AHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers drop four of five

March 25, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


CHECKERS COME UP SHORT IN NEW JERSEY

On Tuesday, the Checkers met division-leading Trenton for the first time since November 9. The Titans jumped off to an early two-goal lead and took the game by a 7-3 count. David Oliver, Kevin Caulfield, and Andrew Taylor each netted a goal in the loss. The following night, the Checkers faced-off with Atlantic City to fight for second place in the division. Kevin Caulfield tallied a goal at the 18:32 mark of the third to tie the game at two apiece and send it into overtime. After a scoreless overtime, Atlantic City's Luke Curtin netted the game-winner in the shootout. Charlotte fell to 4-8 in shootouts this season.

ROAD TRIP MOVED SOUTH

The final two games of Charlotte's five-game trip came on Friday and Saturday in Charleston and Columbia, respectively. On Friday, the Checkers earned their lone win of the week as Jason LaBarbera made 33 saves and held the Stingrays to one goal. Layne Ulmer and Kevin Caulfield each tallied a goal for Charlotte in the win. On Saturday in Columbia, Layne Ulmer scored twice but the Checkers fell to the Inferno 3-2. Columbia's Dennis Vial put in the game-winner at 4:37 of the third period.

CHECKERS RETURNED HOME TO MEET GRRROWL

The Checkers finished their five-game in six-day week at Cricket Arena on Sunday against the Greenville Grrrowl. After a scoreless first period each team tallied twice in the second. Greenville's Zdenek Blatny scored the go-ahead goal with three minutes left in the game and the Grrrowl added an empty-netter to seal the 4-2 win. Despite the loss, the Checkers have ensured their first winning season against the Grrrowl since Greenville entered the League in 1998-99 (3-2-2). The Checkers fell to 1-4-2 in their last seven games and dropped one point behind Atlantic City for second in the Northeast Division.

ULMER AND CAULFIELD PROVIDING OFFENSE

Rookie forward Layne Ulmer finished the week with eight points (4g, 4a) in five games. He notched multiple points in four of the week's five games. He is currently riding a three-game multi-point scoring streak. Kevin Caulfield has posted at least one point in five of his last seven games. He has six points (4g, 2a) in that span. Caulfield's 16 goals, 23 assists, and 39 points are all career-highs.

IMPORTANT FINAL WEEK OF SEASON

Entering the 2001-02 season's final week, the Checkers trail Atlantic City by a single point for second place in the Northeast Division. The Checkers' final three games come at Richmond, versus Columbia, and at Greensboro. Charlotte is 1-1-1 against the Renegades this season with a 1-1-0 record in Richmond. The Checkers are 0-2-0 at home against the Inferno, having allowed 12 goals in those two games. Charlotte is unbeaten in regulation against the Generals (8-0-1) and has not lost in the teams' last 19 meetings (17-0-2). Atlantic City, who leads Charlotte by one point holds a game in-hand over the Checkers and finishes with four games this week. The Checkers and Bullies will meet in the opening round of the 2002 Kelly Cup Playoffs. THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time Mar. 29 at Richmond 7:35 p.m.

Mar. 30 Columbia 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 31 at Greensboro 3:00 p.m.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
Date Opponent Result Mar. 19 at Trenton L, 7-3

Mar. 20 at A.C. T, 2-3

Mar. 22 at S.C. W, 2-1

Mar. 23 at Columbia L, 3-2

Mar. 24 Greenville L, 4-2

UPCOMING EVENTS

DON MACADAM CHECKER'S COACH'S SHOW

Monday, March 25, 2002

Join Charlotte Checkers' Head Coach Don MacAdam and the voice of the Checkers, Tim Donelli as they present the Checkers Coach's Show live from RJ's Sports Bar on the intersection of Sardis Rd. North and East Independence Blvd. Tim Donelli and Coach MacAdam will discuss last week's games, the upcoming schedule, and will be joined by a Checkers player and a mystery guest. FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT
Saturday, March 30, 2002
Checkers vs. Columbia, 7:30 p.m.

The Checkers would like to show their appreciation to all the great Charlotte fans by holding Fan Appreciation Night for the team's final 2001-02 regular season home game. All fans in attendance will be eligible to win one of thousands of prizes that will be given away throughout the game. One Lucky fan will take a shot for a Harley Davidson motorcycle during the first intermission.

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2002


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