Checkers burning up the ECHL

by ECHL Press Release
Published on January 16, 2001 under ECHL (ECHL)

ECHL Press Release

CHECKERS MATCH STINGRAYS MARK TO EARN THIRD PLACE IN THE NORTHEAST

Offense from Scott King, Marc Tropper, Boyd Kane and Kevin Hilton coupled with strong goaltending by Scott Bailey has helped the Charlotte Checkers win their last nine games.

The Checkers' streak ties South Carolina's mark for the longest win streak in the League this season, and it ties Charlotte's franchise record for the longest winning streak set in 1995-96. Charlotte puts its winning streak on the line Friday at Greensboro and returns home on Saturday to host Southeast Division leader South Carolina, who earlier this season set a League record with 10 consecutive road wins.

Charlotte's win streak began December 29 with a 5-4 win at Greensboro and includes three road wins and six home wins, including three last week. Charlotte has outscored its opponents, 50-25, during the streak and has won seven in a row against Northern Division teams, including four over Northeast Division opponents. The Checkers opened the season winless in their first six home games (0-4-2), but are 11-1-3 in their last 15, including their current six-game home streak.

King, who leads the League in shooting percentage (24.51%), has a point in each of the nine games, scoring 22 points (7g, 15a), while Hilton, who leads the League with 39 assists, has an assist in eight straight games (12 assists) and has 14 points (2g, 12a) during the streak.

In the nine games, Tropper, who leads the League with 12 power play goals, has 17 points (7g, 10a) and Kane has 15 points (9g, 6a). Mathieu Benoit returned from Hartford in the American Hockey League on January 11 and has scored nine points (5g, 4a) in three games. Benoit has a four-game goal-scoring streak (six goals) that dates back to December 23.

Bailey has been strong between the pipes winning six straight games to tie the third-longest winning streak in team history. Bailey is 6-0-0 with a 2.67 GAA and a .914 save percentage during the streak.

The streak includes a 10-4 win against Pee Dee on January 5 that saw the Checkers set the season high for points (28) and assists (18) while tying the season high for goals (10) as 13 of 16 players recorded at least one point. Charlotte posted back-to-back eight-goal games last week and has taken over the League lead in goals (145), assists (256), points (401) and goals per game (3.72).

The longest winning streak in League history is 14 games set by the Knoxville Cherokees in 1993-94. The Florida Everblades won 12 straight games last season, tying the record for the second-longest winning streak.

NOTES FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE

STINGRAYS TOUGH TO BEAT ON THE ROAD

South Carolina has won five straight road games giving it 16 road wins, tied for the League lead with Trenton, who has also won five straight road games. The Stingrays, who set the League record with 10 straight road wins from November 2 to December 9, travel to Roanoke on Friday and Charlotte on Saturday.

ICEGATORS CONTINUE HOME GAME SUCCESS

Louisiana has won nine straight home games since December 6, the longest home winning streak of the season in the League. The IceGators will look for their 10th straight win on Sunday when they host Arkansas. The longest home-winning streak in League history is 18 games by South Carolina in 1994-95. Louisiana had the third-longest home-winning streak in League history last year when it won 15 consecutive games.

PRIDE AND TITANS EXTEND WINNING STREAKS

Both the Pride and the Titans have won five games in a row. Pee Dee has moved up to second place in the Southeast Division, 10 points behind South Carolina. The streak is the longest of the season for the Pride, and the longest since an eight-game winning streak last season. Trenton remains atop the League with a two-point advantage over South Carolina. In their last four games, the Titans defeated three of the top four teams in the Northern Conference, including a pair of wins versus Dayton (5-3 vs. Richmond, 3-2 vs. Peoria and 4-2 and 4-3 vs. Dayton).

ALSO COMING UP BIG IN THE WIN DEPARTMENT

Toledo is in third place in the Northwest Division after earning three straight wins. The Storm also have Player of the Week Andrew Williamson in their line-up. New Orleans also has three straight wins under its belt, and is tied with Jackson for third place in the Southwest. Both Toledo and New Orleans won all three games on the road. Birmingham has won two in a row, and is unbeaten in its last four games at home.

ECHL Stories from January 16, 2001

• Checkers burning up the ECHL - OSC Original by ECHL Press Release

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