Split decision. Atlanta drops a 3-2 matchup against the Norfolk Admirals to earn a split of the 2-game home opening series to start the 2026-27 season.
Preview: Norfolk Admirals (1-1-0-0/2 points/5th place in the ECHL North) vs Atlanta Gladiators (1-1-0-0/2 points/4th place ECHL South)
Coming into their Sunday afternoon matchup against the Norfolk Admirals (October 18, 2026 at 3:10pm at the Gas South District), the Atlanta Gladiators look to win both games of their opening weekend matchups and conclude with a 2-1 overall record. After their season-opening loss at the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (5-1) and their home opening win against Norfolk (2-1), they look for the home sweep. In the early season, Mike McNamee (1 goal/2 assists/3 points/a 0 +/- rating) and Ethan Strang (1 goal/2 assists/3 points/a -1 +/- rating) lead the offense; while Ethan Haider (1-1-0-0 record/3.00 goals allowed average) draws the first 2 starts of the season, T.J. Semptimphelter draws the start for Game 3 of the regular season.
The Norfolk Admirals are led by Will Gavin (2 goals/1 assist/3 points/a 0 +/- rating) and Grant Herbert (1 goal/2 assists/3 points/a +3 +/- rating) on offense. Matt Vernon (1-0-0-0 record/0.00 goals allowed average) is "between the pipes" (goaltender) as the the team is looking to earn a split of the 2-game series.
Game highlights: The Admirals' barrage on goal is part of the reason for prevailing against the Glads.
The Admirals waste little time in getting on the scoreboard. Just 35 seconds into the 1st period, Brandon Osmundson scores his 3rd goal of the season (assisted by Will Magnuson and Grant Herbert) to take an early 1-0 lead. The Gladiators tie the game just after the midpoint of the 1st period (11:59 of the 1st period) as Ethan Strang nets his 2nd goal of the season (Connor Caponi provides the assist), but later in the 1st period (14:30 in the 1st period) Will Gavin's 2nd goal of the season via the power play (assist by Jack O'Leary) allows the Admirals to regain the lead and go into the 1st intermission with a 2-1 lead.
The second period is played to a draw, setting the stage for the 3rd period.
Will Gavin's 2nd goal of the game (3rd of the season at the 6:51 mark of the 3rd period) extends the Admirals' lead to 3-1 (assisted by Kristof Papp). However, the Glads's Samuel Tremblay scores his first goal of the season just 12 seconds later (7:03 in the 3rd period/assisted by Andrew Jarvis) to get Atlanta within a goal (3-2).
Despite a late power play opportunity for the Glads inside the last 2 minutes, the Admirals would hang on for a win and earn a split of the 2-game series.
Post-game: Atlanta looks to return to the .500 mark as they start their upcoming road trip.
Atlanta Head Coach Matt Ginn and team captain Andrew Jarvis speak with the media post-game.
Norfolk's ability to create chaos around the net (they outshoot Atlanta 45-37 and are 1 for 5 on the power play while Atlanta is 0 for 5) is part of the reason for the Admirals' win. By the same token, both Coach Ginn and Jarvis speak to aspects of the team's play they'll have to clean up as they prepare for an 8-game road stretch which begins this Friday (October 23, 2026) with a 2-game series at the Florida Everblades (the 2026 ECHL/Kelly Cup Champions).
Norfolk's Will Gavin (2 goals) and goaltender Matt Vernon (35 goals on 37 shots) play key roles in the Admirals' win. For Atlanta, T.J. Semptimphelter's efforts in goal (42 saves on 45 shots) keep the Glads in the game along with the single-goal efforts of Ethan Strang and Samuel Tremblay.
NOTES. Keep track of our 2026-27 season snapshots (game play, interviews, and more) by visiting our season playlist (click HERE). The second photogrid photos are credited to EmoryRose Photography.
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