AHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Continue Six-Game Road Trip Tuesday

Published on February 25, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


TUESDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will take on the Greenville Grrrowl for the final time in the five-game season series. Charlotte has lost both previous games in Greenville this season, and is 1-3-0 versus the Grrrowl overall. Greenville is currently holding the fifth and final playoff spot in the Southeast Division, leading by four points over both Augusta and Columbus who are tied for sixth place. Last week the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers assigned goalie Damian Rhodes to the Grrrowl. Rhodes has played in over 300 National Hockey League games and is expected to get the bulk of the starts down the stretch for Greenville. Through three games with the Grrrowl, Rhodes is 0-2-1 with a 4.86 goals against average.

2002-03 VS. GREENVILLE (21-29-6 = 48 PTS) - FIVE-GAME SEASON SERIES OVERALL - 1-3-0 HOME - 1-1-0 AWAY - 0-2-0 LIFETIME VS. GREENVILLE: 10-18-2

FRIDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will meet the Titans for the sixth and final time during the regular season in what will amount to a crucial game in Charlotte's playoff chase. Charlotte is chasing Trenton for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Northeast Division. Titans left wing Scott Bertoli has been on a torrid point pace since returning to the lineup on January 3, and has set a career and Titans' franchise point streak with at least one point in 16 consecutive games. During the streak Bertoli has netted seven goals and 18 assists. Trenton will begin its week Wednesday in Roanoke, and will also play the Express again in addition to Reading after Friday's game with the Checkers.

2002-03 VS. TRENTON (29-18-8 = 66 PTS) - SIX-GAME SEASON SERIES OVERALL - 2-3-0 HOME - 1-2-0 AWAY - 1-1-0 LIFETIME VS. TRENTON - 9-12-2

SATURDAY'S & SUNDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will close out their Atlantic City portion of the six-game series with the Boardwalk Bullies Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at historic Boardwalk Hall. AC has led the Northeast Division for nearly the entire season, and enters this week with the ECHL's second best record at 33-10-12 for 78 points. Each team has won a game on its home ice so far this season. The Boardwalk Bullies have scored the second most goals in the ECHL so far with 204 in 55 games for a 3.71 per game average, and have yielded a fourth best low of 159 goals against. J.F. Caudron leads the Bullies in scoring at (31g, 35a, 66pts).

2002-03 VS ATLANTIC CITY (33-10-12 = 78 PTS) SIX-GAME SEASON SERIES OVERALL - 1-1-0 HOME - 1-0-0 AWAY - 0-1-0 LIFETIME VS. ATLANTIC CITY - 9-7-4 ** Includes games when team was in Birmingham.

CHECKERS RECENT MOVES AND TRANSACTIONS: Friday, February 21 - The Hartford Wolf Pack assigned defenseman Jeff State to Charlotte. Friday, February 21 - Wilkes-Barrie/Scranton recalled forward Andrew McPherson. Friday, February 21 - Charlotte signed goaltender Derek Wilkinson as emergency backup. Saturday, February 22 - Charlotte released goaltender Derek Wilkinson as emergency backup.

NEWS AND NOTES:

• Checkers went 1-2-0 last week.

• Charlotte snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday with 4-3 shootout win at South Carolina.

• Checkers are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games.

• Entering this week, Charlotte is eight points behind the Trenton Titans for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Northeast Division. The Checkers have one game "in hand" on Trenton.

• Charlotte is in the midst of a season-high, six-game roadtrip, and are 1-1-0 so far.

• The Checkers are 5-0 in shootouts this season.

• Checkers defenseman Chad Wilchynski leads the club in plus / minus with a +13.

• Goalie Scott Meyer is 9-2-0 in his last 12 starts with one no-decision. Last week Meyer lost for only the second time since January 7. Meyer was 26 minutes shy of qualifying for the ECHL top ten goalies parade this week, and is 4-2-0 with a 2.09 goals against average in his last six games.

• Charlotte's road penalty kill ranks second in the ECHL with 84.6 percent (142-for-162).

• Of the 27 teams in the ECHL, the Checkers are seventh in attendance averaging 4,298 per game.

TEAM LEADERS:

POINTS EDDIE PERSHIN (47)
GOALS KEVIN CAULFIELD (21)
ASSISTS EDDIE PERSHIN (34)
PLUS / MINUS CHAD WILCHYNSKI (+13)
PENALTY MINUTES BRANDON CULLEN (191)

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:

Tuesday, February 18 (H) Columbia L 1-4

Friday, February 21 @ Columbia L 0-5

Saturday, February 22 @ South Carolina W 4-3 SO

Checkers went 1-2-0 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.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2003


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