Bojangles Game Preview: January 3 & 5 at Cleveland
Published on January 2, 2026 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
Before the Checkers take the ice this season, we're breaking down everything fans need to know with the Bojangles Game Preview!
The calendar has flipped to 2026 but the Checkers are still out on the road - closing out this trip with a two-game set in Cleveland.
THE MATCHUP
Record/Standings
CLT - 18-9-2-0 (3rd Atlantic)
CLE - 13-11-4-1 (6th North)
Power Play / Penalty Kill
CLT - 16.2% / 85.0%
CLE - 15.5% / 83.3%
Offense / Defense
CLT - 3.03 GF/Game / 2.66 GA/Game
CLE - 2.45 GF/Game / 2.69 GA/Game
Head-To-Head
1-1-0-0
THE STORYLINES
ROAD WARRIORS
Bad weather threw a wrench into the start of this current road trip for the Checkers, as a travel delay ended up causing a schedule change that left Charlotte with a grueling stretch of three games in three nights in three different cities. The Checkers were up to the task, though, picking up a win in each leg of the trip so far - they took down the Bears thanks to a game-winner from Sandis Vilmanis in the final two minutes, bounced back from a late rally to beat the Phantoms in overtime and throttled the division-leading Penguins 6-2.
The Checkers are now 10-4-1-0 away from home this season, a record that puts them tied for the third-most road wins in the Eastern Conference and tied for the second-fewest road losses.
BRAVO, MASTRO
Robert Mastrosimone has been making a big impact since earning a recall from Charlotte's ECHL affiliate in Savannah. The 25-year-old is coming off a career-best outing in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he racked up a goal and two assists, and he now has seven points (2g, 5a) in 10 games with the Checkers.
ST. MARTIN HEATS UP
Hunter St. Martin earned his first pro point with an assist in the 13th game of the season, but he has been lights out since then. The 20-year-old rookie has five points in his last six games, including his first multi-point effort in the team's last contest.
TIGHTENED UP
The Checkers have made a habit of stifling their opponents as of late, a run that has locked them into the top 10 of the league's defensive rankings. They have allowed two goals in each of the last three contests and have not allowed more than three in any of their last seven games. In total, the Checkers have given up just 15 goals over that seven-game stretch.
THE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Charlotte
Nolan Foote - 7 points in last 7 games
Nate Smith - 4 points in last 3 games
Gracyn Sawchyn - 5 points in last 5 games
Cleveland
Luca Del Bel Belluz - 6 points in last 4 games
Mikael Pyyhtia - 7 points in last 4 games
Owen Sillinger - 4 points in last 6 games
THE INFO
Both games in Cleveland are available to stream via AHLTV on FloHockey! Click here to watch.
Fans can also listen to the radio broadcast on the Checkers App or online.
American Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2026
- Bystedt Scores, But Barracuda Clipped by Condors - San Jose Barracuda
- Morrison Nets a Pair in Firebirds' Win over Gulls, 5-2 - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Gulls Taken Down by Firebirds, 5-2 - San Diego Gulls
- Jones' Return Lifts Condors to 4-1 Win over San Jose - Bakersfield Condors
- Logan Morrison Scores Twice in 5-2 Win over Gulls - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Manitoba Earns 4-1 Win Over Abbotsford - Manitoba Moose
- McCartney's Four-Point Night Powers Roadrunners Past Wranglers, 5-2 - Tucson Roadrunners
- Cossa Tallies Career-High 47 Saves in Griffins' Shootout Win over Wolves - Grand Rapids Griffins
- The Canucks Fell, 4-1, to the Manitoba Moose - Abbotsford Canucks
- Bojangles Game Preview: January 3 & 5 at Cleveland - Charlotte Checkers
- Wolves' Points Streak Hits 9 Games with 3-2 Shootout Loss to Griffins - Chicago Wolves
- Resilient T-Birds Push Past Isles to Win 3rd Straight - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Comets Open 2026 in Laval, Earn Point in 5-4 OT Loss - Utica Comets
- Islanders Drop Road Contest to Thunderbirds, 4-2 - Bridgeport Islanders
- DiPietro, Locmelis Put P-Bruins Past Wolf Pack - Providence Bruins
- Brennan Othmann Strikes, But Wolf Pack Fall 4-1 to Bruins - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Goaltender Ben Kraws Recalled from Idaho and Reassigned to Texas - Texas Stars
- IceHogs 15th Annual Autism Awareness Night Set for January 24 - Rockford IceHogs
- Belleville Sens Announce Plans for 2026 Indigenous Communities Night - Belleville Senators
- Grand Rapids' Sebastian Cossa Named AHL Goaltender of the Month - AHL
- Sebastian Cossa Wins Second Consecutive AHL Goaltender of the Month Award - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Series Preview- Tucson Roadrunners at Calgary Wranglers - Tucson Roadrunners
- World-Class Guests Headline Belleville Sens Women in Sports Panel - Belleville Senators
- Hutson Named Upper Deck/AHL Rookie of the Month - Bakersfield Condors
- Howard and Hutson Both Receive AHL Monthly Awards for December - Bakersfield Condors
- Bakersfield's Quinn Hutson Named Upper Deck AHL Rookie of the Month - AHL
- Howard Named Fortune Tires "Expect More" AHL Player of the Month - Bakersfield Condors
- Bakersfield's Isaac Howard Named Fortune Tires "Expect More" AHL Player of the Month - AHL
- Hartford Wolf Pack Ink F Brian Carrabes to PTO - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Golder Returned to Reading - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Game Preview: Condors vs. Barracuda, 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Bye Bye Birdy - Calgary Wranglers
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