Gibson Shuts the Door as Stingrays Slip Past Gladiators in Gritty 1–0 Showdown
Atlanta Gladiators | Photo: Atlanta Gladiators
In a hard-fought defensive duel at North Charleston Coliseum, the South Carolina Stingrays edged the Atlanta Gladiators 1–0 on Friday night, powered by a stellar 33-save shutout from goaltender Mitchell Gibson.
Friday’s matchup marked the second meeting of the season between the two South Division rivals, following Atlanta’s 2–1 win on November 2. The goalie rematch lived up to expectations, with T.J. Semptimphelter and Mitchell Gibsongoing save-for-save in a tense battle.
Gladiators Control Early, But Gibson Holds Firm
Atlanta came out flying in the first period, dictating pace and spending extended time in the Stingrays’ zone. Despite outshooting South Carolina and shutting down the Rays’ lone power-play chance, the Gladiators couldn’t crack Gibson, who began settling into a rhythm as the period closed with Atlanta leading 11–7 in shots.
Kupka Strikes, Tempers Flare
Atlanta opened the second on a power play but again couldn’t solve Gibson. Momentum shifted as South Carolina found their legs, and halfway through the period, a crisp neutral-zone stretch pass sent Kyler Kupka in alone. Kupka buried the chance at 9:56 for what became the only goal of the night, with Josh Wilkins picking up the 100th assist of his ECHL career.
Moments later, emotions boiled over. A scrum erupted into a full fight between Joey Cipollone and Lynden Breen, earning both players five for fighting and a ten-minute misconduct. Semptimphelter remained sharp, turning aside several dangerous opportunities to keep Atlanta within striking distance despite being outshot 12–5 in the frame.
Gibson Stands Tall in the Third
Atlanta threw everything it had at Gibson in the final 20 minutes, generating pressure and earning two more power-play opportunities. But the Stingrays’ goaltender was unshakable, turning away every look the Gladiators created. Semptimphelter nearly matched him save for save, stopping 21 of 22, but without offensive support, the Gladiators couldn’t find the equalizer.
The tight loss drops Atlanta to 8–2 on the season and 4–1 on the road, while the shutout marks a brilliant 33-save performance for Gibson.
Atlanta finished the night 0-for-3 on the power play and perfect 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
Next Up
The Gladiators conclude their four-game road swing Saturday night in Jacksonville as they face the Icemen at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Catch all the action on FloHockey and the Gladiators YouTube Channel, with coverage beginning at 6:40 PM ahead of the 7:00 PM puck drop.
