Checkers Scott Meyer retires - Charlotte obtains Gregg Naumenko
March 3, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
(Charlotte, NC - Wednesday, March 3) The AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack and the Charlotte Checkers announce today the retirement of goaltender Scott Meyer. Meyer, under contract to AHL Hartford, is retiring from professional hockey for personal and family reasons. The announcement is made today by Hartford General Manager Jim Schoenfeld and Checkers interim Head Coach and General Manager, Derek Wilkinson. The White Bear Lake, Minnesota native is back in his home state, and next week will begin a job as a mortgage broker in St. Paul, Minnesota.
"Scott was tremendous during his time with us and no doubt he's one of the top five goalies in the ECHL," commented Wilkinson. "Meyer is leaving the team for personal and family reasons and it is easy to understand. If he ever wanted to play again we would take him back in a second. Our entire organization wishes him well."
The Checkers also announce today that they have obtained goalie Gregg Naumenko from the Augusta Lynx for future considerations. Naumenko will join the Checkers immediately and will be available for Friday night's game at Cricket Arena against the Dayton Bombers. The 27 year-old Naumenko is a veteran goalie in his fifth season of pro hockey. He played two games for the National Hockey League's Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 2000-01, and has 100 games under his belt in the American Hockey League during his career. Prior to his trade to the Checkers, the Chicago, Illinois native played in 19 games with Augusta sporting an 8-6-2 record, a 3.09 goals against average and a .907 save percentage. Prior to turning pro in 1999, Naumenko played one season of NCAA college hockey for the University of Alaska â Anchorage in 1998-99.
"He's an excellent goalie," commented Wilkinson regarding Naumenko. "He's had significant experience in the American Hockey League and also played briefly in the National Hockey League. He's certainly capable of being the # 1 goalie for us and carrying us the rest of the season."
Meyer was in his third season of professional hockey, and had established himself as one of the top goalies in the ECHL. He played in 32 games for the Checkers this season with a record of 15-11-2, a 2.43 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. He has been selected as "Goalie of the Week" twice this season and was also "Goalie of the Month" for February last season. Meyer also had three shutouts this season and is the Checkers career-leader in shutouts with six. He also currently holds the best all-time save percentage among Checkers goaltenders.
"It was a very tough decision to do this at this time but I really feel it is best for my family," remarked Meyer. "I've been putting this off for a while and I tried to hold off as long as I could. I know it's a tough situation for the Checkers right now with David St. Germain being up in Hartford. Gregg Naumenko is a great goalie and if St. Germain comes back the Checkers will be fine. I really enjoyed playing this season, which made the decision even harder. Derek is doing a terrific job with the Checkers and I wish Coach Wilkinson and all the guys the very best the rest of the way."
The Checkers bring a three-game winning streak into this weekend's games as they head into the final month of the season fighting for a playoff spot in the ECHL's Southern Division of the Eastern Conference. Charlotte will play five of its next six games on Cricket Arena ice including home games this Friday and Saturday night against the Dayton Bombers.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: As of Wednesday, the Checkers are in fifth place in the ECHL' s Southern Division of the Eastern Conference with 65 points. The top four teams in the division qualify for post-season play. Charlotte trails third place South Carolina and Greensboro by only two points. Charlotte is only five points behind second-place Florida with four games in hand on the Everblades.
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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.
