AHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Defenseman Chad Wilchynski Wins ECHL Award

Published on April 6, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


PRINCETON, N.J. – April 6, 2003: Charlotte defenseman Chad Wilchynski is the C&T Hockey Products East Coast Hockey League Plus Performer of the Month for March. Wilchynski was +16 in March raising his season plus/minus to +31, second among ECHL defenseman and tied for fourth overall among all ECHL players. He was plus in 10 of Charlotte's 16 games in March and even in five others while scoring two game-winning goals and 10 points (2g-8a). For the season, he was minus in only seven games while finishing plus in 23 of 50 games.

Selected by Detroit Red Wings in the fifth round (125th overall) of the 1995 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Wilchynski began the season with Toledo and scored four points (0g-4a) in eight games before being traded to Charlotte in December. He scored four power-play goals, three game-winning goals and 27 points (8g-19a) in 42 games with the Checkers.

The 26-year-old Wilchynski began his professional career in the ECHL with Birmingham in 1997-98 and has also played in Mobile and Pensacola in the ECHL as well as in the American Hockey League with Rochester and in the Western Professional Hockey League with Amarillo and Alexandria. Runner Up: Steve Hildenbrand, Johnstown (+14).

Top Plus Performer(s) for Each Club: Arkansas – Ryan Coole and Matthew Pagnutti (+4); Atlantic City – Steve Munn (+9); Augusta – Andrew Ianiero, Martin Lapointe and Ryan Lauzon (+3); Baton Rouge – Tom Kaiman and Mike Martinello (-1); Cincinna ti – Steve Rodberg (+7); Columbia –Dennis Vial (+8); Columbus – Darren Tiemstra (+6); Dayton – Lance Galbraith (+4); Florida – Keith Anderson, Ed Hill, Laurent Meunier, and Ryan Murphy (+1); Greensboro – Geno Parrish (+6); Greenville – Josh Legge (+6); Jackson – ! Sean Gillam (+12); Lexington – Ryan Fultz (+3); Louisiana – J.P. Morin (+6); Mississippi – Mike Scott (+7); Pee Dee – Peter Fregoe (+4); Pensacola – Chris Minard (+3); Peoria – Jason Lawmaster (+9); Reading – Ray DiLauro and Mat Snesrud (+3); Richmond – Ian Turner (+7); Roanoke – Joe Dusbabek (+5); South Carolina – Trevor Johnson and Brett Marietti (+5); Toledo – Matt Ellis (+6); Trenton – Vince Williams (+7); and Wheeling – Bobby Russell (+9).

KELLY CUP PLAYOFF UPDATE: Three teams won their opening series Saturday night to move on in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

NORTHWEST DIVISION UPDATE: The Toledo Storm eliminated the Lexington Men O War three games to none, winning Saturday night 5-1. The Storm will next play the winner of the Cincinnati / Peoria series in the Northwest Division Finals, where the Cyclones have a 2-1 series lead. Game # 4 of that series will be played Sunday night i! n Cincinnati.

SOUTHWEST DIVISION UPDATE: Both first-round both series in the Southwest Division are over. The Mississippi Sea Wolves eliminated the Pensacola Ice Pilots three games to none, ironically winning all three games by a 5-1 score. Mississippi will play the Louisianna IceGators in the Southwest Division Finals, who swept the Arkansas RiverBlades three games to none. The Gators won the deciding game 3-1 Saturday night in Little Rock.

NORTHEAST DIVISION UPDATE: The Trenton Titans are on the brink of elimination in the Northeast Division, and will try to stay alive when they'll host Atlantic City Monday night in Trenton. The Titans lost Games 1 & 2 in Atlantic City, and will need to sweep the next three games to advance.

The Greesnboro Generals took a two to one series lead over Roanoke with a 3-2 victory Saturday night in Virginia. Game # 4 will be in Greeensboro Tuesday night with a chance for the Generals to wrap up the series.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION UPDATE: The Greenville Grrrowl are on the verge of elimination in the Southeast Division, down two game to none to the Columbia Inferno. The Grrrowl will try to stave off elimination in Game # 3 when the series resumes Monday night at the BI-LO Center in Greenville.

In the other Southeast Division series, the South Carolina Stingrays are on the verge of elimination, as they fell behind two games to one to the Pee Dee Pride. Pee Dee took the series lead Saturday night with a 4-3 win in Charleston. The Pride can clinch the series when play continues Monday night in Florence in Game # 4. The visiting team has won every game in the series so far.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2003


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