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ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers home winning streak now at seven in 3-2 victory over South Carolina

February 9, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charlotte, North Carolina - Thursday, February 8) The Charlotte Checkers continued their winning ways Thursday night before the largest weeknight crowd of the season in a 3-2 triumph over the South Carolina Stingrays. A crowd of 6,071 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena witnessed the Checkers win their seventh straight home game and eighth victory in their last ten games overall. The win also allowed Charlotte to secure sole possession of fourth place in the crowded Southern Division of the ECHL's American Conference. Charlotte defensemen Kenton Smith and Jan Vodrazka scored single goals, sandwiched around a Hugh Jessiman tally. Brendan Bernakevitch scored both Stingrays goals. Checkers goalie Chris Holt earned his 14th win of the campaign with 20 saves, and has been victorious in four of his last five starts. South Carolina goalie Davis Parley, making his 20th consecutive start, took the loss making 27 saves.

"It's great when the guys on the blueline can step in and provide some offense," remarked Charlotte Coach Derek Wilkinson. "Our team's not built expecting a lot of offense from back there but we've been encouraging our defenseman to jump into the play when they can and they did that tonight."

Charlotte (25-16-3 for 53 points) drew first blood midway through the first period as Kenton Smith's blast from the right point deflected in to give the Checkers a 1-0 lead. Charlotte dominated the period, outshooting the Stingrays 11-5.

South Carolina (24-18-3 for 51 points) tied the game at 1-1 in the second period as Bernakevitch scored short-handed with a shot over Holt's shoulder at 11 minutes, 18 seconds. Four minutes later Jessiman popped out of the penalty, took a pass from Mike Ouellette and somehow put the puck through Parley on the short side from right on the doorstep. Jessiman's ninth goal of the season gave Charlotte a 2-1 advantage.

Late in the period, outstanding penalty killing by the Checkers allowed them to keep their one-goal lead. Charlotte's Blake Bellefeuille and Daymen Rycroft each received two-minute minors at 17:52, giving the Stingrays a full two-minute, two-man advantage. The Checkers trio and Holt managed to stymie the South Carolina power play and preserve their lead through two periods.

Vodrazka's goal down the slot off a pretty pass from Dan Murphy increased the Checkers lead to 3-1 at 6:45 of the final period. Another Stingrays two-man advantage late in the third, this time for 1:44, allowed South Carolina to pull within one at 3-2 on Bernakevitch's second goal of the night.

South Carolina pulled Parley with just under a minute to go for a sixth attacker, but the Checkers held on for the 3-2 triumph. The win gives Charlotte a 4-2-0 lead in the 11-game season series.

CHECKERS THURSDAY NIGHT SCRATCHES: Dusty Jamieson, Rick Kozak, Nathan Gillies and Adam Nightingale.

FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1457

The Checkers continue their three-game homestand Saturday night when they'll entertain the Texas Wildcatters at 7:30 p.m. Saturday's game is "Youth Jersey Night" sponsored by Circle K. The first 1500 youths, 14 years of age and under, will receive a free Checkers youth jersey. The homestand concludes Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. when the Columbia Inferno will provide the opposition. Sunday's game is the Checkers inaugural "Pink in the Rink" game to benefit Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation, Carolina Breast Friends and the American Cancer Society

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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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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