ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Outlast Stingrays, Win 4-3

January 10, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


Charlotte, N.C. - The Checkers were down by a goal three times in the game but finally achieved a lead and never looked back beating the South Carolina Stingrays by a score of 4-3.

After a scoreless first period, the Stingrays got on the scoreboard first when the Checkers turned the puck over behind their net. South Carolina forward Mike Curry pounced on the loose puck and flipped it over Checkers netminder Maxime Daigneault at 3:30. The Checkers tied things up when Matthew Ford fed Brad Ralph who directed the puck past Stingrays goalie Michal Neuvirth at 5:20. The Stingrays would recapture a one-goal advantage when forward Travis Morin stole the puck behind the Checkers net and tucked the puck just under the crossbar and in at 16:44. The home team once again tied the contest after Michel Leveille wristed a shot over the glove of Neuvirth at 17:29. It didn't take long for the Stingrays to go ahead by a goal. This time, it was Michael Dubuc's quick wrist shot at 18:32 that fooled Daigneault directly after a Stingrays offensive zone faceoff win. After 40 minutes, the South Carolina led, 3-2.

Things would turn around for the Checkers in the final period. Checkers forward Ryan Hillier standing on the doorstep of the Stingrays net took a nice pass from Mike Taylor and flipped the puck past Neuvirth at 3:49. This locked the contest at 3-3. The winning goal was scored by Charlotte on the power play after defenseman Chris Murray kept the puck from leaving the Stingrays zone and sent the puck to Ford who found Mike Bayrack stationed on the doorstep of the goal. Bayrack tipped the puck past Neuvirth for the game winning tally at 14:20.

The Checkers are in their 16th season of play as a member of the ECHL. The next home game will take place Jan. 12th against the Florida Everblades at 7 p.m. In the team's 15-year history, the Checkers have made the playoffs 11 times including four consecutive playoff appearances to date. The Checkers are in their fourth season of play at Time Warner Cable Arena. Season tickets are on sale now with full-season packages starting at just $396. For season ticket information, please call 704-342-4-ICE or visit www.gocheckers.com.

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 10, 2009


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.

OurSports Central