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ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers drop close on to Pensacola 2-1

December 31, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


Pensacola, Florida - Thursday, December 30: The Charlotte Checkers came into Thursday's game against Pensacola wanting to show that they could compete with the same team that beat them 8-4 in their last meeting on December 18 in Florida. While the Checkers played much better this time around, the Ice Pilots still prevailed 2-1 with Pensacola goalie Todd Ford winning his eighth game without a loss.

Matt Chandler scored the only goal for the Checkers, with Cam Keith and Tyler Beechey scoring for Pensacola. Goalie Alex Westlund was the tough-luck loser for Charlotte, with 36 saves.

With Charlotte trailing 2-1 late in the third period, the Checkers Kenton Smith was called for holding with just 1:45 left in regulation. The questionable call denied Charlotte any chance to pull its goalie for an extra attacker late in the game.

In their last meeting with Pensacola, the Ice Pilots were awarded nine power-play attempts with the Checkers getting only one. In Thursday night's game Pensacola got two power-play opportunities and Charlotte got zero. In two games with the Ice Pilots in Pensacola, the home team received 11 power play chances with Charlotte getting only one.

"That late penalty was a terrible way for the game to end," remarked Checkers coach Derek Wilkinson. "The two teams battled each other all game with only one minor called up to that point. It would have been much better for the teams to just close out the period. We played a terrific second period and had several chances to tie the game but we just couldn't find the back of the net. Alex Westlund was great again tonight and really kept us in there."

Pensacola jumped out to a 2-0, first-period lead in the first 11 minutes of the hockey game. Three minutes into the first period Keith rammed home a rebound in front of Westlund for a 1-0 Ice Pilots lead. At 11:22 Beechey scored on a screen shot for a 2-0 Pensacola advantage. The Checkers settled down and responded as Chandler followed up Paul Lynch's blocked shot and rifled a shot from the top of the right face-off circle past Ford at 15:12 to slice the Ice Pilots lead to 2-1 after the first period.

The Checkers came out strong in the second period and played perhaps their best period of the season, with territorial domination and numerous scoring opportunities. Juris Stals had the best chance to tie the game but his shot on a partial breakaway clanked off the post midway through the period. Charlotte outshot Pensacola 15-7 in the period.

In the third period the Ice Pilots came out with stingier defense, limiting the Checkers to only six shots and hanging on for the 2-1 win.

Charlotte's record dropped to 17-11-2 for 36 points with Pensacola improving to 17-6-3 for 37 points. The Checkers will continue their three-game road trip Friday night in Fort Myers when they'll meet the Everblades at 7:30 p.m.

The Checkers next home game will be Friday, January 7 at Cricket Arena when Charlotte will host the Columbia Inferno at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the Cricket Arena Box office, the Charlotte Coliseum box office, and at all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be purchased on line at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (704) 522-6500. Group, season and mini-plan tickets can be purchased through the Charlotte Checkers office by calling (704) 342-4ICE.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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