Two Goalies, Two Goose Eggs

It’s one thing to hold a team scoreless for a game, but when it happens on back-to-back nights using two different goalies… that’s even more impressive.

The Atlanta Gladiators (2-0-0-0) swept a two-game series against the Indy Fuel (0-3-0-0) during Opening Weekend in the ECHL, with neither Drew DeRidder nor Ethan Haider giving up a goal.

Atlanta scored its lone goal Saturday at Gas South Arena on a power play. Fuel captain Chris Cameron was called for a minor penalty at the 16:32 mark of the first period. It only took eight seconds into the man advantage for Cody Sylvester to capitalize, whipping a slapper past Indy netminder Peyton Jones.

That goal would hold up the rest of the night, with DeRidder stopping all 25 shots he faced, while Jones saved 19 out of 20 in the Fuel’s tough loss.

Sunday afternoon proved to be a similar defensive struggle. After a scoreless first period, Jackson Pierson got the Gladiators on the board just 90 seconds into the second, rifling a wrist shot past Indy goaltender Benjamin Gaudreau.

Atlanta protected that narrow one-goal advantage into the third, while Haider stopped all 23 shots from the Fuel through 40 minutes.

Sylvester would give his team an insurance goal later in the period after skating into the zone, speeding around the net and putting a shot from the high slot past Gaudreau upstairs. Ryan Cranford would ice the game with an empty-netter for a 3-0 win to cap off a sweep. Haider made 31 saves to nail down the shutout in his first professional game.

The Gladiators acquired DeRidder in a trade with the Iowa Heartlanders in July in exchange for the rights to forward Parker AuCoin.

The 24-year-old DeRidder put up impressive numbers for Iowa as a rookie last season, posting a 10-10-4 record with a .905 save percentage and 3.05 goals-against average in 25 games. He was named Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week January 29.

Before turning pro, the native of Fenton, Michigan played four seasons of collegiate hockey with Michigan State University, appearing in 70 games. During the 2022-23 season, DeRidder suited up for the University of North Dakota, backstopping the Fighting Hawks to 13 wins, while recording a 2.53 GAA.

"We're thrilled to add Drew to our group," assistant coach Matt Ginn said following the transaction. "He had a great rookie season last year in Iowa, where he earned more and more ice time, which is a testament to his work ethic and ability. Drew's compete level will give us a chance to win each night. He's a tremendous teammate, and we're excited to bring him aboard."

Haider was assigned to Atlanta by the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals during training camp after four successful seasons at Clarkson University and the University of Connecticut.

In 21 games with the Huskies last year, the 23-year-old Haider had a 7-11-2 record, 2.91 GAA and .906 save percentage.

Prior to Connecticut, the 6-foot-3, 209-pound goaltender won 36 combined games across three seasons with Clarkson, recording a GAA under 3.00 each season with the team.

A fifth-round pick (148th overall) of the Nashville Predators in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Haider has also spent time in the USHL and NAHL, playing for the Minnesota Magicians and Sioux City Musketeers.

Gladiators fans can bid for signed pucks used in DeRidder’s and Haider’s shutouts, as well as Haider’s stick from Sunday’s game in a live auction. Bids for the items can be placed here.

The going gets tougher for the Gladiators this weekend, as they travel to Estero for a two-game series against the Kelly Cup Champion Florida Everblades at Hertz Arena.