ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers prep for three important games this week

Published on March 15, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charlotte, NC - Monday, March 15) The Checkers continue their playoff pursuit stretch run this week with three big games, including one at home Saturday night when Charlotte will host the Alaska Aces. The Checkers snapped a four-game losing streak Saturday in a gutty effort that saw them edge out Roanoke 2-1 in a shootout. The ECHL trading deadline is Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. as teams try to make a last-ditch effort to strengthen their clubs for the regular season stretch run and playoffs.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Charlotte enters the week in fifth place in the Southern Division with 69 points, two points behind Greensboro and South Carolina who are tied for third place. The Generals beat Gwinnett in overtime 5-4 Saturday night while the Stingrays were beaten 5-2 by Louisiana. The Checkers remain five points behind second place Florida who held off Greenville 5-4 on Saturday. Charlotte's shootout win Saturday allowed them to pick up a point on sixth place Roanoke as the Checkers now lead the Express by four points.

OVERALL: 31-25-7 = 69 POINTS
HOME: 13-14-5 = 31 POINTS
ROAD: 18-11-2 = 38 POINTS
STREAK: 1-0-0
LAST 10: 5-4-1
STANDINGS: FIFTH PLACE IN THE SOUTHERN DIVISION OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE

PRACTICE SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK:

Tuesday, March 16 - 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. @ Cricket Arena

Wednesday, March 17 - 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. @ Cricket Arena

Thursday, March 18 - 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. @ Cricket Arena

Friday, March 19 - 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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Tuesday, March 16: Charlotte @ Columbia - 7:30 p.m.

Broadcast over the Internet and on the telephone on TEAMLINE - Go to www.gocheckers.com for connection instructions

The Checkers will play the Inferno Tuesday night for the fourth time in the six-game season series. The series calls for four games to be played in Columbia and two at Cricket Arena. The Inferno enters the week in first place in the ECHL's Southern Division with a record of 37-19-7 for 81 points, seven points ahead of second place Florida. The Inferno is looking to clinch its' third straight playoff berth since it came into the ECHL in 2001-02. Columbia's Tim Smith leads the league with 79 points and ranks third with 52 assists. The Inferno leads the ECHL in scoring with 3.83 goals per game. Columbia is coached by Scott White and is affiliated with the NHL's Vancouver Canucks and the AHL's Manitoba Moose.

Overall in 2003-04: 2-0-1
Home in 2003-04: 1-0-0
Away in 2003-04: 1-0-1

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Friday, March 19: Charlotte @ Augusta - 7:35 p.m.

Broadcast over the Internet and on the telephone on TEAMLINE - Go to www.gocheckers.com for connection instructions

Charlotte will close out its six-game season series with the Lynx Friday night in Augusta. The Checkers are 1-1-0 at Augusta so far this season. The Lynx have been keeping their slim playoff hopes alive lately by building a four-game winning streak. Last week the Lynx went 3-0 and posted two shutouts. Goalie Jason Saal is 4-1-1 with a 2.09 goals against average and two shutouts in six games in March, while forward Terry Marchant has a four-game assist streak (4a) dating back to March 3. The Lynx enter the week at the .500 mark at 27-27-7 for 61 points and are in sixth place in the ECHL's Central Division. Augusta is coached by Stan Drulia and is affiliated with the NHL's Florida Panthers and the AHL's San Antonio Rampage.

Overall in 2003-04: 2-1-2
Home in 2003-04: 1-0-2
Away in 2003-04: 1-1-0

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Saturday, March 20: Alaska @ Charlotte - 7:30 p.m.

The Checkers will play the Alaska Aces for the first time ever and for the only time this season on Saturday night. Alaska, formerly of the West Coast Hockey League, joined the ECHL this past summer. Alaska comes into the week in fourth place and with a playoff berth in the Pacific Division all but clinched with a record of 32-25-4 for 68 points. The Aces begin a six-game eastern USA road trip Tuesday in Charleston, SC with a match with the Stingrays, and will also play Roanoke, Charlotte, Greenville, and Gwinnett on the extended excursion. The Aces rank third in the ECHL on the power play with 87.7 percent (286-for-326). Goalie Lance Mayes is 2-1-0 with a 1.34 goals against average and a shutout in three games in March. Alaska is coached by former Pee Dee Pride coach Davis Payne.

Overall in 2003-04: 0-0-0
Home in 2003-04: 0-0-0
Away in 2003-04: 0-0-0

Saturday's game is "Checkers Water Bottle Night." The first 1,000 fans who enter the arena will receive a free Checkers water bottle, compliments of Horizon Eye Care.

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CHECKERS NEWS & NOTES:

· Checkers went 1-2-0 last week.

· The Checkers are 12-7-2 under new Head Coach Derek Wilkinson since he took over Jan 29

· Charlotte is 5-4-1 in its last 10 games.

· The Checkers are tied with Pensacola for the ECHL lead in short-handed goals with 14.

· Allan Egeland has scored at least a point in four of his last five games with 1g, 4a, = 5pts.

· Rookie defenseman Rory Rawlyk leads the Checkers with 12 power-play assists.

· Charlotte is in fifth place in the Southern Division of the Eastern Conference with 69 points, two points behind the Greensboro Generals and South Carolina Stingrays who are tied for third place.

· The Checkers remain the fourth best penalty killing squad in the ECHL at 87.17%.

· Checkers' road power play leads the ECHL with 89.4 percent (143-for-160).

· Dusty Jamieson has four goals and three assists in six games in March.

· Richard Keyes leads the Checkers in shooting percentage at 20.4%.

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

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics

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