Checkers drop slugfest to Roanoke 4-2
April 3, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
(Roanoke, VA - Friday, April 2) Even though the Charlotte Checkers were already eliminated from the ECHL playoffs, they were not about to roll over and play dead. Friday night the Checkers took only 16 skaters to the Roanoke Civic Center and put up a hard fight before finally bowing 4-2 to the Express. The game was a physical one with six fights and 128 minutes in combined penalty minutes. Checkers right wing Mike Hartman took a hard, high hit at the blueline in the third period and was taken to a Roanoke hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken jaw and concussion. Konrad McKay was also knocked to the ice, getting cut in the mouth that drew blood. No penalties were called on either play. Express center Joe Dusbabek had a four-point night with two goals and two assists. Dusty Jamieson had both Checkers goals. Charlotte goalie David St. Germain played superbly making 38 saves in the defeat.
"I was very proud of our guys tonight," commented Checkers coach Derek Wilkinson. "Everything was against us tonight. We lost Mike Hartman early in the third period and then with all the misconducts and fights, finished the game with only 11 players. St. Germain played a solid game too, and we gave a team that needed this game for the playoffs a good run all the way to the end."
Dusbabek's first goal of the game at 3:04 of the first period gave Roanoke a 1-0 lead, which held to the third period. Charlotte finally got on the board at 4:21 of the final period as Allan Egeland set up Jamieson at the far post of the Roanoke goal to knot the game at 1-1. A large melee occurred at the 7:55 mark of the period featuring three separate fights. Egeland and Chester Gallant were ejected for the Checkers while Andrew McPherson and Duncan Dalmao were thrown out for Roanoke. Later in the period Charlotte took two minors that gave the Express a two-man advantage. Shaun Fisher put Roanoke ahead 2-1 at 14:02 as the Express capitalized on the five-on-three power-play. Nine seconds later with a one-man advantage, Roanoke increased its lead to 3-1 on Dusbabek's second goal of the night. The Checkers didn't quit as Jamieson scored his second goal of the game at 16:12 to pull Charlotte to within one at 3-2. Forty-one seconds later the Express scored again for a 4-2 lead as Rick Kowalsky tipped in a Fisher shot by St. Germain.
Roanoke won its eighth straight in improving its' record to 37-26-8 for 82 points. An Express win in its regular season finale Saturday night at home against Greenville will secure Roanoke a playoff spot in the Southern Division. The Checkers dropped their seventh straight and extended their winless streak to 0-7-1 with the loss, falling to 31-32-8 for 70 points. Charlotte will close out its regular season Saturday night at Columbia at 7:30 p.m.
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