The Atlanta Gladiators welcomed the Jacksonville Icemen to Gas South Arena on Friday night for a South Division matchup on Heroes Night, with both teams looking to establish control from the opening shift.
Atlanta has struggled in its opening frames as of late, often forced to play from behind. Tonight, the emphasis was on flipping that script: starting on time, managing the puck cleanly through the neutral zone, and setting the pace early rather than reacting.
With structured lineups, size on both blue lines, and capable goaltending at each end, execution in key moments and discipline were expected to shape the outcome as the building settled in for a divisional battle.
Starting Lineups
Atlanta Gladiators
Goaltender: T.J. Semptimphelter (35)
Defense: Chad Nychuk (39), Brendan Less (2)
Forwards: Ryan Francis (86), Ryan Nolan (24), Joey Cipollone (71)
Jacksonville Icemen
Goaltender: Scott Ratzlaff (33)
Defense: Brayden Hislop (23), Taos Jordan (24)
Forwards: Lincoln Griffin (70), T.J. Friedmann (26), Colby Ambrosio (7)
First Period
The physical tone arrived early on Heroes Night at Gas South Arena.
At 1:50 of the opening frame, Jacques Bouquot was assessed a slashing minor for Jacksonville, while Dylan Carabia went off for roughing in the same sequence. The coincidental penalties sent both teams to four-on-four play and set an immediate edge to the matchup.
Moments later, Atlanta struck. Chad Nychuk moved the puck up high and found Austin Roest in stride before it worked across to Brendan Less, who stepped into the shot and beat Scott Ratzlaff to open the scoring. The goal was reviewed, but officials confirmed it would stand, giving the Gladiators a 1–0 lead.
Goal (2:03, 1st): Atlanta — Brendan Less (3)
Assists: Chad Nychuk, Austin Roest
Atlanta continued to press.
Isak Walther followed with a shot that sailed wide as Atlanta maintained offensive-zone time. Joey Cipollone then let one go that missed the net but struck the referee’s skate and bounced back into play, allowing the Gladiators to keep the sequence alive.
Less disrupted a developing Jacksonville rush with a clean steal and quickly transitioned play back up ice. Ryan Conroy joined from the left side and snapped a shot on goal, but Ratzlaff flashed the glove and turned it aside.
A delayed penalty was then signaled against Atlanta for too many men on the ice, with Francis serving the minor once Jacksonville touched up.
Jacksonville entered the night ranked last in the league on the power play at 13.5 percent, but this opportunity proved effective. Adam McMaster found open ice and moved the puck across, with Logan Cockerill helping create the seam before T.J. Friedmann finished the play to tie the game.
Goal (12:53, 1st – PP): Jacksonville — T.J. Friedmann (7)
Assists: Adam McMaster, Logan Cockerill
Atlanta tried to answer. Cody Sylvester attempted a drop pass in transition but missed his target. Andrew Jarvis fired from the line and missed wide. Isak Walther then attempted a wraparound chance, but he could not tuck it past Ratzlaff at the post.
Atlanta carried slight shot advantage and controlled stretches of offensive-zone pressure, but Jacksonville executed on its special teams chance to keep things level heading into intermission.
First Period Stats
Score: Jacksonville 1 – Atlanta 1
Shots on Goal: ATL 8 | JAX 7
Power Play: ATL 0/0 | JAX 1/1
Penalty Minutes: ATL 4 | JAX 2
Second Period
Atlanta generated early looks on a power play following Brayden Hislop’s high-sticking minor. Isak Walther had a shot blocked. Alex Young tried to connect with Mickey Burns, but Jacksonville disrupted the lane.
Jacksonville flipped momentum at even strength. An over-the-top stretch pass caught Atlanta extended.
Goal (10:31, 2nd): Jacksonville — Jacques Bouquot (4)
Assists: Will Hillman, Brayden Hislop
Less than a minute later, Atlanta answered.
Goal (11:30, 2nd): Atlanta — Alex Young (21)
Assists: Mickey Burns, Cody Sylvester
Later, Burns went off for tripping. During the power play, Adam McMaster fired a shot that T.J. Semptimphelter fended off cleanly. Jacksonville created a strong net-front presence, but Atlanta held structure and killed it.
The game remained tied heading into the third.
Second Period Stats
Score: 2–2
Shots: ATL 6 | JAX 7
Power Play: ATL 0/1 | JAX 0/1
Penalty Minutes: ATL 2 | JAX 2
Third Period
Atlanta came out flying. Orzeck’s shot popped over the shoulder of Scott Ratzlaff to give Atlanta a 3–2 lead.
Goal (1:37, 3rd): Atlanta — Nolan Orzeck (7)
Assists: Cody Sylvester, Alex Young
Jacksonville answered quickly. A shot forced Semptimphelter to track it, and the defensive scramble opened space.
Goal (3:39, 3rd): Jacksonville — T.J. Friedmann (8)
Assists: Holden Wale, Patrick Bajkov
Less than a minute later:
Goal (4:20, 3rd): Jacksonville — Lincoln Griffin (10)
Assist: T.J. Friedmann
Momentum had flipped again. The physicality escalated along the boards. Alex Young delivered a hit that left Patrick Bajkov down briefly. Bajkov skated off under his own power.
Atlanta answered immediately. Multiple sliding attempts were jammed toward the crease. Instead of letting it drift through traffic, the Gladiators stayed on it.
Goal (6:06, 3rd): Atlanta — Austin Roest (1)
Assists: Brendan Less, Mike McNamee
Roest’s finish — his first as a Gladiator — tied it 4–4.
Later, Ratzlaff went down hard during a short-handed Atlanta chance. For a moment it looked like Michael Bullion might enter, but Ratzlaff stayed in net.
At 10:23, Atlanta was assessed a four-minute double minor for high-sticking. Jacksonville capitalized.
Goal (12:22, 3rd – PP): Jacksonville — Will Hillman (9)
Assists: Brayden Hislop, Colby Ambrosio
Jacksonville reclaimed a 5–4 lead.
Atlanta did not blink. With traffic building and time winding down, they struck again.
Goal (19:15, 3rd): Atlanta — Alex Young (22)
Assists: Austin Roest, Chad Nychuk
Young buried the equalizer in the final minute to force overtime.
Atlanta outshot Jacksonville 20–6 in the third period alone.
Third Period Stats
Score: 5–5
Shots: ATL 20 | JAX 6
Power Play: ATL 0/0 | JAX 1/1
Penalty Minutes: ATL 4 | JAX 0
Overtime
Three-on-three brought open ice and pace. Both teams generated looks, but neither solved the goaltenders. Semptimphelter held firm. Ratzlaff battled through traffic.
Overtime Stats
Score: 5–5
Shots: ATL 1 | JAX 5
Power Play: None
Penalty Minutes: None
Shootout
Atlanta shot first.
Round One
Isak Walther — No
Colby Ambrosio — No
Round Two
Chad Nychuk — Yes
Logan Cockerill — No
Round Three
Austin Roest — No
Adam McMaster — No
Final Stats
Final Score: Atlanta 6 – Jacksonville 5 (SO)
Total Shots:
Atlanta 36 | Jacksonville 25
Power Play:
Atlanta 0/1 | Jacksonville 2/4
Goaltenders:
T.J. Semptimphelter — 20 saves on 25 shots
Scott Ratzlaff — 30 saves on 35 shots
Three Stars of the Game
⭐ Chad Nychuk (ATL)
⭐⭐ Austin Roest (ATL)
⭐⭐⭐ T.J. Friedmann (JAX)
Final Summary
On a night built around honoring heroes, the Atlanta Gladiators showed plenty of resolve of their own.
Atlanta battled back from multiple deficits, erased a late third-period gap, and forced overtime behind a relentless push that included a 20-shot third frame. Alex Young led the charge with two goals, including the game-tying finish at 19:15, while Austin Roest recorded his first goal as a Gladiator and added two assists. Brendan Less and Nolan Orzeck also found the back of the net as Atlanta continued to generate from the blue line. Nychuk added two assists on the night, including his 100th professional point on the opening goal.
Jacksonville answered every surge for most of the night. T.J. Friedmann scored twice and added an assist, and the Icemen capitalized on two power-play opportunities. Scott Ratzlaff made 30 saves and weathered heavy pressure late to give his team a chance in extra time.
Overtime solved nothing, but the shootout did. Chad Nychuk converted in the second round, and T.J. Semptimphelter shut the door on all three Jacksonville attempts to secure the extra point.
Atlanta finishes the night with a 6–5 shootout victory and now turns its attention to a road matchup against the Savannah Ghost Pirates on Saturday night.
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