{"id":229046,"date":"2026-04-12T22:42:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T22:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/229046\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T22:42:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T22:42:41","slug":"echl-atlanta-gladiators-vs-jacksonville-icemen-04-11-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/229046\/","title":{"rendered":"ECHL: Atlanta Gladiators vs Jacksonville Icemen | 04\/11\/2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Atlanta Gladiators<\/a> picked up a 5\u20134 shootout win over the Jacksonville Icemen<\/a> on Saturday night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, closing out the regular season series in dramatic fashion.<\/p>\n

With playoff positioning on the line, Atlanta entered the night looking to jump South Carolina in the standings, while Jacksonville fought to keep its postseason hopes alive. By the end of the night, the Gladiators had done exactly that, moving into second place in the South Division following the win and help elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Ethan Haider got the start for Atlanta, while Michael Bullion was between the pipes for Jacksonville.<\/p>\n

Starting Lineups<\/p>\n

Atlanta Gladiators<\/p>\n

Goaltender: Ethan Haider (31)
Defense: Nolan Orzeck (9), Cam Gaudette (10)
Forwards: Brett Bulmer (14), Jack O\u2019Brien (19), Eric Neiley (59)<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Icemen<\/p>\n

Goaltender: Michael Bullion (50)
Forwards: Colby Ambrosio (7), Logan Cockerill (9), Peter Tischke (16), Will Hillman (49)<\/p>\n

First Period<\/p>\n

Just seconds into the game, Ethan Haider was tested immediately, flashing the glove on an early Jacksonville chance to keep things scoreless. That sequence set the pace for a high-tempo opening frame, with both teams trading chances and pushing play in transition.<\/p>\n

Jacksonville generated early pressure, including a dangerous odd-man rush and multiple looks from the slot, but Haider remained sharp through traffic and second-chance opportunities to keep the Icemen off the board.<\/p>\n

Atlanta answered with sustained pressure of its own. A turnover at the Jacksonville blue line led to a clean look for Eric Neiley between the circles. However, Bullion made the stop. The Gladiators continued to build momentum, forcing turnovers and creating high-danger chances, particularly from the Neiley\u2013O\u2019Brien\u2013Bulmer line.<\/p>\n

Midway through the period, Atlanta finally broke through. At 15:20, Isak Walther got a stick on a point shot from Ryan Conroy, redirecting it past Bullion to give the Gladiators a 1\u20130 lead.<\/p>\n

Goal (1st | 15:20): Atlanta \u2014 Isak Walther (23)
Assists: Ryan Conroy, Brendan Less<\/p>\n

Haider continued to be a difference-maker late in the period. He would turn aside multiple point shots and rebound chances to preserve the lead.<\/p>\n

With just 1.3 seconds remaining, Jack O\u2019Brien fed Brett Bulmer, who buried his first goal as a Gladiator at 19:58 to extend the lead to 2\u20130.<\/p>\n

Goal (1st | 19:58): Atlanta \u2014 Brett Bulmer (1)
Assists: Jack O\u2019Brien, Eric Neiley<\/p>\n

BRETT BULMER WITH THE SNIPE AT THE BUZZER! \ud83c\udfaf
THAT’S HIS FIRST GOAL WITH THE GLADIATORS!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8: Bulmer (1)
\ud83c\udf4e: O’Brien <\/p>\n

2-0 ATL | 00:01.3 P1 pic.twitter.com\/4lZlZLAgZ6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Atlanta Gladiators (@atlgladiators) April 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The late-period goal capped off a strong opening frame for Atlanta, combining timely scoring with key stops from Haider.<\/p>\n

Jacksonville pushed back immediately and nearly flipped the game before the period even settled in.<\/p>\n

Just 15 seconds in, Atlanta thought it had extended the lead when a puck appeared to cross the line off a scramble play. After a review by officials, the call on the ice stood as no goal.<\/p>\n

Moments later, Atlanta was handed a major opportunity.<\/p>\n

A double minor for high-sticking to Logan Cockerill at 1:50 gave the Gladiators a full four-minute power play. Atlanta generated sustained pressure during the advantage. They worked the puck around the zone with multiple looks from Adam Eisele, Alex Young, and Brett Bulmer. Jacksonville\u2019s penalty kill held, and that missed opportunity proved costly.<\/p>\n

As soon as Cockerill stepped out of the box, the game turned. At 5:18, he jumped into the play and set up Adam McMaster on a cross-ice feed for a 2-on-1 finish, cutting the deficit to 2\u20131.<\/p>\n

Goal (2nd | 5:18): Jacksonville \u2014 Adam McMaster (19)
Assists: Logan Cockerill, Taos Jordan<\/p>\n

Jacksonville didn\u2019t slow down. At 8:02, Jed Pietila fired a shot through traffic that changed direction in front, slipping past Haider to tie the game at 2\u20132.<\/p>\n

Goal (2nd | 8:02): Jacksonville \u2014 Jed Pietila (5)
Assists: Adam McMaster, Craig Martin<\/p>\n

Momentum fully swung in Jacksonville\u2019s favor, and the Icemen continued to press. Atlanta\u2019s penalty kill was tested again midway through the period. This was a critical 5-on-3 sequence. Shot blocks and defensive structure from players like Carson Denomie helped keep the game tied.<\/p>\n

Despite being outshot and outpaced for much of the period, Atlanta weathered the storm. They escaped the second period tied at 2\u20132 after surrendering their early lead.<\/p>\n

Second Period Stats<\/p>\n

Shots on Goal: Jacksonville 12 | Atlanta 9
Saves: Ethan Haider 10 | Michael Bullion 9
Penalty Minutes: Atlanta 4 | Jacksonville 4<\/p>\n

Third Period<\/p>\n

The third period turned into a back-and-forth battle\u2014and Kirklan Irey\u2019s night.<\/p>\n

Atlanta regained the lead at 2:46 when Kirklan Irey scored the first goal of his professional career. His goal was off a sharp angle off a setup from Zach Yoder and Ryan Nolan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Goal (3rd | 2:46): Atlanta \u2014 Kirklan Irey (1)
Assists: Zach Yoder, Ryan Nolan<\/p>\n

Jacksonville answered on the power play.<\/p>\n

At 6:02, Logan Cockerill tied the game at 3\u20133 with his sixth of the season. He finished a play from David Jankowski and Peter Tischke.<\/p>\n

Goal (3rd | 6:02): Jacksonville \u2014 Logan Cockerill (6) (PP)
Assists: David Jankowski, Peter Tischke<\/p>\n

Cockerill struck again just over two minutes later.<\/p>\n

At 8:20, he added his second of the night, firing through traffic from the left point off feeds from Colby Ambrosio and Jack Babbage to give Jacksonville its first lead at 4\u20133.<\/p>\n

Goal (3rd | 8:20): Jacksonville \u2014 Logan Cockerill (7)
Assists: Colby Ambrosio, Jack Babbage<\/p>\n

Atlanta didn\u2019t go away.<\/p>\n

Just 1:26 later, Irey answered with his second of the night, batting a puck out of midair off a play from Ethan Scardina and Ryan Nolan to tie the game at 4\u20134.<\/p>\n

Goal (3rd | 9:46): Atlanta \u2014 Kirklan Irey (2)
Assists: Ethan Scardina, Ryan Nolan<\/p>\n

Late penalties to Atlanta\u2014including minors to Nolan Orzeck, Brett Bulmer, Ryan Francis, and Irey\u2014gave Jacksonville multiple chances on the power play, but the Gladiators\u2019 penalty kill held strong.<\/p>\n

Third Period Stats<\/p>\n

Shots on Goal: Jacksonville 8 | Atlanta 5
Saves: Ethan Haider 6 | Michael Bullion 3
Penalty Minutes: Atlanta 10 | Jacksonville<\/p>\n

Overtime<\/p>\n

The Gladiators\u2019 penalty kill\u2014and its goaltender\u2014delivered in the biggest moment of the night.<\/p>\n

At 2:52, Atlanta was assessed two penalties at once, a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct and an interference call to Alex Young, giving Jacksonville a full 5-on-3 advantage. With the game on the line, the Gladiators leaned heavily on their penalty kill unit, collapsing defensively and forcing Jacksonville to the outside.<\/p>\n

Ethan Haider came up with multiple key saves during the sequence, tracking the puck through traffic and denying clean looks from the slot to keep the game tied.<\/p>\n

Even after the penalties expired, Jacksonville maintained pressure. A turnover in front created a dangerous chance late in the period, but Haider stood tall once again, making a stop in tight to preserve the tie.<\/p>\n

Atlanta survived the extended push and forced the game to a shootout.<\/p>\n

Shootout<\/p>\n

Jacksonville would shoot first, but Ethan Haider immediately set the tone.<\/p>\n

In the opening round, Haider turned aside Adam McMaster, while Alex Young was unable to convert on Atlanta\u2019s first attempt.<\/p>\n

The turning point came in the second round.<\/p>\n

Haider denied Logan Cockerill, one of Jacksonville\u2019s most dangerous players all night, and moments later, Adam Eisele beat Michael Bullion to give Atlanta the advantage.<\/p>\n

With the game on his stick in the third round, Colby Ambrosio was stopped by Haider, who closed the door to secure the 5\u20134 shootout victory.<\/p>\n

Atlanta finished 1-for-2 in the shootout, while Jacksonville was held scoreless on all three attempts.<\/p>\n

Final Score<\/p>\n

Atlanta Gladiators 5, Jacksonville Icemen 4 (SO)<\/p>\n

Final Stats<\/p>\n

Shots on Goal: Jacksonville 34 | Atlanta 26
Power Play: Atlanta 0-for-2 | Jacksonville 1-for-9
Penalty Kill: Atlanta 8-for-9
Penalty Minutes: Atlanta 18 | Jacksonville 4<\/p>\n

Goaltender Summary<\/p>\n

Ethan Haider (ATL): 30 saves on 34 shots, 3\/3 in shootout
Michael Bullion (JAX): 21 saves on 25 shots<\/p>\n

Three Stars of the Game<\/p>\n

\u2b50 Adam Eisele (ATL) \u2014 Shootout winner
\u2b50\u2b50 Logan Cockerill (JAX) \u2014 2 goals, 1 assist
\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50 Kirklan Irey (ATL) \u2014 2 goals, including his first professional goal<\/p>\n

Game Summary<\/p>\n

Atlanta built an early two-goal lead, weathered Jacksonville\u2019s push, and responded in a back-and-forth third period behind Kirklan Irey\u2019s first two professional goals.<\/p>\n

The difference came from the penalty kill and goaltending, as the Gladiators went 8-for-9 while shorthanded\u2014including a critical 5-on-3 kill in overtime\u2014before closing it out in the shootout.<\/p>\n

With the win, Atlanta moved into second place in the South Division.<\/p>\n

Click here to see the full game gallery from our photographer, Andrew Fielder.<\/a><\/p>\n

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