ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Charlotte conquered by Gladiators 2-1

Published on February 20, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Duluth, Georgia - Sunday, February 20) The Charlotte Checkers played their final game of a grueling, ten-game in 13-day stretch Sunday afternoon, losing to the Gwinnett Gladiators 2-1 in Duluth, Georgia. Mike Vigilante scored both Gwinnett goals, one on a power play, while Mike Wirll was the lone Charlotte lamplighter.

The Checkers played short-handed with only eight forwards and five defensemen, but still managed it make it a tight game. Both goaltenders sparkled, with Charlotte tender Kelly Guard making 39 saves and Gladiators keeper Adam Berkhoel stopping 29 of 30 Checkers shots.

The Checkers power play, which started the day ninth best in the 28-team ECHL, struggled Sunday as it finished 0-6. Charlotte's penalty kill, ranked 26th in the ECHL, yielded one goal in two Gwinnett tries.

Charlotte ended the week winning three of five, and concluded the mammoth stretch of ten games in 13 days with a 6-3-1 mark for 13 points. The Checkers record of 31-19-3 for 65 points remains the second-best mark in the ECHL's American Conference.

"I can't tell you how proud I was of our guys today, said Charlotte Coach Derek Wilkinson. "We were short, we were tired and we were injured and we still almost won this game. It was a real display by both goalies. Berkhoel really made some big stops today, especially early in the game."

After a scoreless first period, Gwinnett grabbed a 1-0 lead at 2:53 of the second stanza as Vigliante's backhander on a power play beat Guard on the glove side. The Gladiators made it 2-0 as Vigilante scored his second of the game as he cleaned up a loose puck in front of the Charlotte crease at 7:02.

Charlotte responded just 27 seconds later as Wirll jammed home a Thomas Bellemare rebound by Berkhoel on the doorstep to cut the Gwinnett lead to 2-1. Both teams hunkered down after that and held the other scoreless the rest of the way, and the Gladiators (25-16-7 for 57 points) hung on for the 2-1 victory.

The Checkers continue their five-game road trip Friday night in Greenville where they'll meet the Grrrowl.at 7:05 p.m.. Charlotte returns home Saturday night, March 5 at Cricket Arena to host the Greenville Grrrowl at 7:00 p.m.

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ECHL Stories from February 20, 2005


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