Checkers cling to first
February 7, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC â The Charlotte Checkers (25-16-2; 52 PTS; 1ST East Div) took on the Pee Dee Pride this week, a team who defeated them in their last two meetings, and in recent weeks had battled them for first in the East. Friday night, the Checkers turned the tables, beating them 3-2 on home ice. On Saturday night, Charlotte faced former Checkers head coach Don MacAdam and the Dayton Bombers, a team who had scored only four goals in their last five games. In a horrifying sixty minutes, Charlotte collapsed, losing 7-1 to the Bombers in front of a home crowd. Tomorrow night, the Checkers travel to Columbia to battle the Inferno, one of the teams now challenging Charlotte for first in the Division. That marks the first of five games for the Checkers this week. They are back home in Charlotte to face the Pee Dee Pride once again on Wednesday, and Gwinnett on Friday. This weekend, the Checkers hit the road to face Pee Dee for the third time in two weeks on Saturday, and Augusta on Sunday.
LAST WEEK
Friday, February 4 vs. Pee Dee, W 3-2
Fighting to maintain their spot atop the East Division, the Charlotte Checkers faced off against the Pee Dee Pride at Cricket Arena. Coming into the match-up, Pee Dee had lost a team record five straight. The Checkers had not beaten the Pride in their two previous meetings this season, dropping both games 3-2. Friday, the Checkers turned the tables, thrashing the Pride in a 3-2 victory. The Checkers came out swinging as Jason Dawe took an Eddie Pershin pass and scored within the first two minutes of the first period. Thomas Bellemare took a pass from Pershin and lit the lamp to close out the period. In the second, the Checkers tallied another goal, thanks to a Dan Preston shot from another Pershin pass at 8:26 to make it 3-1. Alex Westlund had a perfect second period, stopping 10 shots. In the third period, Pee Dee kicked it up a notch, bringing the game to a close 3-2 score. However, a strong performance from Westlund in the final minutes of play secured the victory for the Checkers.
Saturday, February 5 vs. Dayton, L 7-1
The meeting between Charlotte and Dayton pitted former Checkers Head Coach Don MacAdam against current Checkers Head Coach Derek Wilkinson. A weak performance by the Checkers allowed Dayton to break their five game losing streak and come away with the victory. It was a quiet first period at Cricket Arena. The Bombers scored late in the first putting them up 1-0. In the second, the Bombers cashed in three more times against goaltender Alex Westlund, opening up their lead to 4-0. Goaltender, Kelly Guard, started the third period for the Checkers. He also had little luck stopping Dayton, allowing three more goals. The Bombers held the Checkers to five shots on goal the entire period. The Checkers only goal was scored by Stephen Greeley, his first in a Checkers uniform. Credit the assist to defenseman Paul Lynch, his fifth of the season.
THIS WEEK
Tuesday, February 8, at Columbia, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 9, vs. Pee Dee, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 11 vs. Gwinnett, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 12 at Pee Dee, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 13 at Augusta, 4:05 p.m.
CHECKERS NEWS
· The Checkers are currently first in the East Division with 52 points. They are third in the American conference, and tied with one other team for ninth in the league overall.
· Eddie Pershin is the team points leader on the season with 16 goals and 24 assists for 40 points. Over the last ten games, he leads the Checkers in scoring with five goals and nine assists (14 points total). He and Mike Wirll are tied for the most goals over the last 10 games (5g). Pershin also has three short-handed assists on the season, placing him among the top five in the league.
· Mike Harder leads the team in assists on the season (25a).
· Thomas Bellemare is among the top four bad boys in the league for major penalties (13).
· Alex Westlund is tied with the most overtime wins in the league (3).
· The Checkers had a season-low of 19 shots on goal against the Dayton Bombers.
CHECKERS LEADERS
Goals: Eddie Pershin (16)
Assists: Mike Harder (25)
Points: Eddie Pershin (40)
Plus/Minus: Rory Rawlyk (+11)
PIM: Steve MacIntyre (93); Eddie Pershin (93)
Wins: Alex Westlund (14)
GAA: Alex Westlund (2.94)
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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