Duluth, GA – Forward Derek Nesbitt scored a hat trick and added an assist as the Gwinnett Gladiators (2-0-0-1) defeated the South Carolina Stingrays (0-1-0-0) 6-2 in front of 10,076 at The Arena at Gwinnett Center Friday night. Forward Nikita Kashirsky recorded both Stingrays goals in the loss.

Nesbitt carried the scoring into the second period with his second of the night from Bendickson at 5:30 to make it 2-1. The Gladiators grabbed a two-goal lead at 8:11 when Michael Davies beat Stingrays starting goaltender Todd Ford with a wrist shot from the bottom of the right-wing circle. Davies’ tally was unassisted. Nesbitt completed the hat trick moments later at 11:41 finishing a 2-on-1 shorthanded rush with Bendickson. Gladiators defenseman Paul Flache capped the second period scoring and ended Todd Ford’s night at 16:04 from Nesbitt and Bendickson. Stingrays goaltender Jared DeMichiel made his professional debut making five saves on six Gladiators shots in 23:56 of relief.

After killing off two Gladiator power plays to begin the third period, Kashirsky lit the lamp for the second time burying a pass from forward Maxime Lacroix between the legs of Gladitors goalie Chris Carrozzi at 11:15. Gladiators forward Matt Francis rounded out the game scoring with his first of the season on the power play at 19:41 from Flache and forward Tim Miller. Carrozzi earned his first professional win stopping 21 of 23 Stingrays shots. Ford suffered the loss kicking aside 9 of 14 Gladiators chances in 36:04 of work. The Stingrays ended the night 1-for-6 on the power play while the Gladiators went 1-for-8.