Hat trick ReadingThe Atlanta Gladiators announced a new partnership with the Georgia Public Library Service on Thursday with the unveiling of their revamped “Hat Trick for Reading” Challenge. The Gladiators “Hat Trick for Reading” program has been a staple of the organization’s rich fourteen-year history within the Metro Atlanta community, and will continue with its goal of enriching the lives of the youth of Georgia. By encouraging children to read books, and rewarding their efforts with the chance to attend an exciting Atlanta Gladiators game, the team provides the opportunity for both book and experience-based learning. The new “Hat Trick for Reading” Partnership will spread across nineteen Metro Atlanta-area library systems, covering 42 counties that will participate in the program this upcoming summer, including:

Athens Regional Library System; Atlanta-Fulton Public Library; Bartow County Library System: Chestatee Regional Library System; Clayton County Library System; Cobb County Public Library System; Conyers-Rockdale Library System; Coweta County Library System; DeKalb County Public Library; Flint River Regional Library; Forsyth County Public Library; Gwinnett County Public Library; Hall County Library System; Henry County Library System; Newton County Library System; Piedmont Regional Library System; Sequoyah Regional Library System; Uncle Remus Regional Library System; West Georgia Regional Library.

“Georgia’s public libraries are delighted to welcome the Atlanta Gladiators as a partner in promoting the value and joy of reading and learning,” said Georgia State Librarian Julie Walker. “Summer reading plays a vital role in continuing the learning process and in providing children and young adult’s access to the happy place that is found in books. The Hat Trick for Reading Challenge will be another great incentive for our kids to keep up their reading skills this summer and then enjoy an exciting Gladiators game this fall!”

The program begins on June 1st and will run through September 22nd. Students K-12 will read three books and then have their parents register their participation securely online at www.atlantagladiators.com/hattrick. Beginning on September 29th, parents are encouraged to check their email for instructions on how to obtain the student’s free ticket, available with the purchase of one adult discounted premium level ticket. (Each family may register up to four children.) The Gladiators will offer three games during the fall and early winter of 2017 for families to choose from. (DATES TBD)

“We are honored and excited to be a partner of the Georgia Public Library Service,” offered Clyde Patterson, Gladiators Director of Community and Youth Hockey Relations. “We hope that this will fuel the students’ passion for continuing their education over the summer, while giving children and their families an opportunity to be a part of the Glads Nation family.”

For further details, please contact the Atlanta Gladiators Front Office at 770-497-5100.

The Atlanta Gladiators 15th anniversary season kicks off at the Infinite Energy Arena on Friday, October 20th against the Florida Everblades at 7:35 PM. For ticket package information, visit the official team website at www.atlantagladiators.com or call the main office line at 770-497-5100.

The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the nation’s premier “AA” hockey league. All home games are played at the 11,355-seat Infinite Energy Arena, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth – where parking is always free. The Gladiators have established an unrivaled commitment to excellence, maintaining a distinctive reputation for affordable and family-friendly sports entertainment and consistently ranked as one of the top “Things To Do” in the Atlanta area and across the North Georgia region.

For all the latest team news, contests, and more visit AtlantaGladiators.com, or “like” the Gladiators on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AtlantaGladiators), follow the team on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ATLGladiators), Instagram (www.instagram.com/atlgladiators) or Snapchat (www.snapchat.com) at “gladshockey”.