Checkers Make Coaching Change - MacAdam Relieved of Duties
Published on January 29, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
(Charlotte, NC - Thursday, January 29) - The Charlotte Checkers announce today that Head Coach & General Manager Don MacAdam has been relieved of his duties effective immediately. Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach Derek Wilkinson will assume the title of General Manager and interim Head Coach. The announcement is made today by Checkers Owner / CEO Carl Scheer and club President Jeff Longo. Tonight will be Wilkinson's first official game as Head Coach as the Checkers play in Greensboro against the Generals at 7:00 p.m. The Checkers have called a news conference for Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Cricket Arena to make the official announcement.
"We felt we needed to go in a different direction at this time," said Checkers Owner / CEO Carl Scheer. "We were also concerned about our lack of success at home, and that the team needed to be energized. We want to thank Don MacAdam for all he has done for the Checkers organization these past four years. He has always handled himself as a true professional."
Prior to being named General Manager and interim Head Coach on Thursday, Wilkinson held the position of Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach. Last season was Wilkinson's first season as Assistant Coach for the Checkers, and he assumed the additional title of Assistant General Manager prior to this season. "I certainly have mixed emotions taking over as Head Coach, remarked Wilkinson. "I'm disappointed for Don and am very grateful for very good relationship we had. For my career, I'm very excited about this great opportunity. We have a great organization and our affiliation with the New York Rangers and Hartford Wolf Pack is solid. Our team has proven we can win after going 13-3-1 earlier in the season. My job now is to help change the team's attitude so that we can start winning again."
Wilkinson was a player for the Checkers in the 1999-2000 season. His professional playing career spanned seven seasons and four pro leagues including the National Hockey League, International Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League and British Super League in Europe. "We are excited about the ability we believe Derek will have to breathe some excitement and enthusiasm into the team," remarked Checkers President Jeff Longo. "We believe that Derek's philosophies will be welcomed by the players and that they will respond positively."
MacAdam coached the Checkers for three full seasons and parts of two other seasons for a total of 293 games. His coaching record with the Checkers was 146-112-35. MacAdam joined the Checkers on January 13, 2000 when he replaced Shawn Wheeler as Charlotte's Head Coach. He finished that season with a record of 11-24. The following season the Checkers made the playoffs for the first time in three seasons with a 34-26-12 record, but lost in the first round and in the final game of a five-game series to the Dayton Bombers. The 2001-02 season saw the Checkers finish with the ECHL's third-best record at 40-20-11 for 91 points. However, Charlotte lost in the opening round for the second consecutive season, falling to Atlantic City in the final game of a five-game series. Last season despite a furious rush of nearly .800 hockey the final month of the season, the Checkers missed the playoffs by one point after finishing with a record of 41-28-3 for 85 points.
The Checkers will play in Greensboro tonight, and then host a set of weekend games Friday and Saturday night against the Florence Pride and Columbia Inferno at Cricket Arena.
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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) 522-6500, 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. Further information can be obtained by calling the Checkers office at (704) 342-4423.
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