Checkers Make It Five In A Row In California
December 11, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
(Fresno, CA - Tuesday, December 9, 2003) - The Charlotte Checkers love California more than new Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In fact, the Checkers future scheduled games in California may be recalled if they continue to play the way they have in the last week. Charlotte made it five in a row Wednesday night with a 4-1 win against the Fresno Falcons. Benoit Dusablon scored a pair of goals while Blaz Emersic and Dave Inman added single markers. Goalie David St. Germain won his fourth straight in net with 17 saves in the victory. Inman stretched his point streak to ten games with 5g, 11a = 16 pts, while Dusablon did the same, extending his point scoring streak to nine games with 9g, 8a = 17 pts in that span.
"The guys are dead tired after playing five games in six nights out here but they played well again tonight," said Checkers Head Coach, Don MacAdam. "Our defense was effective again in limiting our opponent to a low number of shots (18), and our penalty killing unit led by Ryan Cuthbert was outstanding again tonight. Nick Bilotto is also playing his best hockey of the season. Our new Japanese center, Daisuke Obara (pronounced DICE kay â O BAR ah), was fine in his debut for us after flying into Fresno and just getting to the arena in time to get on the bench early in the first period.
"The Checkers scored first at 14:27 of the opening period as Emersic took a feed from Ivan Prokic and beat Fresno goalie Terry Friesen for a 1-0 Charlotte lead in the only goal scored in the game's first 20 minutes. The Checkers also scored the only goal of the second period as Inman's sixth goal of the season at 6:33 gave Charlotte a 2-0 second period lead. Charlotte made it 3-0 just 34 seconds into the final period with the first of his two third-period goals. Kevin Truelson tallied for the Falcons at 1:05 of the period made it 3-1. The Checkers held off a Falcons' five-minute power play down the stretch and then put the game away with an empty-net goal in the final minute by Dusablon for the 4-1 final.
The Checkers now sport a five-game winning streak, and improved their record to 10-9-3 for 23 points, including a 9-3-2 road record. Fresno saw their winless streak extend to nine games (0-8-1) and dropped to 7-14-2 overall for 16 points. Charlotte will close out the California portion of their season-long, seven-game road trip Friday night with a return match in Bakersfield at 10:00 p.m. ET. / 7:00 p.m. PT. The game can be heard over the Internet beginning at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time by logging on to the Checkers web site at www.gocheckers.com.
Following the seven-game road trip, the Checkers will finally return to Cricket Arena on Saturday, December 20 to host the Gwinnett Gladiators at 7:30 p.m.
NOTES: The Checkers are believed to be the only professional hockey team to have two Japanese players on a roster at the same time. Defenseman Kengo Ito joined the Checkers on Nov 14, while Center Daisuke Obara was signed just prior to Wednesday's game in Fresno.
CHECKERS TICKETS: All regular season 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. Further information can be obtained by calling the Checkers office at (704) 342-4423.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from December 11, 2003
- Rivermen Edged 5-4 in a Shootout in Dayton - Peoria Rivermen
- Generals Unable to Battle off Gladiators - Greensboro Generals
- Garnett shuts out Greensboro, 2-0 - Greensboro Generals
- Checkers Sign Second Japanese Player - Daisuke Obara - Charlotte Checkers
- Wranglers Players to visit toy drive, Integrity Chrysler - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Ice Dogs Acquire Johnston & Barr From Trenton - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Schneider Goes to San Antonio - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Steelheads Suspend Melson - Idaho Steelheads
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Landon Bathe Recalled - Toledo Walleye
- Express and Booster Club Announce Annual Blood Drive Dates - Roanoke Express
- Lynx Sign Two To Bolster Roster - Augusta Lynx
- Ice Girls set to appear on ESPN Radio 1590 - Greensboro Generals
- Bullies Pictures Now Available For Purchase - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Blades Hold Teddy Bear Toss Saturday Night - Florida Everblades
- Larocque Returns, McNamara Called Up - Wheeling Nailers
- NASCAR'S Dale Jr. to Appear at Dayton Bombers Game - Dayton Bombers
- Generals Make Roster Moves - Greensboro Generals
- Aces Score As Reading Role Models - Alaska Aces
- Souza loaned to Portland - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Hook's Holiday Toy Drive on Saturday - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- More Changes to Grrrowl Roster - Greenville Grrrowl
- Teddy Bear Toss Slated for Friday's Game - Greensboro Generals
- Wildcatters Branham Called Up - Texas Wildcatters
- Ice Pilots Santa Sacks Available - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Florida Acquires D-Man Holdridge - Florida Everblades
- Today In The ECHL - ECHL
- Reynolds to Appear on Coach's Show - Wheeling Nailers
- Davyduke Earns Promotion to Hershey - Reading Royals
- Smith Joins Gladiators - Atlanta Gladiators
- Falcons Upended by Charlotte - Fresno Falcons
- Checkers Make It Five In A Row In California - Charlotte Checkers
- Defenseman Scheffelmaier, Left Wing Valeev Reassigned from Worcester (AHL) by St. Louis (NHL) - Peoria Rivermen
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
