Checkers Host Grrrowl In East Division Battle Saturday

March 4, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - Greenville will be looking to move up and Charlotte will be trying to stay in the top spot in the East Division when the two meet in Charlotte, one of 13 games scheduled for Saturday. Charlotte opens the weekend in first place with a 32-20-4 record and 68 points, two points ahead of Columbia at 29-14-8 and three points ahead of Greenville at 30-20-5. Columbia wraps up a two-game series with Augusta (21-25-7) series on Saturday.

Florida opens the weekend in second place in the South Division, eight points behind Pensacola, and holding onto the third seed in the American Conference, four points ahead of Columbia. The Everblades, who are 6-2-2 in their last 10 and 31-17-8 overall, will host Louisiana on Saturday and Sunday.

The battle for the West Division continues in Anchorage on Saturday with the second of three games in three nights between the Alaska Aces and the Long Beach Ice Dogs. Alaska began the weekend at 34-15-6 and 74 points, one point ahead of Long Beach at 34-16-5 and 73 points. Idaho will host Las Vegas in the last game of a three-game series on Saturday while San Diego will host Fresno. Fresno is 7-1-2 in its last 10 games and opens the weekend holding onto the final West Division playoff berth with a 31-17-7 record and 69 points. San Diego is 28-21-6 with 62 points followed by defending Kelly Cup champion Idaho at 29-21-3 and 61 points. San Diego is 3-1-0 at home against Fresno while Idaho is 3-0-0 at home and 6-1-0 overall against Las Vegas. Bakersfield, which is tied for second with 73 points and a 32-15-9 record, visits Victoria on Friday and Saturday. The Salmon Kings have won the last two games and are 2-0-1 at home and 2-2-2 overall against Bakersfield.

Two points separated the first place and the fifth place team in the North Division entering Friday's games. Atlantic City and Reading were tied for first at 67 points followed by Wheeling and Toledo with 66 points and Trenton with 65 points, one point out of the final playoff spot. Toledo wraps up its two-game series at Peoria, which is in sixth place with 57 points, on Saturday while Atlantic City hosts Johnstown and Reading hosts Wheeling. Atlantic City is 0-1-1 at home against Johnstown while Reading has won its last two home games with Wheeling to improve to 3-1-0 at home and Toledo is 3-0-0 at Peoria.

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ECHL Stories from March 4, 2005

• Checkers win second straight with 5-1 win at Atlantic City - Charlotte Checkers
• Sea Wolves Edge Gladiators 3-2 In Shootout - Mississippi Sea Wolves
• Rivermen Upend Toledo 6-3 at Home - Peoria Rivermen
• Gladiators Fall to Sea Wovles in Shootout, 3-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
• Titans Fall to Grrrowl in Shoout, 8-7 - Trenton Devils
• Late power play goal sinks Lynx - Augusta Lynx
• Bombers Dump First Place Royals In Reading Friday Night - Dayton Bombers
• Bill Kinkel Recalled To Houston of AHL - Pensacola Ice Pilots
• Charlotte Throttles Bullies 5-1 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
• ECHL Transactions - ECHL
• Checkers Host Grrrowl In East Division Battle Saturday - ECHL
• South Carolina's Courtenay Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Plus Performer of the Month - ECHL
• Kirk Daubenspeck Named MeiGray Group ECHL Alumnus of the Month - ECHL
• Goaltender Michaud Reassigned from the Worcester IceCats - Peoria Rivermen
• Rivermen Postpone Disco-Themed Jersey Auction Until March 25 - Peoria Rivermen
• Hutchins Returned By Grand Rapids; Drake Placed On IR - Mississippi Sea Wolves
• Rats return Magowan to Lynx - Augusta Lynx
• Defenseman Byrne, Right Wing Hemingway Reassigned to the Worcester IceCats - Peoria Rivermen
• ECHL Today - ECHL

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