ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Charlotte Wins In Wilkinson's Coaching Debut 5-3

Published on January 30, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Greensboro, North Carolina – Thursday, January 29) The Charlotte Checkers made the debut of new Head Coach Derek Wilkinson a successful one, defeating the Greensboro Generals 5-3 Thursday night at the Greensboro Coliseum. Brandon Cullen had a goal and two assists for the Checker while Nick Bilotto added a goal and an assist. Mike Wirll scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with just 2:31 left in the contest, and Dusty Jamieson's empty-net goal with just three seconds left sealed the win for the Checkers. Konrad McKay had the other Charlotte goal with goalie David St. Germain making 36 saves to earn the win.

Wilkinson, coaching in his first game for the Checkers after taking over for Don MacAdam who was relieved of his duties earlier in the day, commented on the win. "The guys came out strong tonight and put forth a good effort. We had some mistakes in the second period that we will work on correcting, but we got the job done. We have a lot more "dump truck" type players rather than "Porsche" type players. I told the guys tonight, go to the net and good things will happen and tonight they did."

The Checkers grabbed a 1-0 lead 10:58 into the contest as Cullen fired a shot into a vacated Greensboro net. Generals goalie Jamie Hodson had wandered out of his net to play a puck in the corner, and scrambled to get back in but didn't get there before Cullen's shot. Greensboro tied the game at 17:20 on a Geno Parrish goal, and the two teams went to the locker room tied at 1-1 after the first period.

Matt Elich gave the Generals their only lead with a goal at 13:31 of the second period, but the Checkers equalized at 15:45 on Bilotto's power-play goal to tie the match at 2-2 heading into the final period. Early in the third at 4:13 McKay took a picture-perfect pass from Cullen and ripped one by Hodson for a 3-2 Checkers lead. Bryson Busniuk's screen shot eluded St. Germain just 47 seconds later and the Generals tied the game again at 3-3. With just 2:31 left in the contest, Wirll's shot beat Hodson for a 4-3 Checkers lead. Jamieson iced the game with his empty-net goal with just three seconds remaining for the 5-3 final.

The win was the Checkers second in their last three games, and improved their record to 20-18-5 for 45 points. Greensboro had its five-game winning streak snapped and fell to 26-18-1 for 53 points. Charlotte gets set to host two games this weekend at Cricket Arena. Friday night the Florence Pride will come to Charlotte for a 7:30 p.m. faceoff, with the Checkers hosting the Columbia Inferno Saturday night also at 7:30 p.m.

NOTES: Following the game right wing Brandon Cullen and center Ryan Cuthbert were recalled by the Checkers AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.

All road games can be heard over the Internet and on the telephone on TEAMLINE. Fans can log onto the Checkers web site at www.gocheckers.com for complete connection instructions.

CHECKERS TICKETS: All regular season individual game tickets are on sale, and may be purchased at the Cricket Arena Box Office, the Charlotte Coliseum Box Office, and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be purchased by phone by using a credit card and calling Ticketmaster at (704) 522-6500, and through the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com.

Individual game tickets for the 2003-04 season are priced at $7.00 for balcony seats, $10.00 for end mezzanine seats, $12.00 for side mezzanine seats, $15.00 for circle seats, and $20.00 for box seats.

Season Tickets, mini plans and group tickets remain on sale through the Checkers office. Further information can be obtained by calling the Checkers office at (704) 342-4423.

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ECHL Stories from January 30, 2004


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