Checkers brew Stingray stew
December 28, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC â The Charlotte Checkers came into tonight's division matchup atop the ECHL's East Division with a 16-10-2 record. After losing 5-4 in a close one at home on December 26th vs. Augusta, the Checkers hosted a South Carolina team still fighting to break .500 and evade the basement of the American Conference.
South Carolina showed why they lead the league in penalty kills, withstanding an early two-man Checker advantage in the first period, but fell victim to some swift puck movement by Kenton Smith and Lee Falardeau to set up Ryan Cuthbert's power play goal (5) at the 6:28 mark in the 1st period.
The Stingrays entered the second period more focused, outshooting the Checkers 15 to 4. South Carolina answered with heavy pressure on Charlotte goaltender, Alex Westlund, as Matt Reid delivered to a waiting Joe Tenute at the 4:50 mark in the second period, tying the game at 1.
In the third period South Carolina continued their aggressive play, controlling the puck for almost the entire first half of the third period. South Carolina's Joe Tenute proved a worth adversary, notching his second goal of the night on an assist from Aaron Forsythe at the 14:51 mark to take the lead 2-1.
A late icing penalty on South Carolina with :58 left in the game allowed the Checkers to pull Westlund, and with 9.4 ticks left on the clock, Dusty Jamieson wristed the game tying goal past the Stingray's Kirk Daubenspeck to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, Westlund held strong with an early birthday gift as Joe Tenute's shot flew just wide off the post with under a minute to play.
The Checkers showed their mental toughness in a grueling goalie duel between Westlund and Daubenspeck, drawing 8 different shooters to decide the game. In the end, Westlund proved victorious stopping 7 of 8 over Daubenspeck who gave up the game winner to Matt Chandler.
The Checkers improve to 17-10-2 maintaining their lead in the American Conference's East Division while South Carolina falls to 12-12-3. The Checkers begin yet another extended road trip traveling to Pensacola on Thursday, and then a two-game series against Florida over the weekend. The Checkers return to Cricket arena Friday, January 7, to take on the Columbia Inferno at 7:00 pm.
ECHL Stories from December 28, 2004
- Royals Rock Sea Wolves 5-2 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Rivermen End Four-Game Losing Skid with 3-1 Home Win over Fresno - Peoria Rivermen
- Falcons Sunk by Rivermen - Fresno Falcons
- 'Blades win 6th straight on road with 3-1 victory - Florida Everblades
- Checkers brew Stingray stew - Charlotte Checkers
- Titans Hold On For 4-3 Win Over Bombers - Trenton Devils
- Fields, Gladiators Shut Out Pride, 2-0 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Lynx Earn Single Point In Greenville - Augusta Lynx
- Titans Edge Bombers, 4-3, In Trenton - Dayton Bombers
- Pride suffer fourth straight loss - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Promo Change/More TV Games Announced - San Diego Gulls
- Trio of Home Games Close Out the Year - Bakersfield Condors
- Everblades' Surma named Player of the Week - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Cloutier Named Reebok ECHL Saver Of The Week - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Pensacola's Cloutier Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Saver of the Week - ECHL
- Defenseman Byrne Loaned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL) - Peoria Rivermen
- Sharp HealthCare Night Feb. 27 - San Diego Gulls
- Everblades' Surma Named In Glas Co ECHL Player of the Week - ECHL
- Deschenes, Nielsen Come Off IR; Ruggeri Assigned - Trenton Devils
- Johnstown Chiefs Weekly Report - Johnstown Chiefs
- Nailers In the Community - Wheeling Nailers
- Jacobson Called Up To Cincinnati; Escobedo Activated - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Sullivan recalled to Lowell - Florida Everblades
- Gladiators Sign Forward Sawruk - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Lynx Battle Grrrowl in Greenville Tonight - Augusta Lynx
- Bombers Add Two Players From AHL Affiliate - Dayton Bombers
- Eon MacFarlane To Play In Subway Alumni Game - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Nailers to hold 70's Night - Wheeling Nailers
- Fresno Falcons Weekly Update - Fresno Falcons
- Ice Dogs Down Steelheads In Shootout, 3-2 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Steelheads drop shootout to Ice Dogs, 3-2 - Idaho Steelheads
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