Checkers Look for First Home Win this Week
November 17, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
The Checkers (3-5-3 for nine points) will return to Cricket Arena this week with two home games and a short week. Charlotte will host the Gwinnett Gladiators (10-2-1 for 21 points) Wednesday at Cricket Arena at 7:00 p.m. and the Greenville Grrrowl (1-8-1 for three points) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Japanese newcomer Kengo Ito will make his Charlotte debut this Wednesday, while Konrad McKay gets his first regular season action on home ice since missing the first nine games of the regular season with an injury. Charlotte will also try to get its' first home win of this young, 2003-04 campaign, as the Checkers have gone 0-3-1 so far on Cricket Arena ice.
JIM SCHOENFELD IN CHARLOTTE THIS WEEK: Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Jim Schoenfeld will be in Charlotte watching the Checkers in home games this Wednesday and Friday. Schoenfeld spent 13 seasons as a defenseman in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins amassing 719 NHL games played. He has also been a Head Coach in the National Hockey League with the Sabres, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals and Phoenix Coyotes. Last season Schoenfeld was an Assistant Coach with the New York Rangers. Media members are asked to call Tim Donelli to arrange for any special interview requests this week with Jim Schoenfeld..
OVERALL 3-5-3 = 9 POINTS HOME 0-3-1 = 1 POINTS ROAD 3-2-2 = 8 POINTS STREAK 0-1-1 LAST 10 3-4-3 STANDINGS SEVENTH PLACE IN THE SOUTHERN DIVISION OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE
*** All Checkers road games can be heard on the Internet by logging on to www.gocheckers.com, and can be heard over the telephone, TOLL FREE, in the United States and Canada by calling "TEAMLINE" at (800) 847-4600 - CODE # 2820
WEDNESDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will begin a two-game homestand Wednesday hosting the Gwinnett Gladiators at 7:00 p.m. Gwinnett begins the week in first place in the ECHL's Central Division of the Western Conference with a record of 10-2-1 for 21 points, and will come to Charlotte on a three-game winning streak. Charlotte has played the Gladiators twice so far in the seven-game, season series, losing 5-2 on opening night Oct 18 at home and winning 4-3 in a shootout in Gwinnett on Oct 25. The Gladiators are led in scoring by former Charlotte Checker Brandon Dietrich with two goals and 12 assists for 14 points. Mike Vigilante has a nine-game point streak (3g-8a) dating back to October 29. Gwinnett features Michael Garnett and Adam Munro in the nets. Garnett is 5-1-0 with a 1.95 goals against average in his last six games. Head Coach Jeff Pyle's Gladiator's are affiliated with the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers.
WET YOUR WHISTLE WEDNESDAY & AUTOGRAPH SESSION: Beer and Sodas are $1.00 for fans at Wednesday's game, and an autograph session with the Checkers team will follow after the game.
2003-04 VS. GWINNETT - SEVEN-GAME SEASON SERIES OVERALL - 1-1-0 HOME - 0-1-0 AWAY - 1-0-0 LIFETIME VS. GWINNETT: 6-3-1 (Includes games when franchise was in Mobile)
FRIDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will conclude their brief two-game week by entertaining the Greenville Grrrowl for the first time this season at Cricket Arena. Charlotte owns a 5-2 win over the Grrrowl in a game played in Greenville on Oct 24. The Grrrowl has gotten off to a slow start this season with only one win in their first ten games. Mike Henderson leads Greenville in scoring with three goals and six assists for nine points. The Grrrowl ranks 29th of 31 ECHL teams in goals allowed with 3.80 goals per game. Former Checkers Tyler Deis and Scott Kirton also dot the Grrrowl roster. Michel Robinson and Scott Kabotoff are the Greenville goalies, while former Charlotte Head Coach John Marks begins his sixth season with the Grrrowl and 11th season in the ECHL.
2003-04 VS. GREENVILLE - SEVEN-GAME SEASON SERIES OVERALL - 1-0-0 HOME - 0-0-0 AWAY - 1-0-0 LIFETIME VS. GREENVILLE: 12-18-2
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CHECKERS RECENT MOVES AND TRANSACTIONS:
Mon. Nov 9 Removed center Konrad McKay from injured reserve Fri. Nov 14 Steve MacIntyre was recalled by Hartford Fri. Nov 14 Checkers signed defenseman Kengo Ito Sat. Nov 15 Hartford reassigned Steve MacIntyre to Charlotte Sat. Nov 15 Hartford recalled right wing Mike Wirll
NEWS AND NOTES:
⢠Checkers went 0-1-1 last week.
⢠Checkers signed Japanese defenseman Kengo Ito last Friday. Ito scored one goal in his first two games and had a plus / minus of +2. Ito becomes the second Japanese player in Checkers history, and sixth in ECHL history.
⢠Right wing Doug Christiansen has a three-game point streak going at 1g, 2a = 3pts.
⢠The Checkers have the second fewest penalty minutes (194) and the second fewest minutes per game at 17.6 in the 31-team ECHL.
⢠Except for Fresno which has an overtime loss in its' only home game so far, the Checkers are the only other team in the ECHL without a home win. (0-3-1)
⢠Dusty Jamieson leads the Checkers in scoring at 3-4-7 despite missing three games while on recall.
⢠Center Konrad McKay returned to the lineup last Friday after missing the first nine games of the regular season with an injury.
⢠The Checkers are tied for second in the ECHL for shorthanded goals with three (Blaz Emersic, Ryan Cuthbert and Kengo Ito)
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:
Friday, November 14 @ Florida L 2-6 Saturday, November 15 @ Florida L SO 2-3
Checkers went 0-1-1 last week.
TICKET INFO: All individual game tickets are on sale and may be purchased at the Cricket Arena Box Office, the Charlotte Coliseum Box Office, and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be purchased by phone by using a credit card and calling Ticketmaster at (704) 922-6500, and through the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com.
Individual game tickets for the 2003-04 season are priced at $7.00 for balcony seats, $10.00 for end mezzanine seats, $12.00 for side mezzanine seats, $15.00 for circle seats, and $20.00 for box seats.
Season Tickets, mini plans and group tickets remain on sale through the Checkers office. Season tickets prices will now be prorated Further information can be obtained by calling the Checkers office at (704) 342-4423.
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