ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers bounce back

Published on December 20, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC – The Charlotte Checkers (15-8-2; 32 PTS; T-1st East Div) continued their eight-game tour of the south, coming off a 4-3 win over division rival Augusta. They took the show to South Carolina, where the Checkers were bested 1-5 by the Stingrays Tuesday night. Next up was the Pensacola Ice Pilots, who unloaded eight goals in the game, sending the Checkers into Texas on a two-game skid. The Checkers bounced back to secure both games against the Wildcatters on Saturday and Sunday. The winning momentum will go with the team down to Louisiana on Tuesday and Mississippi on Wednesday to finish out the road trip, then Cricket Arena will be rocking this weekend when the Checkers protect their house against the Augusta Lynx on Sunday, December 26th.

LAST WEEK

Tuesday, December @ South Carolina, L 1-5

The Charlotte Checkers were forced to face one of their sore spots Tuesday night...special teams. South Carolina went 2-4 on the power play while the Checkers went 0-7 as the Stingrays bested the Checkers 5-1 at the North Charleston Coliseum. Charlotte began the night 25th on the power play in the 28-team ECHL, and 27th on the penalty kill. Matt Reid had a pair of goals and an assist, while Joe Tenute had three assists for South Carolina. Goalie Kirk Daubenspeck made 33 saves for the Stingrays to secure the win, holding the Checkers to one goal. Dusty Jamieson had the only goal for Charlotte and Alex Westlund made several spectacular saves despite taking the loss in net with 19 saves.

Friday, December 17 @ Pensacola, L 4-8

The Charlotte Checkers began the southwest portion of their eight-game, season-long road trip with a wild game against the Pensacola Ice Pilots Friday night. Dwayne Hay scored four goals and added an assist while Tyler Beechey added two tallies as Pensacola subdued the Checkers 8-4. The Checkers never led in the contest, but did tie the game twice. Charlotte got goals from Rory Rawlyk, Lee Falardeau, Dusty Jamieson, and Chris Belanger. The Checkers special teams rebounded from poor recent play with a pair of short-handed goals and a power-play goal. The Ice Pilots had a whopping nine power-play chances to only one for the Checkers. Charlotte yielded two power-play goals.

Saturday, December 18 @ Texas, W 4-3 (SO)

The Charlotte Checkers snapped a two-game losing streak Saturday night and improved their record on their eight-game road trip to 2-3-0 with a 4-3 shootout win over the Texas Wildcatters. The Checkers rallied from a two-goal, second-period deficit and a three-goal deficit in 2:37 Texas barrage, to tie the game in the third period and send the contest to overtime. After a scoreless, five-minute sudden death overtime session, the game went to the shootout. Both teams' first three shooters missed while the next two shooters each scored. Juris Stals was Charlotte's sixth shooter and connected with a bullet to the upper right hand corner of the net. Mark Wires was up next for the Wildcatters and misfired, giving the Checkers the victory. Dusty Jamieson, Ryan Cuthbert, and Mike Wirll scored for Charlotte in regulation and goalie Alex Westlund made 33 saves to notch his sixth win of the season. Charlotte out-shot the Wildcatters 45-36, with Texas goalie Davis Parley making 42 saves.

Sunday, December 19 @ Texas, W 3-1

Wins on the road are always welcome, and the Charlotte Checkers snagged their second in a row with a 3-1 victory over the Texas Wildcatters Sunday night in Beaumont. After a 4-3 shootout win Saturday night against the Wildcatters, Charlotte completed the two-game sweep as goalie Alex Westlund came up with a 52 save performance for his second straight win. The Checkers special teams were spectacular Sunday night, as Charlotte went 2-2 on the power play and killed off all four Texas power plays. The Checkers got goals from Eddie Pershin, Lee Falardeau, and Dusty Jamieson. The Wildcatters lone goal came from Dean Stork.

THIS WEEK

Tuesday, December 21 @ Louisiana, 8:05 p.m.

Wednesday, December 22 @ Mississippi, 8:05 p.m.

Sunday, December 26, vs. Augusta, 3:00 p.m.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

There will be no practices held at Cricket Arena this week as the Checkers wrap up their eight-game road trip.

CHECKERS NEWS

· The Checkers are currently tied for first in the East Division with 32 points. They are tied for second in the American Conference and tied with 3 other teams for third in the ECHL overall. The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies hold the league lead with 36 points.

· Dusty Jamieson has the second highest shooting percentage in the league at 0.243. Out of 37 shots taken, he has scored 9 goals. He has the league's longest current goal-scoring streak, with a goal in four straight games. He is also working on a five game point streak.

· Eddie Pershin has scored four points in his last four games.

· Mike Harder is currently tied for fifth in the league with 25 points.

· Rory Rawlyk is tied for first among defensemen in shorthand goals.

· Goalie Kelly Guard is tied with one other netminder for the most saves in a single game (54).

· On the road, the Checkers have the third best power play record in the league. They also have the twelfth best road penalty killing record. They are fifth in scoring short-handed goals on the road, and twentieth in short-handed goals allowed.

CHECKERS LEADERS

Goals: Mike Harder, Dusty Jamieson, Lee Falardeau and Eddie Pershin (9)

Assists: Mike Harder (18)

Points: Mike Harder (27)

Plus/Minus: Rory Rawlyk (+7)

PIM: Steve MacIntyre (81)

Wins: Kelly Guard (8)

GAA: Alex Westlund (2.98)

Save Pct.: Alex Westlund (0.904)

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from December 20, 2004


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