133, owned most of the puck, and looked every bit like a team executing Ginn\u2019s \u201cstick with the process\u201d mantra. Cipollone\u2019s effort and finish stood as the difference on the scoreboard, and Atlanta took a well-earned 1\u20130 lead into the first intermission\u2014improving to a perfect position in a situation where they had already been 4\u20130 this season when leading after one.<\/p>\n

End of 1st Period Stats<\/p>\n

Score:<\/strong> Atlanta 1 \u2013 Jacksonville 0
Shots on Goal:<\/strong> Atlanta 9 \u2013 Jacksonville 3
Power Plays:<\/strong> Atlanta 0\/2 | Jacksonville 0\/0
Penalties (1st):<\/strong><\/p>\n