Over the next few months, The TPA team will be looking at some of the most notable names from the ECHL. These players have been chosen by our writers, not only on what impact they made in the ECHL, but also the contributions that they made at the AHL and NHL levels as well. In Saturday’s installment of Brightest Stars of the ECHL, we take a look at three players from the Atlanta Gladiators.
Derek Nesbitt
You can’t write an article about top players for the Atlanta Gladiators organization without first naming the face of the team, the captain, Derek Nesbitt.
Derek Nesbitt first joined the Gladiators organization in the 2005-2006 season. The following season, he was dealt to the Idaho Steelheads where he went on to win the 2006-2007 Kelly Cup Championship. Nesbitt returned to the Gladiators for the 2007-2008 season before spending the majority of the next three years in the AHL.
He did so between various teams, including the San Antonio Rampage, Rockford IceHogs and Manitoba Moose. Nesbitt had another brief stint with the Gladiators during the 2010-11 season before yet again being called up to the AHL.
The next four seasons saw Nesbitt playing for the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen, Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (AHL), Oklahoma City Barons (AHL), San Antonio Rampage (AHL) and the Chicago Wolves (AHL). Nesbitt also played overseas in 53 games with Italian Club HC Bolzano. After all of those back-and-forth years, the Gladiators finally got Derek Nesbitt back in the 2015-16 season and this time it is for good…we hope!
The six-foot tall Ontario native is both an ECHL veteran and the undeniable leader of the Gladiators franchise. Nesbitt always seems to display a superior level of class, work ethic and heart both on and off the ice for the organization and that appears to rub off on his younger teammates.
Nesbitt is an extremely talented forward and holds several Gladiators franchise records such as first in games played with 468; first in all-time points with 388; first in all-time goals with 156 and second in all-time assists with 232. Nesbitt also netted his career 300th professional goal with the Gladiators hockey club back in January.
Nesbitt took his love for the game a step further this year when he was named the Director of Youth Hockey at the IceForum in Duluth, Georgia for the Atlanta Phoenix Hockey Club.
Although Nesbitt is deep into his on-ice career, he is still a dynamic player and I, for one, cannot wait to see what he brings to the Gladiators organization next season.
Louis Domingue
Sure the Atlanta Gladiators have had their share of stars move on to the AHL and the NHL, but when I think of former Gladiators that made it to the show, I first think of Louis Domingue.
Domingue is an NHL goaltender who currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is currently on the roster for their 2020 Stanley Cup Playoff run.
Domingue made his ECHL debut with the Atlanta Gladiators back in 2012-2013 season. Over three seasons with the Gladiators, Domingue played in a total of 53 games played. With Domingue between the pipes for the 2012-13 season, he had a 2.69 GAA and a .904 save percentage, helping the Gladiators clinch first place in the South Division.
During the playoffs that year, Domingue recorded two shutouts along with a 2.23 GAA and a .926 save percentage. The next two seasons, Domingue earned numerous call-ups to the AHL and only ended up playing a total of nine games for the Atlanta Gladiators.
Louis Domingue made his NHL debut on January 31st, 2015 with the Arizona Coyotes against the Ottawa Senators. However, the very next day, Domingue was given the nod to start in net against the Montreal Canadiens, giving him his first NHL start. Not only that, but it was his first NHL win in a 3-2 victory.
The 6’3 Quebec native has the right combination of size and athleticism to top off his positional game. Domingue has played for four NHL teams, including the Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils and now, the Canucks.
Domingue has struggled recently between the pipes, but if he can get back to basics and get in the right frame of mind, he can surely be a force to be reckoned with.
Brad Schell
Finally, while making these picks, I have decided to go with none other than the former ECHL League MVP, Brad Schell.
The Saskatchewan native competed for the Gladiators for a whopping total of 262 games. Not only that, but he also compiled 33 playoff games.
Schell was drafted 167th overall by the Atlanta Thrashers back in 2002. He joined the Gladiators organization in 2004-2005 after spending four seasons with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs.
Schell finished his ECHL career with the Atlanta Gladiators during the 2009-2010 season. He did so towards the season’s end with a few brief stints in the AHL. Those would see him split time between San Antonio and the Chicago Wolves.
Schell was known as a prolific scorer and still holds many Gladiators franchise records to this day. He is first in all-time assists with 268; second in all-time points with 351 and third in all-time goals with 83. As previously mentioned Schell was also the league MVP for the 2006-07 season in the ECHL.
Although Schell is currently retired from professional hockey, he still maintains his involvement in the sport as he is currently the Director of Hockey Operations for TPA (Total Package Hockey) in Atlanta, Georgia.