ECHL: Atlanta Gladiators Media Day — Day Two

After the energy of Day One, the Atlanta Gladiators carried that same spark into Day Two of their online Media Day — this time pairing players two at a time for candid, fast-paced conversations streamed live on YouTube. The setup added a natural rhythm and an easy chemistry to the mix, giving fans the kind of unscripted laughter and honest reflection that made the event feel less like media availability and more like locker-room banter.

By now, fans have grown used to the rhythm — short, conversational segments that showcase the team’s personality as much as its preparation. The difference on Day Two was the depth. Between jokes about TikTok trends, go-kart rivalries, and movie trivia, players revealed something bigger: the foundation of a team culture built on experience, humility, and connection.

Setting the Standard

The afternoon began with two of Atlanta’s longest-tenured players, Cody Sylvester and Zach Yoder. Their easy chemistry and shared history set the tone for the day. Both have been through the franchise’s highs and lows and understand what it takes to build consistency, not just on the ice but also in the locker room.

Sylvester, recently named team captain, reflected on training camp with the poise of someone who’s seen the team evolve.

“It’s been good. The guys are all hired and we’re out there pushing each other every day. I think training camp’s going well so far — we’ve got a pretty good team. We look good, we look fast, and we’ve got some big bodies out there.”

Beside him, Yoder offered his own take, echoing the same focus on pace and preparation.

“I think we’ve looked fast and pretty crisp so far. Maybe one kind of off day, but outside of that, even today I thought we looked really good. Passes were connecting. We’re super deep. I think that’s a big thing right now — all four lines, all six D, we can roll.”

Yoder’s words carried the quiet authority of experience. For him, leadership comes from habit, consistency, and connection.

Sylvester, meanwhile, took a moment to acknowledge the larger leadership group surrounding him.

“It’s a great honor to have that ‘C’ on your chest,” he said. “I’ve been through a couple of captains since I’ve been here, and they were great leaders. This year we’ve got Jar [Andrew Jarvis] and Lou [Louis Boudon] wearing the A’s, but there are a ton of guys in that room who’ve worn letters throughout their careers. It’s pretty easy when you’ve got that many leaders all in the same room.”

The conversation drifted to culture — not strategy or systems, but how this team interacts. The two laughed about the younger players’ obsession with the “6-7” TikTok trend.

“Younger guys are more into that whole TikTok thing,” Sylvester said. “I’ve never had TikTok in my life, so all that stuff’s a little different to me. You’ve got to learn from those guys too.”

What followed was five minutes of good-natured confusion as the veterans tried to decode the meaning of the meme, eventually admitting defeat. Yoder grinned, shaking his head. “If we went up to Lindy, he could probably tell you.”

It was the perfect snapshot of this team’s balance — experience meeting energy, and veterans setting the tone through laughter, patience, and accountability rather than title. into the team dynamic — veterans trying to understand their rookies, and rookies keeping them young.

Veteran Presence

As the interviews rotated, Mike McNamee and Dylan Carabia joined next, a veteran-rookie pairing that captured one of the day’s most balanced conversations. McNamee, who returns to professional hockey after time away, spoke candidly about rediscovering rhythm.

“It’s been good — just trying to get back into the flow of things and figure out how to play the game again,” he said with a grin. “The team looks good, it’s a solid group, pretty easy room to fit in. I’m just having fun and looking forward to Saturday.”

Carabia, entering his fourth year in Atlanta, built on that thought.

“We’ve got a lot of good groups here in the past, but I think there’s an expectation this year to really do well. There’s not another option,” he said. “Everyone seems committed — coaching staff, front office, everyone. It’s one big team.”

Both players emphasized how closely they’ve worked with Head Coach Matt Ginn and Assistant Coach Zach Vinnell through camp. “Their communication is clear,” Carabia added. “They’re personal, they don’t beat around the bush, and that makes a big difference.”

McNamee nodded toward the practice habits that have set the tone.

“You can’t really fabricate that game speed until you’re in it,” he said. “We didn’t have preseason games, so it’s on us to push each other every day in practice — to keep that pace up.”

Their discussion of chemistry returned often to what has become a team hallmark — the go-karting event. “Probably the best thing we’ve done at the start of the year,” Sylvester had said earlier. McNamee laughed recalling his race, “I finished second,” before Carabia chimed in, “User error, man. I spun out, but it wasn’t my fault!”

Moments like that revealed the team’s balance — competitive but connected, serious about the work but quick to share a laugh.

Defense in Motion

The next pairing brought fresh faces from the blue line — Brendan Less and Ryan Conroy — both arriving in Atlanta after time with the Adirondack Thunder. For them, familiarity came easily.

“We were neighbors last year,” Less said. “I spent a lot of time with [Conroy], so it’s always good going to a new team when you already have someone you know.”

Conroy, smiling beside him, added, “Yeah, for sure. Definitely excitement — knowing you’re going to a good spot and that there are familiar faces helps a lot.”

Both defensemen spoke about adjusting to the southern climate with a sense of wonder. “This is my first time living down here,” Less said. “Southern hospitality is real — everyone’s been welcoming.”

Their conversation turned to training camp and the systems under Ginn and Vinnell. “It’s been fast,” Conroy said. “You’re just getting back into rhythm, getting used to that competitive environment again.”

Less, who also attended the Milwaukee Admirals’ AHL camp, described the pace as a wake-up call.

“The pace was really fast,” he said. “It’s a great way to not only showcase what we can do but also prepare for coming down here to Atlanta. It helps get that comfort level early.”

The defensive duo’s humor shone when talk shifted to locker-room personalities. Conroy laughed about facing rookie goaltender T.J. Semptimphelter in practice: “ T.J. was in my grill the other day, kind of giving it to me. He’s a funny guy — always yapping.”

Less smirked. “Yeah, he’s a Jersey guy like me. He cracks me up every time.”

Rookies and Roommates

As rookies Jack Robilotti and Kalan Lind took their seats, the generational theme returned. Lind, just 20, joined the Gladiators after being drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2023. He spoke about the whirlwind few weeks that brought him to Georgia.

“I was up in Nashville for camp, then Milwaukee, and got sent down here two days ago,” Lind said. “It’s been awesome — the guys have been great and it’s been good getting to work right away.”

For Robilotti, who joined late last season, this marks his first full year as a pro. “I’m just excited to play a full 72-game season,” he said. “The biggest thing is adapting — taking care of your body because the schedule’s longer. I’m just excited to play in different rinks and with this group.”

Lind grinned when asked about the jump from junior hockey. “It’s definitely different,” he admitted. “You’re learning how to be a pro — the little things like staying after practice, working in the gym, doing the extra stuff.”

When the subject of TikTok resurfaced, both laughed. “I’ve just seen it on Instagram,” Lind said of the “6-7” trend. “No clue where it came from.” Robilotti added, “I only know about it through my younger sisters.”

Both also spoke about watching the veterans, and how that is helping them learn what they need heading into the season. “Guys like Sly,” Robilotti said, “you just watch how he prepares. It’s about learning how to be a pro.”

Returning Firepower

The final interviews of the day featured Mickey Burns and Connor Galloway, two forwards whose connection on and off the ice mirrors the team’s overall energy shift. Burns, entering his second year, carried himself with quiet focus. Galloway, from Sugar Hill, radiated enthusiasm.

“It’s been good,” Galloway said. “The speed of the team — everyone’s been pushing the pace, and that’s what you hope for at the start of camp.”

Burns nodded, adding, “It’s an exciting time. Everyone brings something different, and the chemistry’s already starting to build.”

For Galloway, last season was a breakthrough — his first as a pro, his first wearing the same colors he grew up watching. This year, it’s about evolution. “Now it’s about taking another step,” he said. “Being more of a go-to guy, helping the team out, and just keeping things moving forward.”

Then came the moment fans latched onto. The two laughed when the conversation turned to nicknames. “He’s The Mayor,” Burns joked, gesturing toward Galloway. “Everywhere we go, somebody knows him.”

The YouTube chat lit up instantly with fans echoing the nickname. Galloway shook his head, smiling. “Something like that, I guess,” he said.

It stuck — the kind of unscripted moment that reminds fans why this team feels different. They’re not just athletes; they’re genuine people, full of humor, heart, and team pride.

“That support means a lot,” Galloway said later. “I was one of those kids once, looking up to the Gladiators. Now I get to wear the same jersey. It’s special.”

A Team Taking Shape

As Day Two wound down, the themes were clear — leadership built on respect, rookies ready to learn, and veterans setting the tone through consistency. From Sylvester’s calm leadership to Galloway’s local pride, the Gladiators’ identity is beginning to take shape: fast, mature, and quietly confident.

Between jokes about old comedies and stories from go-kart races, what stood out most wasn’t just the laughter — it was the sense of a team belonging to each other and to its fanbase. Everyone, from rookies to veterans, spoke like they understood the assignment.

And if Day Two was any indication, the locker room is in good hands.

Fans won’t have to wait long to see it all come together as Atlanta opens their regular season this weekend against the Utah Grizzlies.

Atlanta Gladiators Media Day. (2025). Gladiators Media Day – Day Two [YouTube].