TULSA, Okla. – The first week of the 2024-25 ECHL is in the books. There were only four games on Sunday, but plenty of noteworthy performances.
In Atlanta, the Gladiators saw their second-straight shutout over the Indy Fuel, while Reading, Toledo and Tulsa all completed weekend sweeps.
Atlanta Gladiators 3, Indy Fuel 0
Ethan Haider became the second Gladiator goalie to pitch a shutout in as many nights, stopping all 31-shots he faced less than 24-hours after Drew DeRidder registered 25-saves in a 1-0 win over Indy on Saturday night. Cody Sylvester led the offense with a goal and an assist in a game that saw the Fuel out-shoot the Gladiators 31-27.
Reading Royals 2, Worcester Railers 1
Reading picked up their third road win of the weekend to remain perfect on the season. Nolan Welsh gave the Royals the early lead, scoring 4:38 into the opening period and Connor McMenamin added a power play marker five minutes later to make it 2-0. The Railers failed to find the equalizer late after Anthony Repaci cut the lead in half with six minutes remaining.
Toledo Walleye 4, Bloomington Bison 2
The Bison lit the lamp for the first two times in team history, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Walleye chipped scored four times on 27-shots to claim their second-straight road win to open the year. Gabriel Seger, Tyler Spezia and Trenton Bliss each contributed a goal and assist for Toledo. Bryce Montgomery placed himself into the record books 3:31 into the second, scoring the first goal in Bloomington Bison team history.
Tulsa Oilers 4, Rapid City Rush 1
Andrew Lucas scored mid-way through the middle frame to give Tulsa a 1-0 lead before Rapid City answered at 8:00 of the third on a Brady Pouteau goal to tie. Defenseman Mike McKee broke the tie with the would-be game-winner with just under 4:00 remaining and Tyler Poulsen added a pair of empty net goals to solidify the outcome. New York Rangers draftee Talyn Boyko made 31-saves in his first win with Tulsa.
Next Up:
The schedule resumes on Wednesday when Toledo hits the road to face Idaho. Thursday will see the Oilers hosting Mountain Division Rival Allen, while Iowa hosts Bloomington and Tahoe hosts Jacksonville for the first game in Knight Monsters history.
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