AHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Close Season-High Seven-Game Homestand Tuesday

Published on February 17, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


TUESDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will host the Columbia Inferno for the second and final time at Cricket Arena in the five-game season series. In the lone pervious meeting between the Checkers and Inferno on home ice, Charlotte beat Columbia 4-3 on January 29. The Inferno enters Tuesday's game in first place in the Southeast Division with a record of 34-20-1 for 69 points. Columbia recently picked up veteran defenseman Trevor Demmans in a trade with Baton Rouge. Center Rejean Stringer leads the Inferno in scoring at 27g, 47a, 74pts, and is second overall in the ECHL. Stringer is also on a nine game point streak with 15 points (6g-9a). Columbia goalie Patrick Couture is the top goalie in the ECHL with a 2.37 GAA and a 22-10-0 record and .917 save percentage. Couture also has four shutouts, including one against the Checkers.

2002-03 SEASON SERIES VS COLUMBIA (34-20-1 = 69 PTS) - FIVE-GAME SEASON SERIES OVERALL - 1-2-0 HOME - 1-0-0 AWAY - 0-2-0 LIFETIME VS. COLUMBIA: 3-5-0

FRIDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will close out the five-game season series with the Inferno at Columbia. The Checkers have dropped both games in Columbia so far this season, a 7-1 loss on November 15 and a 3-0 defeat on January 17. In the two games at the Carolina Coliseum, the Checkers have been outscored 10-1.

SATURDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will meet the Stingrays for the second time in three scheduled meetings at the North Charleston Coliseum. While South Carolina swept the Cricket Arena portion of the six-game season series, Charlotte has won the lone meeting between the two teams at Charleston, a 3-2 victory on November 9. The Stingrays enter this week having won four straight, their second longest winning streak of the season, including a hard fought 2-1 victory Saturday night at Cricket Arena. They won six in a row to start the season. The Stingrays scored 17 goals in their first three games last week and allowed an average of less than two goals against in the four games last week. The Stingrays power play remains hot at 22.7%, ranked fourth in the league. South Carolina scored nine power play goals in four games last week. Their penalty kill is up to tenth in the ECHL at 82.3%.

2002-03 SEASON SERIES VS SOUTH CAROLINA (30-19-4 = 64 PTS) SIX-GAME SEASON SERIES OVERALL - 1-3-0 HOME - 0-3-0 AWAY - 1-0-0 LIFETIME VS. SOUTH CAROLINA: 29-33-7

CHECKERS RECENT MOVES AND TRANSACTIONS:

Tuesday, February 11 - The Hartford Wolf Pack assigned goalie Scott Meyer to Charlotte.

Tuesday, February 11 - Charlotte traded defenseman Ryan Murray to the Augusta Lynx for future considerations.

Tuesday, February 11 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) assigned forward Andrew McPherson to Charlotte.

Saturday, February 15 - The Hartford Wolf Pack recalled defenseman Craig Weller.

RECENT NEWS & NOTES:

• Checkers went 2-1-0 last week, the third straight week the club went 2-1-0.

• Charlotte has won five of its' last seven games, and eight of its' last 11 games.

• Checkers are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games.

• Charlotte will wrap up its' season-long, seven-game homestand Tuesday hosting Columbia, and then will embark on a season-high, six-game roadtrip beginning Friday at Columbia.

• Charlotte vaulted up to fifth place in the Northeast Division standings going 2-1-0 last week. The Checkers trail Trenton by six points for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division.

• Checkers right wing Kevin Caulfield remains hot with 9 goals and 4 assists for 13 points in his last 12 games.

• Checkers Chad Wilchynski has 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points in his last three games with a +5 in that span.

• Goalie Scott Meyer is 9-0-1 in his last 11 starts with one no-decision. Prior to Saturday's 2-1 loss to South Carolina, Meyer's last defeat was a 4-2 setback on January 7 to Trenton. Last week Meyer went 2-1-0 with a 1.34 GAA and a .955 save percentage.

• Rookie right wing Brandon Cullen has 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points in his last six games, and a+4 in that span.

• Of the 27 teams in the ECHL, the Checkers are seventh in attendance averaging 4,345 per game.

TEAM LEADERS:

POINTS EDDIE PERSHIN (47)
GOALS KEVIN CAULFIELD (19)
ASSISTS EDDIE PERSHIN (34)
PLUS / MINUS CHAD WILCHYNSKI (+15)
PENALTY MINUTES BRANDON CULLEN (186)

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:

Wednesday, February 11 (H) Greensboro W 5-2

Friday, February 14 (H) Richmond W 8-0

Saturday, February 15 (H) South Carolina L 2-1

Checkers went 2-1-0 last week.

TICKET INFO: Individual game tickets for all Checkers' regular season home games may be purchased through Ticketmaster via phone at (704) 522-6500, via website, www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the Cricket Arena Box Office located at 2700 E. Independence Boulevard in Charlotte (704) 335-3100. Group Tickets and Mini-Plans are also on sale. Specific ticket information can be obtained by calling the Checkers' office (704) 342-4423.

The Charlotte Checkers enter their tenth season as members of the East Coast Hockey League, who celebrate their 15th anniversary this season. The team is owned by Felix Sabates and Carl Scheer. The Checkers play all home games at Cricket Arena. For more information on Charlotte's professional hockey team, please visit www.gocheckers.com, or call (704) 342-4423.




American Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2003


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