ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers lose 3-1 in game three - South Carolina wins playoff series

April 13, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charleston, South Carolina - Wednesday, April 12, 2006) The South Carolina Stingrays ousted the Charlotte Checkers from the Kelly Cup playoffs Wednesday night at the North Charleston Coliseum with a 3-1 victory in the deciding third game of the best of 3 series. After beginning the campaign at 5-0-1, the Checkers had hopes of another long playoff run. But it all came to a halt in the first round series defeat

Facing elimination for the second consecutive night, the Checkers could not find any offense. The Stingrays raced out to a 3-0 lead and held on for the victory, advancing to the ECHL's Southern Division semi-finals against the Gwinnett Gladiators. Nate Kiser, Evan Schwab and Matt Reid scored for South Carolina, with Jake Ortmeyer netting the only Charlotte goal. Stingrays goalie Davis Parley was solid with 26 saves, but the Checkers didn't have as many quality scoring chances as they would have liked..

Checkers goalie Jeff Glass made more acrobatic saves than his opponent, but gave up a soft goal in the first period to allow the Stingrays to grab the all-important first goal. Other than that goal, Glass did more than his share to keep the game within reach. The Checkers won the regular-season series over South Carolina by taking nine of 11. Charlotte won their first four regular-season meetings against the Stingrays at the North Charleston Coliseum, but lost the next four including both in the playoffs.

"We came out hard tonight, but we just didn't get any bounces and they did," remarked Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson. "Their goalie also played great and we didn't get many rebounds. It's so tough in a short best of 3 series. I only wish we could have played either a best of 5 or best of 7, but that's what we had to deal with "

The Stingrays grabbed a 1-0 lead in the opening period on what seemed to be a harmless shot. Kiser fired a shot on goal from just inside the blue line that somehow eluded Glass at 9:31. The Checkers had most of their chances in the first seven minutes, but Parley turned aside all seven first-period Charlotte shots. South Carolina outshot the Checkers 14-7 for the period.

South Carolina built a 3-0 lead after the second period with a pair of goals and solid goaltending by Parley. The Stingrays scored just 12 seconds into the period. Schwab tapped the puck in by Glass from in close after South Carolina took the puck right into the Charlotte zone from the period-opening faceoff for a two-goal advantage.

The Stingrays had numerous chances to increase their lead in the second frame, but were thwarted numerous times by Glass. Late in the period, Ortmeyer was forced to hook Reid who was racing in on Glass on a breakaway. While Reid was denied on the breakaway, he was left alone at the side of the Checkers goal and scored on the ensuing power play. The 3-0 lead through two periods would prove to be too much for the Checkers to overcome.

In the third period Charlotte worked hard but the Stingrays continued to play tight defense. The Checkers finally broke through late in the game on a goal-mouth scramble in front of the South Carolina net. Ortmeyer was credited with the goal to cut the Stingrays advantage to 3-1, and gave the Checkers one last glimpse of hope for a comeback. With a minute and a half to go in the game, Glass was pulled for a sixth attacker. The Stingrays hunkered down in the final 90 seconds to hang for the 3-1 victory and the series win.

"In a short series anything can happen," commented Charlotte winger Rick Kozak. "We sure didn't get any bounces tonight and Parley (South Carolina goalie) didn't give us much. That's pretty much the story."

As Wilkinson reflected on just-completed season, he was upbeat despite the playoff defeat. "We had a lot to deal with this season from moving into a new building, the schedule, and an unusual number of injuries and callups. I'm not happy with a first-round playoff exit, but we did make the playoffs for a second season in a row and enjoyed some success despite some tough circumstances. I do believe the building blocks are in place for Charlotte to become an elite franchise in the ECHL. We have a solid organization, an outstanding affiliation with the New York Rangers, a beautiful new building and great fans. That's what we'll be striving to accomplish in the off-season."

ECHL KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS

Southern Division Quarterfinals

Game # 1 "" Monday, April 10 - Charlotte 3 @ South Carolina 6

Game # 2 "" Tuesday, April 11 "" South Carolina 3 @ Charlotte 4

Game # 3 "" Wednesday, April 12 "" Charlotte 1 @ South Carolina 3

South Carolina wins the series two games to one.

SEASON TICKETS: Season ticket and mini-plan ticket information for the 2006-07 season by calling the Checkers office at 704-342-4423. Additional ticket information can be obtained by visiting the Checkers web site at www.gocheckers.com.

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ECHL Stories from April 13, 2006


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