AHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Fall to South Carolina, 5-3

Published on November 6, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC – November 6, 2002: After a near flawless performance Tuesday night in a 5-1 win at Roanoke, the Checkers couldn't keep the momentum in a 5-3 loss Wednesday night at Cricket Arena to the South Carolina Stingrays. Joel Irving scored a hat trick to pace the Stingrays who snapped a two-game losing streak. The Checkers outshot the Stingrays 45-19 for the game but didn't get the win

"We had a huge advantage in shots but were unlucky around the net tonight," remarked Checkers Head Coach Don MacAdam. "Some of the credit must go to their goalie (Dean Weasler) who had a nice game in his first start of the season. South Carolina is a good team and is off to a great start, but I can't complain about our effort tonight. We just didn't get the win." MacAdam also mentioned the Checkers goaltending. "They had only two shots on goal in the third period, and both were goals even though one was an empty net. We gave up five goals on 17 shots, not a very good percentage."

The Checkers jumped out to the early lead as Takahito Suzuki scored his sixth of the season on a power play from Patrick Aufiero and Kurt Seher for a 1-0 lead at 7:41 of the first period. Suzuki blasted his shot from deep in the left wing circle by Stingrays goalie Dean Weasler. The Stingrays came back with a pair of goals to take the lead. Their first on a power play at 11:10 came when Joel Irving was camped out in front of the Checkers cage and flicked one by Charlotte goalie Niklas Sundberg to tie the match at 1-1. Irving came right back at 12:30 on a breakaway to the give the Stingrays a 2-1 lead after the first period. Charlotte outshot South Carolina 14-7 in the first period.

South Carolina increased their advantage to 3-1 at 3:39 of the second period as Mike Jickling poked in a loose puck from the slot. The Checkers cut the lead to 3-2 at 13:14 as Suzuki played give and go with Allan Egeland and knocked a backhander by Weasler for his second goal of the night. The Checkers out shot the Stingrays for the second straight period 16-10.

As the Checkers were applying pressure in the third period looking for the tying goal, the Stingrays built another two goal lead as Curtis Huppe scored his fourth of the campaign at 11:35. The Checkers fought to the bitter end and pulled to within one at 4-3 when Brendan Yarema scored with just 1:14 left in the game on a power play and with Sundberg off for an extra attacker.

South Carolina sealed the win with an empty net goal by Irving with just 38 seconds left to complete his hat trick. The loss dropped the Checkers record to 3-5-1 for seven points, while the Stingrays improved to 7-2-0 for 14 points. The Checkers finish the week with two road games, beginning Friday night in Augusta, and a return match with South Carolina in Charleston on Saturday.

NOTES: Konrad McKay was shaken up late in the first period and did not play the rest of the game......Suzuki scored a goal (2) in his second straight game and has scored at least one point in seven of the Checkers first nine games...Brendan Yarema has also scored goals in two straight games.

TICKET INFO: Individual game tickets for all Checkers' regular season home games may be purchased through Ticketmaster via phone at (704) 522-6500, via website, www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the Cricket Arena Box Office located at 2700 E. Independence Boulevard in Charlotte (704) 335-3100. Group Tickets, Mini-Plans and Season Tickets also remain on sale. Specific ticket information can be obtained by calling the Checkers' office (704) 342-4423.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2002


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