Checkers maintain possession of fifth place
March 5, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Checkers split the week at 1-1 with a 2-1 loss at Augusta and a 5-4 overtime victory against Florida at home on Sunday. Daymen Rycroft scored the lone goal for the Checkers against the Lynx and goaltender, Chris Holt took the loss stopping 29 of 31 shots on goal. Sunday, the Checkers rebounded with a victory over the first place ranked Everblades. Jan Vodrazka, Dan Murphy, Daymen Rycroft and Bruce Graham all had single goals for the Checkers, and Mark Lee had the game winning goal at 4:35 in the overtime period. Chris Holt took the win for the Checkers with 35 saves in his twelfth consecutive start.
The Checkers picked up two new players last week. Mike Dryer is a forward from Fitchburg State making his professional hockey debut with the Checkers. The other newcomer is a defenseman, Hannu Pikkarainen who notched 2 assists on Sunday with the Checkers.
CHECKERS THIS SEASON
30-21-3, 63 pts
LAST WEEK
1-1-0, 2 pts
Saturday, March 3, 2007 @ Augusta, L, 1-2 The last time the Checkers departed James Brown Arena in Augusta two weeks ago, they left with a one-goal loss. Saturday night the same thing happened. After leading by one goal in the first period, the Lynx scored the game's last two goals for a 2-1 victory.
The win moved Augusta (32-23-1-2 for 67 points) six points ahead of Charlotte in the battle for fourth place in the ECHL's Southern Division. The Checkers (29-21-1-2 for 61 points) still have five games in-hand on the Lynx as they fell to 3-4 against Augusta in the ten-game season series. The loss also dropped Charlotte into a tie for fifth place in the division with South Carolina, who defeated Pensacola Saturday night 5-4. The Checkers still retain two games in-hand on the Stingrays. The top five teams in the division qualify for post-season play.
Sunday, March 4, 2007 vs. Florida, W, 5-4 The Charlotte Checkers wanted to change their fortunes at home as they started a five-game homestand Sunday at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Mission accomplished. Mark Lee's power-play goal with just twenty five seconds left in the five-minute, sudden-death overtime session gave the Checkers a 5-4 victory in the first game of the homestand.
In a game of lead changes, numerous penalties, nine individual goal scorers from both teams combined, and even several stoppages due to arena ice rink repairs, the Checkers picked up two valuable points in their quest for a playoff berth in the ECHL's Southern Division. In addition to Lee's winning tally, Charlotte got single goals from Jan Vodrazka, Daymen Rycroft, Bruce Graham and Dan Murphy. Checkers goalie, Chris Holt, making his twelfth consecutive start, was busy facing 39 shots and making 35 saves to earn his nineteenth victory. The triumph also allowed Charlotte (30-21-1-2 for 63 points) to snap a three-game home losing streak. Newcomer Hannu Pikkarainen, playing his first game in front of the home fans, notched two assists in setting up the goals by Graham and Rycroft.
The Checkers victory Sunday, coupled with South Carolina's loss to Pensacola, put Charlotte into sole possession of fifth place in their division with 63 points. Augusta's lead over the Checkers for fourth place in the division shrunk to four points with Sunday's win, with Charlotte holding four games in hand on the Lynx.
GAMES THIS WEEK Tuesday, March 6, 2007 vs. Augusta, 7:00 pm ET Thursday, March 8, 2007 vs. South Carolina, 7:00 pm ET Sunday, March 11, 2007 vs. Gwinnett, 4:00 pm, ET
CHECKERS NEWS
- The Checkers play 17 of their 18 remaining games against South Division teams.
- Bruce Graham is ranked 7th in the ECHL with 30 goals.
- Mike Ouellette is tied for 10th in the league amongst rookies with 35 points 10g, 25a).
CHECKERS LEADERS
Goals: Graham, Bruce (30)
Assists: Lee, Mark (32)
Points: Lee, Mark (48)
Plus/Minus: Smith, Kenton (+13)
PIM: Vodrazka, Jan (137)
Wins: Holt, Chris (19)
GAA: Holt, Chris (3.14)
Save Pct.: Holt, Chris (.899)
CHECKERS BROADCAST INFO
Tune into all Charlotte Checkers away games as they broadcast on TEAMLINE. Fans can click the TEAMLINE logo on the Checkers website, www.gocheckers.com, or listen on the phone at 800-846-4700, code 2820. Fans can also watch several games this season on the B2 Network. Click the B2 Network logo on the Checkers website to view a list of available games as well as watch the game live. On the web or on the phone, listen as the voice of the Checkers, Tim Donelli, brings you all of the Checkers action.
ECHL Stories from March 5, 2007
- Stockton Thunder Declares March Be Cool*Read! Month - Stockton Thunder
- Wranglers Need One Point For Playoff Berth - ECHL
- ECHL This Week - ECHL
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Chiefs weekly - Johnstown Chiefs
- Grizzlies Continue Home Stand Wednesday - Utah Grizzlies
- Blood Drive Month Underway - Bakersfield Condors
- Wildcatters Weekly - Texas Wildcatters
- Cyclones Weekly - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Fresno Falcons Weekly - Fresno Falcons
- Lynx weekly - Augusta Lynx
- Checkers in the community - Charlotte Checkers
- Reid and Werner Get the Call - South Carolina Stingrays
- "Pink in the Rink" raises over $30,000 for three charities - Charlotte Checkers
- Wranglers clinch playoff spot for second straight year - Las Vegas Wranglers
- 'Blades raise over $31,000 for breast cancer charities with jersey auction - Florida Everblades
- Trenton gets ready for three-game home stand - Trenton Devils
- Condors Notch Another Home Win, Then Take Four Of Six Points In Alaska - Bakersfield Condors
- Dayton Bombers Weekly - Dayton Bombers
- Inferno Weekly - Columbia Inferno
- Checkers maintain possession of fifth place - Charlotte Checkers
- RoadRunners save their best for last - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Major announcement planned on radio show tonight - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Stingrays Weekly - South Carolina Stingrays
- Gladiators Weekly Update - Atlanta Gladiators
- Everblades Weekly - Florida Everblades
- Peverley Becomes 325th Player To Play In NHL After ECHL - ECHL
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