Checkers open up three-game homestand
March 23, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
(Charlotte, NC - Tuesday, March 23) The Checkers will attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive this week with three big home games that will likely decide Charlotte's post-season fate. The Checkers picked up one point in three games last week and have fallen to sixth place in the Southern Division. Charlotte dropped its makeup game with the Greensboro Generals last night 4-1 to fall five points out of the fourth and final playoff spot in the Southern Division.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: Charlotte is in sixth place in the Southern Division with 70 points, five points behind Greensboro and South Carolina for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division. The Generals own two games in hand on Charlotte and the Stingrays three. Charlotte is six points behind second place Florida, who comes to Cricket Arena on Wednesday night. Roanoke's victory over Augusta Sunday allowed them to pass the Checkers and assume sole possession of fifth place in the division with 72 points. Charlotte will need to run the table and win all five remaining regular season games to have a chance at post-season play.
OVERALL: 31-28-8 = 70 POINTS
HOME: 13-15-5 = 31 POINTS
ROAD: 18-13-3 = 38 POINTS
STREAK: 0-3-1
LAST 10: 2-7-1
STANDINGS: SIXTH PLACE IN THE SOUTHERN DIVISION OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE
PRACTICE SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK:
Wednesday, March 24 - 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. @ Cricket Arena
Thursday, March 25 - 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. @ Cricket Arena
Friday, March 26 - 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. @ Cricket Arena
Saturday, March 20 - 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. @ Cricket Arena
***Times and facility subject to change
THIS WEEK:
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Wednesday, March 24: Florida @ Charlotte - 7:00 p.m.
Charlotte will begin a three-game, regular season-ending homestand at Cricket Arena beginning Wednesday when the Everblades will come to town for the final game of a four-game season series. The Checkers are 1-1-1 versus the Everblades so far this season, including 1-0 at Cricket Arena. Florida, with a record of 33-24-10 for 76 points, is one of the teams the Checkers are chasing in the Southern division in their quest for a playoff spot. Florida is affiliated with the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes and the American Hockey League's Lowell Lock Monsters
Overall in 2003-04: 1-1-1
Home in 2003-04: 1-0-0
Away in 2003-04: 0-1-1
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Friday, March 26: Florence @ Charlotte - 7:30 p.m.
The Checkers close out their five-game season series with the Florence Pride on Friday night. The Pride has already been eliminated from the playoffs with a record of 27-31-8 for 62 points. Charlotte is 2-1-1 versus the Pride this season. At Cricket Arena both contests have gone to overtime with each team winning once. Florence is coached by Perry Florio and affiliated with the National Hockey League's Chicago Black Hawks and the American Hockey League's Norfolk Admirals.
Overall in 2003-04: 2-1-1
Home in 2003-04: 1-0-1
Away in 2003-04: 1-1-0
Friday's game is "Checkers Team Poster Night." The first 5,000 fans who enter the arena will receive a free Checkers team poster, compliments of Circle K..
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Saturday, March 27: Columbia @ Charlotte - 7:30 p.m.
The Checkers will stage their regular season home finale this Saturday night against the Columbia Inferno, who hold down first place in the Southern Division with a 39-20-8 record for 86 points. Tim Smith leads the ECHL in scoring with 31g, 56a, = 87 pts. The Checkers will close out the regular season at Columbia on Saturday, April 3. Charlotte is 2-1-1 against the Inferno so far in the six-game season series. Scott White is the Head Coach of Columbia, and the Inferno are affiliated with the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks and the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose.
Overall in 2003-04: 2-1-1
Home in 2003-04: 1-0-0
Away in 2003-04: 1-1-1
Saturday's game is also another "Checkers Team Poster Night." The first 5,000 fans who enter the arena will receive a free Checkers team poster, compliments of Circle K.
Saturday's game is also the Checkers salute to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools "Teacher of the Year" nominees. A special pre-game ceremony will honor the 127 nominees.
CHECKERS NEWS & NOTES:
· The Checkers are 1-7-1 in their last eight games.
· Charlotte is 2-7-1 in its last 10 games.
· The Checkers power play ranks 19th in the ECHL at 15.6%, while the penalty kill stands at 4th in the league at 87.5%.
· Center Konrad McKay has scored at least a point in five of his last six games with 1g, 6a, = 7pts in that span.
· The Checkers have given up 30 goals in their last six games.
· The Checkers are tied with Pensacola in short-handed goals with 14.
· Charlotte is in sixth place in the Southern Division of the Eastern Conference with 70 points, five points behind Greensboro and South Carolina who are tied for third place.
THIS WEEK:
MondayMarch 22, 2004AWAYGreensboroL 1-4
WednesdayMarch 24, 2004HOMEFlorida7:00 p.m.
FridayMarch 26, 2004HOMEFlorence7:30 p.m.
SaturdayMarch 27, 2004HOMEColumbia7:30 p.m.
LAST WEEK:
TuesdayMarch 16, 2004AWAYColumbiaL 2-8
FridayMarch 19, 2004AWAYAugustaL 4-5 OT
SaturdayMarch 20, 2004HOMEAlaskaL 1-4
Overall:31-28-870 points
Home: 13-15-5 31 points
Road: 18-13-3 39 points
TEAM LEADERS
POINTSALLAN EGELAND(43)
GOALSDUSTY JAMIESON(20)
ASSISTSALLAN EGELAND(28)
PLUS/MINUSDAVE INMAN(+14)
PENALTY MINUTESSTEVE MACINTYRE(189)
CHECKERS "ONLINE" JERSEY AUCTION CONTINUES - The Checkers / Rangers style jerseys are being auctioned off on the Checkers web site at www.gocheckers.com. All jersey online auctions will continue until March 26 & March 27
FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THE CHECKERS, LOG ON TO THE TEAM'S OFFICIAL WEB SITE AT www.gocheckers.com.
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