ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers edged by Columbia 3-2 before second consecutive sellout crowd

February 11, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charlotte, North Carolina - Sunday, February 11) After winning seven straight home games, the Checkers dropped their second in a row on home ice Sunday afternoon 3-2 to the Columbia Inferno before a "Pink in the Rink" sellout crowd of 7,351 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Charlotte (25-18-1-2 for 53 points) dominated the game, outshooting the Inferno 46-30. But Columbia was opportunistic, taking advantage of a bad bounce and a Charlotte turnover while also receiving solid goaltending from both starter Todd Ford and replacement Robert Gherson. The loss was Charlotte's first against the Inferno in five games this season.

The Checkers got goals from Hugh Jessiman and Daymen Rycroft, but had many chances to score more. Charlotte hit four crossbars and two posts along with numerous near-misses. When the Checkers looked like they had a sure goal, Ford and Gherson were there to make a big save. Charlotte goalie Chris Holt played a solid game and was the hard-luck loser with 27 saves.

"We got down early and we just didn't get any bounces," commented Checkers center, Mark Lee. "I thought we had all 18 guys heading in the right direction. We had all those shots and almost beat down their net. Sometimes you have those games where you do a lot of good things but don't get the win....like today."

The lone goal of the period came on a giveaway in the Checkers zone by Charlotte defenseman Kenny Smith. Columbia's Kevin St. Jacques pounced on the puck in the slot and scored unassisted, to give the Inferno a 1-0 lead. Each team had four power-play chances in the first period as referee Dean Sanborn was busy calling eight minors.

The Checkers tied the game at 2 minutes, 27 seconds of the second period as Jessiman, while on his stomach, one-handed the puck past Ford to tie the game at 1-1. Four minutes later Ford suffered an injury and had to leave the game, Robert Gherson came in to play goal for Columbia. The Inferno (19-22-3-4 for 45 points) got the lead back with only 27 seconds left in the period. The puck bounced over a Charlotte defenseman's stick, allowing Jeff Miles a breakaway as he scored for a 2-1 Columbia advantage.

The Inferno tallied a power-play goal with two and a half minutes left in the contest by Mike Jarmuth, and appeared to have the game wrapped up with a two-goal cushion. But a rash of late Columbia penalties gave Charlotte several power-play chances, and Rycroft's blast from the slot cut the Inferno lead to 3-2 with 1:22 left in the game. In the final minute with Charlotte still on the power play and with Holt pulled for an extra attacker, the Checkers threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Inferno. But Charlotte got no bounces and Gherson made several acroabatic saves as Columbia escaped with the 3-2 victory.

The Checkers will hit the road for three straight contests and six of the next seven beginning Friday, when they'll travel to Charleston to face the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:00 p.m. The road trip continues Saturday night at Augusta when Charlotte will meet the Lynx at 7:30 p.m. The Checkers road weekend concludes with a Sunday afternoon tilt against the Gwinnett Gladiators at 4:00 p.m. in Georgia. Charlotte's next home game is Thursday, February 22 when the Toledo Storm will visit Charlotte Bobcats Arena for a match set for 7:00 p.m. CHECKERS SUNDAY AFTERNOON SCRATCHES: Dusty Jamieson, Rick Kozak, Nathan Gillies, Blake Bellefeuille and Adam Nightingale.

FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1477

Tickets for all Checkers home games can be purchased on the official team web site at www.gocheckers.com, on the telephone by using a credit card and calling 1-800-495-2295, or by visiting the Charlotte Bobcats Arena box office.

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ECHL Stories from February 11, 2007


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