ECHL: Atlanta Gladiators vs Jacksonville Icemen | 03/20/2026

Atlanta followed with its best sequence of the period, generating sustained pressure and multiple high-danger opportunities. Jack O’Brien found himself in prime scoring areas more than once. Each chance slipped away, missing just wide or getting turned aside.

Jacksonville made that stretch count.

Goal (12:56, 1st): Jacksonville — Adam McMaster (17)
Assists: Jacques Bouquot, Holden Wale

The Icemen capitalized on a quick transition play, and Atlanta found itself trailing despite controlling much of the pressure. The Gladiators responded late in the period with another push, as Ryan Conroy, Isak Walther, and Mike McNamee each generated chances. They forced Topias Leinonen into a series of stops. The looks were there, but the rebounds never fell in Atlanta’s favor. And the Gladiators headed into the intermission down one.

First Period Stats
Shots on Goal: Jacksonville 11 | Atlanta 10
Saves: Ethan Haider 10 | Topias Leinonen 10
Penalty Minutes: Jacksonville 7 | Atlanta 5

Second Period

If the first period felt frustrating, the second only amplified it. Atlanta didn’t just respond—they took control of the game from the opening faceoff. The Gladiators dominated possession early, holding the puck for extended stretches. Atlanta forced Jacksonville to defend for over a minute before recording a touch. The pressure translated into chances, with Cody Sylvester, Joey Cipollone, and Mike McNamee all generating movement around the net. But still could not find the back of the net.

Atlanta continued to build momentum through the middle of the period, with Jack O’Brien, Carson Denomie, and Ryan Francis grinding along the boards and extending offensive zone time. Every shift felt like it could tie the game, but nothing broke through. A tripping penalty on Taos Jordan gave Atlanta another opportunity on the power play. While the puck movement improved through Chad Nychuk, Alex Young, and O’Brien, the result stayed the same as Leinonen held firm.

The game opened up from there, with both teams trading chances. Isak Walther, Cipollone, and Sylvester generated quality looks, while Jacksonville countered with rushes led by Logan Cockerill and McMaster. The Icemen nearly extended the lead with a shot off the crossbar, but the puck stayed out. Atlanta was still within reach.

The Gladiators kept pushing, creating one of their best sequences on a net-front scramble involving O’Brien and Francis. However, the puck was cleared before it could cross the line. Moments later, Sylvester and Cipollone both fired from prime areas only to be denied again by Leinonen.

Late in the period, Atlanta was forced to defend after Ryan Conroy was called for a penalty. The Gladiators’ penalty kill stepped up once again, holding Jacksonville to the outside and clearing rebounds. Tensions carried into the intermission after a late hit sparked a brief scrum along the boards.

Through forty minutes, the story remained unchanged. Atlanta had the chances, but they were still chasing.

Second Period Stats
Shots on Goal: Atlanta 9 | Jacksonville 7
Saves: Ethan Haider 7 | Topias Leinonen 9
Penalty Minutes: Atlanta 2 | Jacksonville 2

Third Period

Atlanta entered the third period still within one, and for a stretch, it felt like the game was there to be taken. The Gladiators pushed early, with Cody Sylvester, Mickey Burns, and Alex Young working the puck low and creating looks between the circles. Chances came in quick bursts, but Jacksonville continued to get sticks in lanes and bodies in front, preventing anything clean from reaching the net. At the other end, Ethan Haider came up with a key save on a developing rush, holding the deficit at one and giving Atlanta a chance to build momentum.

That moment never came.

A penalty to Ethan Scardina shifted the game, sending Jacksonville to the power play—and this time, they capitalized.

Goal (8:10, 3rd): Jacksonville — Adam McMaster (18) [PP]
Assists: Jed Pietila, David Jankowski

McMaster struck for his second of the night, extending the Icemen lead to 2–0 and forcing Atlanta into a more desperate push.

Less than a minute later, the game broke open.

Goal (9:08, 3rd): Jacksonville — Craig Martin (14)
Assists: Jaden Condotta, Tyler Kopff

A quick sequence off the rush turned into another Jacksonville goal, pushing the lead to three and flipping the momentum entirely. In just under a minute, Atlanta went from within reach to chasing a steep climb.

To their credit, the Gladiators answered.

A power-play opportunity gave Atlanta the opening it needed, and this time they made it count.

Goal (11:53, 3rd): Atlanta — Ryan Conroy (4) [PP]
Assists: Brendan Less, Nolan Orzeck

Conroy fired a shot through traffic from the point, breaking the shutout and cutting the deficit to 3–1. It was a needed response—and for a moment, it gave Atlanta something to build on.

They pushed hard from there.

With time winding down, Atlanta pulled the goaltender and pressed with the extra attacker. Jack O’Brien, Isak Walther, and Joey Cipollone all had opportunities as the Gladiators moved the puck well and generated pressure around the crease. A late empty-net attempt from Jacksonville even rang off the post, keeping the door open just a little longer.

But the finish never came.

Jacksonville locked things down defensively, clearing rebounds and forcing Atlanta to the outside as the final minutes ticked away. The chances were there—but like much of the night, they just wouldn’t fall.

And in the final seconds, the Icemen sealed it.

Goal (19:30, 3rd): Jacksonville — Will Hillman (12) [EN]
Assists: Craig Martin, Tyler Kopff

The empty-net goal closed it out, and the frustration that had been building all night finally spilled over into a late scrum along the boards, resulting in multiple misconducts as the horn approached.

Atlanta had their chances.

But Jacksonville finished—and that was the difference.

Third Period Stats

Shots on Goal: Jacksonville 9 | Atlanta 4
Saves: Ethan Haider 6 | Topias Leinonen 3
Penalty Minutes: Atlanta 24 | Jacksonville 22

Final Score

Jacksonville Icemen — 4
Atlanta Gladiators — 1

Shots on Goal: Atlanta 23 | Jacksonville 27
Power Play: Atlanta 1-for-3 | Jacksonville 1-for-3

Three Stars of the Game

⭐ Adam McMaster (JAX)
⭐⭐ Topias Leinonen (JAX)
⭐⭐⭐ Craig Martin (JAX)

Game Summary

The Atlanta Gladiators controlled stretches of play and generated opportunities throughout the night, particularly in the first two periods, but were unable to capitalize early. Jacksonville took advantage of its chances, led by Adam McMaster’s two-goal performance and a steady night from Topias Leinonen, who turned aside 22 of 23 shots.

Atlanta broke through late on a power-play goal from Ryan Conroy, but the Icemen responded quickly and closed the game out with an empty-net goal to secure the 4–1 win.

• ECHL: Atlanta’s Ethan Haider Named Goaltender of the Week | 01/19-01/25/2026
• ECHL Series Recap: Florida Everblades vs Atlanta Gladiators | 03/11-03/12/2026
• ECHL Game Recap: Jacksonville Icemen vs Atlanta GLadiators | 02/06/2026
• ECHL Game Recap: South Carolina Stingrays vs Atlanta Gladiators | 03/15/2026
• Despite their division rankings, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits aren’t shying away from a significant playoff spot