Checkers cling to first, Rays close in
January 31, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC â The Charlotte Checkers (24-15-2; 50 PTS; 1ST East Div) met the South Carolina Stingrays at home this week in their only game since the All-Star break. The Stingrays ended the Checkers home win streak, while adding a tenth consecutive game to their own win streak. The win moved South Carolina into second place in the East Division, just above the Pee Dee Pride, who in recent weeks had grappled with Charlotte for first. The Checkers' Saturday game against the Inferno was cancelled due to inclement weather, leaving the Checkers cold until this Friday's face off against the Pee Dee Pride. On Saturday, old meets new when former Checkers' head coach Don MacAdam brings his Dayton Bombers to Charlotte to face current Checkers' Head Coach Derek Wilkinson.
LAST WEEK
Friday, January 28 vs. South Carolina, L 4-1
The Charlotte Checkers entered Friday's contest against the South Carolina Stingrays having won every home game of the New Year. The Stingrays had won nine straight. In three physical periods, the Rays came out stinging, winning 4-1 against Charlotte. In the first period, the Checkers literally went toe-to-toe with their rivals to the south. The Checkers answered the first Stingrays goal, as Ryan Cuthbert fed a pass to Brian Escobedo who put the puck in the Stingrays' net. The Stingrays quickly responded with two goals, making the score 3-1. In the second period, the gloves came off three times as Checkers' Thomas Bellemare squared off with Stingray Cam McAffry. Charlotte forward Lee Falardeau was also drawn into a minor scuffle. The period ended with yet another fist ballet from Bellemare and Robin Gomez for South Carolina. In the third, the Checkers couldn't close the two-goal gap. South Carolina added one more goal to end the game 4-1. The win marks the Stingrays' tenth in a row.
Saturday, January 29 vs. Columbia, Postponed
THIS WEEK
Friday, February 4, vs. Pee Dee, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 5, vs. Dayton, 7:00 p.m.
CHECKERS NEWS
· The Checkers are currently first in the East Division with 50 points. They are tied with one other team for second in the American conference, and tied with three other teams for sixth in the league overall.
· Eddie Pershin is the team points leader on the season with 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points. He also has a +/- rating of +7
· Over the last ten games, Mike Wirll leads the Checkers in scoring with 7 goals and 6 assists (13 points total).
· Ryan Cuthbert has the highest number of assists in the past ten Checkers outings (10a).
· Rory Rawlyk is among the top 16 leading defenseman scorers in the league (7g-12a) and leads the team with a +/- rating of +9.
· Thomas Bellemare is among the top four bad boys in the league with 13 major penalties. He has notched 21 penalty minutes in the last two games.
· Alex Westlund is tied with the most overtime wins in the league (3).
CHECKERS LEADERS
Goals: Eddie Pershin (16)
Assists: Mike Harder (24)
Points: Eddie Pershin (37)
Plus/Minus: Rory Rawlyk (+9)
PIM: Steve MacIntyre (93)
Wins: Alex Westlund (13)
GAA: Alex Westlund (2.90)
Save Pct.: Alex Westlund (.907)
CHECKERS BROADCAST INFO
Tune into all Charlotte Checkers away games as they broadcast on TEAMLINE. Fans can click the TEAMLINE logo on the Checkers website, www.gocheckers.com, or listen on the phone at 800-846-4700, code 2820. On the web or on the phone, listen as the voice of the Checkers, Tim Donelli, brings you all of the away Checkers action.
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