ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Break Scoreless Drought And Win 3-1

Published on January 24, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charlotte, North Carolina – Saturday, January 24 ) It was "Turn-Back-The-Clock" night Saturday at Cricket Arena, and the the Checkers turned back their own clocks to earlier winning times in snapping a four-game losing streak in a 3-1 win over the Greenville Grrrowl. Trailing 1-0 in the third period, Ryan Cuthbert snapped a 284 minute Checkers scoring drought with a short-handed goal at 7:08 to tie the game at 1-1. With 4:19 left in the game, newcomer Richard Keyes scored his first goal as a Checker for the game-winning tally, while Dusty Jamieson added an empty-net goal with six seconds left for the 3-1 final. The win ended a Charlotte four-game losing streak and a six-game winless streak (0-5-1), while Cuthbert's goal broke a goal-less streak that spanned 284 minutes and nearly 14 periods. Checkers goalie David St. Germain kept Charlotte in the game in the first two periods until they could rally, yielding only one goal and making 23 saves.

"The goals and win certainly take a lot of pressure off of us," commented Checkers Coach Don MacAdam. "Cuthbert's goal was a great, hardworking goal and St. Germain was super for us for the second straight night."

The Checkers and the Grrrowl skated to a scoreless first period. The Grrrowl had three power play chances while the Checkers had two. Greenville outshot the Checkers 8-6. Greenville broke through in the second period at 11:05 when Chris Lynch's shot from the slot beat St. Germain top shelf for a 1-0 Grrrowl lead. The power play goal was scored with Charlotte's Steve MacIntyre in the penalty box for roughing. The Checkers outshot the Grrrowl in the second period 14-12 but still trailed 1-0 after 40 minutes.

After going scoreless for 284 minutes and 35 seconds the Checkers goal drought finally ended as Cuthbert scored short-handed to tie the game at 1-1 at 7:08 of the third period. Then Brandon Cullen and Jamieson set up Keyes for the game-winner at 15:19 as he beat Grrrowl goaltender Michel Robinson in the upper right hand corner for a 2-1 Checkers lead. Jamieson's empty-net goal at 19:54 sealed the win for the Checkers.

"We knew that once we broke the drought and got that first goal the floodgates would open," commented Jamieson. "The guys have been holding their sticks a little too tight during this goal-less streak and when Cutter (Ryan Cuthbert) scored, it was a great feeling."

The Checkers record improved to 19-17-5 for 43 points, and trail South Carolina by only three points for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Southern Division. The Grrrowl dropped to 7-30-3 for 17 points. The Checkers continue their three-game homestand and stretch of six home games in seven games Tuesday when they'll host the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:00 p.m. at Cricket Arena.

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.

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.

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ECHL Stories from January 24, 2004


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