Update: Jones Skips Hockey Playoffs

Updated 5 p.m.

Doug Jones' mother, Leslie, has informed East Cobb Patch that the Gladiators asked him to stay with the team for the playoffs, but he made the tough decision to head back to New Hampshire to finish out his senior year at Dartmouth.

In effect, his time with Gwinnett was an extended, if impressive, spring break from school, and as his mother noted, hockey will still be there after graduation.

I apologize if this morning's article left the impression that the Gladiators didn't think Jones was ready or good enough to help in the playoffs.

Original Report

alum Doug Jones is not on the playoff roster for the Gwinnett Gladiators despite after signing on for the final five games of the regular season.

The Gladiators released the playoff roster Tuesday after East Cobb Patch reported on Jones' late-season hockey success since leaving Dartmouth to play with the minor-league ECHL professional team.

If you rushed to buy playoff tickets for this weekend at the Arena at Gwinnett Center to see Jones play, I apologize for misleading you.

The Gladiators promptly lost the opener of their best-of-five playoff series against the South Carolina Stingrays in North Charleston, 3-0. It was the first time all year that Gwinnett was shut out.

Having Jones' hot stick on the ice probably wouldn't have made the difference for the Gladiators but would have been a nice boost on a tough offensive night.