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Charlotte Checkers

Checkers fall to Augusta 3-1 with depleted squad

November 26, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Augusta, Georgia) - The Charlotte Checkers took a depleted squad into Augusta Saturday night, and saw their two-game winning steak end with a 3-1 loss to the Lynx in Georgia. David Maracle scored a pair of goals including the game winner for Augusta, and Lynx goalie Jason Wolfe made 42 saves in leading the home team to the victory. Mike Bayrack scored the lone Charlotte goal, with the Checkers outshooting Augusta 43-22 for the game.

The Checkers were without Dusty Jamieson, captain Ryan Cuthbert, Steve MacIntyre, Rick Kozak, Jerramie Domish, and Brandon Cullen due to injuries. In addition, goalies Bernd Bruckler, Jeff Glass and Chris Holt, forward Lee Falardeau and defenseman Dan Girardi have all been recalled since Nov 7 making Charlotte ten players short.

However, the Lynx had player problems of their own this past week. An immigration ruling earlier in the week temporarily put seven Augusta players out of the lineup. Lynx Head Coach Bob Ferguson was forced to go out and sign local players and bring in any player available in order to field a team. Despite having seven starters out of their lineup, Augusta managed to win two of three games during the week.

"We were a depleted group tonight but still out-played Augusta, we just couldn't score," commented Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson. "We got no bounces tonight, couldn't score on the power play and their goalie played well. They had their player problems too, but we dominated the game and unfortunately didn't get the win. Not having ten players and playing so many games on the road, it's tough."

The Lynx took a 1-0 lead early in the first period as Stepp intercepted a pass and walked in unmolested on Charlotte goalie Pat Berrigan and scored on a short-handed breakaway at 2:18. It took the Checkers a while but they finalized equalized at 15:10 of the first frame, when Bayrack's blazing wrister beat Wolfe to tie the game at 1-1. Charlotte outshot Augusta 17-7 for the period.

In the second period the Lynx took the lead again as Maracle rammed home a loose puck in the Charlotte goal mouth at 9:07 for a 2-1 Augusta advantage. Again the Checkers outshot the Lynx in the second frame, 13-9.

In the third period the Lynx scored an important goal for a two-goal cushion, as Maracle completed a three-on-one break with his second goal of the game at 11:47. The Checkers mustered 13 third-period shots but could not solve Wolfe and finally succumbed for the 3-1 final.

The Checkers record dropped to 7-5-1 for 15 points, while Augusta improved its record to 7-5-2 for 16 points. Charlotte continues its four-game road trip next Thursday, traveling to Wheeling to meet the Nailers at 7:00 p.m. The Checkers next home game is Monday, December 5 when they'll host the Columbia Inferno at 7:00 p.m. at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

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