DULUTH, GA – Atlanta Gladiators majority owner Alex Campbell announced today that starting in the 2023-24 season, the Atlanta Gladiators will now serve as the ECHL affiliate for the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators. The Gladiators were affiliated with the Arizona Coyotes this past season.
“With the Predators being the closest NHL team to Gwinnett, we wanted to bring our fans closer than ever to our affiliation partner,” said Campbell. “We are thrilled that the road to SMASHVILLE begins in Atlanta, and we cannot wait for what the future holds for both of our organizations.”
“We are excited to welcome a strong organization in the Atlanta Gladiators to the Predators family as our new ECHL affiliate,” said Predators Assistant General Manager/Director of Hockey Operations Brian Poile. “The Gladiators have been a model of consistency in the ECHL for more than 25 years and are well positioned to reach new heights on and off the ice. With Nashville just a short drive from the Atlanta area, this partnership will help both franchises continue to expand their presence in the southern professional hockey landscape, and we’re looking forward to seeing our two passionate fanbases cheer each other on.”
Brian Poile:
In addition to the affiliation announcement, Campbell also announced that Gladiators legend Derek Nesbitt has been named the team’s sixth head coach in history. Jeff Pyle has been promoted to Director of Hockey Operations for the club.
“We’re excited to have Mr. Gladiator himself, Derek Nesbitt, as the next head coach of our storied franchise. When you think of the Atlanta Gladiators, you think of Derek Nesbitt, and his accomplishments while wearing a Gladiators jersey,” said Campbell. “With that said, we would like to sincerely thank Jeff Pyle for not only setting an example of excellence on the ice, but also your ongoing commitment to the Gladiators in the past, present, and future. We are proud to have promoted him to become our next Director of Hockey Operations.”
Jeff Pyle:
Nesbitt, 41, takes over as head coach of the club after serving as an assistant coach for the Gladiators this past season. Prior to being an assistant with Atlanta, Nesbitt served as the team’s captain for five seasons, including playing in 512 total games with the franchise, across eight total seasons. Nesbitt is the all-time leader in games played (512), goals (166), assists (258), and points (424) for the Atlanta Gladiators.
Derek Nesbitt:
The Gladiators 2023-24 campaign begins with a highly contested matchup against their interstate rivals, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, on October 21st at 7:00 PM at Gas South Arena.
