Bojangles Game Preview: January 9 & 10 vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Published on January 8, 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 Checkers are back in the friendly confines of Bojangles Coliseum for the first time in 2026 and ready to host the division-leading Penguins for a pair of weekend tilts.
THE MATCHUP
Record/Standings
CLT - 18-11-2-0 (4th Atlantic)
WBS - 22-9-1-2 (1st Atlantic)
Power Play / Penalty Kill
CLT - 16.3% / 85.7%
WBS - 13.4% / 83.5%
Offense / Defense
CLT - 2.97 GF/Game / 2.77 GA/Game
WBS - 3.21 GF/Game / 2.56 GA/Game
Head-To-Head
3-1-1-0
THE STORYLINES
THE BIG THREE
The trio of Nolan Foote, Brian Pinho and newcomer Nate Smith has been lights out for the Checkers as of late. After going scoreless in his first two games with his new team, Smith has recorded at least one point in each of his last five contests, Foote is riding a six-game point streak of his own and Pinho has five points in his last four games. Overall, at least two members of Charlotte's top line have factored into each of the four goals the team has scored over the last two games.
HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
The Penguins enter the weekend tied for first place in the Eastern Conference and tied for the second-highest point total in the AHL. But despite their early-season success, they have had some battles with the Checkers thus far. The two sides have already met five times coming into this series, and Charlotte has earned at least a point in four of them (3-1-1-0). The Checkers have had success lately at breaking through one of the Penguins' biggest strengths. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton boasts a top-five defense, but the Checkers have hung six goals on them in two of the last three meetings.
CONSISTENCY IN THE COLISEUM
The Checkers are back at Bojangles Coliseum after kicking off the new year on the road. They'll be looking to gain some momentum on home ice over the upcoming six-game stand, as they closed out 2025 with some up-and-down showings in the Queen City. Since winning three straight at home in November, the Checkers have gone 3-4-0-0 at home and have not logged consecutive victories.
THE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Charlotte
Nate Smith - 8 points in last 5 games
Brian Pinho - 5 points in last 4 games
Nolan Foote - 10 points in last 9 games
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Joona Koppanen - 7 points in last 7 games
Owen Pickering - 4 points in last 6 games
Ville Koivunen - 9 points in last 4 games
THE INFO
Friday is NASCAR Night! The Checkers will host a pregame autograph session in the East Charlotte Room featuring Joey Logano, John Hunter Nemechek, Daniel Suarez, Landen Lewis, Ty Dillon and Ross Chastain. The autograph session will run from 5:45 - 6:30 and doors to the Connector will open at 5:30 for the autograph session.
Saturday is Fox Night At The Rink! Enjoy a night of fun and preview three new shows premeiring in January!
Saturday is also a Family Game, in which fans can save $10 per ticket when purchasing four or more.
If you can't make it to the Coliseum, both games are available to stream via AHLTV on FloHockey!
Fans can also listen to the radio broadcast on the Checkers App or online.
American Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2026
- Bojangles Game Preview: January 9 & 10 vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Charlotte Checkers
- San Jose Barracuda to Celebrate Career of Legendary Head Coach Roy Sommer this Saturday, January 10 at Tech Cu Arena - San Jose Barracuda
- Charlotte Embraces Southern Hockey Roots with Queen City Grits Identity - Charlotte Checkers
- Checkers to Become Queen City Grits for One Night on January 17 - Charlotte Checkers
- Hartford Wolf Pack Recall D Cooper Moore from Loan to Bloomington Bison - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Forward Milo Roelens to Syracuse Crunch from Orlando Solar Bears - Syracuse Crunch
- The Hart Beat - Volume 1, Issue 11 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Series Preview- Tucson Roadrunners vs Iowa Wild - Tucson Roadrunners
- Jacob Julien Reassigned to Norfolk - Manitoba Moose
- Iowa Wild goaltender Samuel Hlavaj named To team Slovakia for 2026 Winter Olympic Games - Iowa Wild
- Wolves Named New Host for Illinois State High School Hockey Championships - Chicago Wolves
- Syracuse Crunch Partner with Kinney Drugs for Crunch at Your Service Charity Event February 26 - Syracuse Crunch
- Limited Tickets Remaining for Indigenous Communities Night on Saturday - Belleville Senators
- Old Time Hockey Night, Great Skate Winterfest Upcoming for Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Checkers Assign Huard to Ghost Pirates - Charlotte Checkers
- Reign Holds off Iowa, 4-3 - Ontario Reign
- White Helps Lift Barracuda Past Gulls in Shootout - San Jose Barracuda
- Silver Knights Bring The Heat In 5-1 Victory Over Firebirds - Henderson Silver Knights
- Gulls Grab Point in Shootout - San Diego Gulls
- Iowa's Comeback Bid Falls Short in 4-3 Defeat at Ontario - Iowa Wild
- Abbotsford Canucks Fall 4-1 to the Bakersfield Condors - Abbotsford Canucks
- Condors Run Win Streak to Five Games with Sweep - Bakersfield Condors
- Morrison Scores Powerplay Goal in 5-1 Loss to Silver Knights - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Becher's Two-Goal Night Powers Griffins to 3-2 Win over Stars - Grand Rapids Griffins
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