Bojangles Game Preview: October 12 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
October 11, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
The long wait is finally over and hockey season is officially here! The new-look Checkers are kicking things off with a visit to their division rivals in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
THE MATCHUP (Last season)
Record/Standings
CLT - 39-26-7-0 (4th Atlantic)
WBS - 39-24-8-1 (3rd Atlantic)
Power Play / Penalty Kill
CLT - 16.3% (30th) / 83.2% (13th)
WBS - 17.2% (t-25th) / 85.4% (2nd)
Offense / Defense
CLT - 3.01 GF/Game, 2.82 GA/Game
WBS - 2.93 GF/Game, 2.69 GA/Game
Head-To-Head
4-4-0-0
THE STORYLINES
Fresh Start
Saturday's opener will bring with it a slew of new faces in Checkers sweaters - in fact, of the 28 players currently on the roster, 17 have never suited up for Charlotte. The fresh blood will look to help the Checkers change their fortunes, having lost three of their last four season-opening contests.
Carrick's Comeback
Trevor Carrick is back in red and black, signing a deal over the summer to return to the Checkers for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Carrick has appeared in the second-most games in franchise history (347), trailing only his new teammate Zac Dalpe (353).
Between The Pipes
The Checkers are utilizing a platoon of three netminders to start the season. Cooper Black heads into his proper rookie campaign after earning one start at the tail end of last season, while Ken Appleby is coming off a season that saw him play at all three levels - NHL, AHL and ECHL. The most recent addition to the group is Chris Driedger, who finished fourth in the AHL last season in goals-against average and ninth in save percentage while backstopping Coachella Valley to a Western Conference title.
On The Road Again
The Checkers are beginning their schedule away from home for the first time since the 2021-22 season. That could be positive news for the team, as it fared slightly better on the road last season (.597 points percentage) than at home (.583)
THE QUOTES
Checkers Head Coach Geordie Kinnear on how his team is coming together
"You have to be able to go out there and make decisions and have awareness. That's going to take a little bit of time because we have a lot of new bodies. The work ethic part, the compete part, the tempo of the practice, the intent of the practice - it's been an impressive group. We're going to build every day but I think we all understand that we have a lot of work to do"
Kinnear on the team buying into an identity
"I feel that the group is excited to play a certain way, and we're going to provide that. Now it's up to us to make adjustments. We want to play a certain way, we're going to start that way and just build and build every day."
THE INFO
Tonight's game - along with every game this season - is available via the new AHLTV on FloHockey! Click here to get a subscription.
Additionally, Mellow Mushroom in Uptown is the official road game destination, as they will be showing every road game throughout the season!
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from October 11, 2024
- Canucks Beat the Wranglers 4-3 in Season Opener - Abbotsford Canucks
- Eagles Kick Off Season With 3-1 Victory Over Tucson - Colorado Eagles
- Stars Take Down Silver Knights in Season Opener - Texas Stars
- Silver Knights Come up Short, 4-3, in Season Opener - Henderson Silver Knights
- Amerks Unable to Complete Comeback in Season-Opening Loss to Sens - Rochester Americans
- Reinhardt and Bourgault Notch Two-Point Nights, as B-Sens Beat Amerks to Begin 2024-25 Season - Belleville Senators
- Bojangles Game Preview: October 12 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Charlotte Checkers
- Syracuse Crunch Shutout Utica Comets, 5-0, in Season Opener - Syracuse Crunch
- P-Bruins Fall to Rocket on Opening Night - Providence Bruins
- Comets Drop Home Opener to Crunch, 5-0 - Utica Comets
- Ads Stifled in Season Opener - Milwaukee Admirals
- Taylor Gauthier Reassigned to Wheeling - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Roadrunners Announce 2024-25 Roster - Tucson Roadrunners
- IceHogs Assign Brenton to Indy - Rockford IceHogs
- Iowa Wild 2024-25 Season Preview - Iowa Wild
- Game Day Roundup - CGY vs ABB - Calgary Wranglers
- Panthers Recall Patrick Giles - Charlotte Checkers
- Hershey Bears Announce Opening Night Roster for 2024-25 Season - Hershey Bears
- San Jose Barracuda Announce 2024-25 Opening Night Roster - San Jose Barracuda
- Cleveland Monsters Announce 2024-25 Audio Broadcast Schedule - Cleveland Monsters
- Game #1: Tucson Roadrunners at Colorado Eagles - Tucson Roadrunners
- Austin Poganski Named Roadrunners Captain - Tucson Roadrunners
- Reign Announce 2024-25 Season-Opening Roster - Ontario Reign
- Wolves Announce 2024-25 Opening Night Roster - Chicago Wolves
- Murray Reassigned to Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
- Hartford Wolf Pack Announce 2024-25 Opening Night Roster - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Wranglers Announce Ruud as Official Jersey Sponsor - Calgary Wranglers
- Toronto Marlies Announce 2024-25 Opening Day Roster - Toronto Marlies
- Morning Skate Report: October 11, 2024 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Canucks Announce 2024.25 AHL Opening Night Roster - Abbotsford Canucks
- T-Birds Extend Sellout Streak to 15; Opening Night Sold Out - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Belleville Sens Announce 2024-25 Opening Night Roster - Belleville Senators
- Ads Set Opening Night Roster - Milwaukee Admirals
- Moose Assign Graham Sward to Norfolk - Manitoba Moose
- Syracuse Crunch Loan Three Players to Orlando Solar Bears - Syracuse Crunch
- Monsters Sign Forward Rocco Grimaldi to PTO Contract - Cleveland Monsters
- Bears Announce Television Broadcast Schedule for 2024-25 Season - Hershey Bears
- Game Preview: Condors at Firebirds, 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Amerks Announce Opening Night Roster - Rochester Americans
- Bridgeport Islanders Announce Opening Night Roster - Bridgeport Islanders
- Season Preview: Latest Wave of Prospects Feed Excitement for '24-25 Season - Rockford IceHogs
- Providence Bruins Announce Opening Night Roster - Providence Bruins
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
