Checkers Set To Induct New Class Of Charlotte Hockey Greats To Hall Of Fame
Published on March 25, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -There is a rich tradition of hockey in Charlotte and the Checkers are set to make the past present by inducting some of the legends of Charlotte hockey into the Charlotte Hockey Hall of Fame presented by American Airlines on Friday night at Time Warner Cable Arena when the team battles the Mississippi Sea Wolves.
Nick Vitucci:
When minor league goaltending legends are discussed, you can't carry on for long without speaking the name of former Charlotte Checkers backstop Nick Vitucci. In the summer of 1995 the Checkers signed a veteran goaltender that would turn out to be one of the best free agent pick-ups in team history. Vitucci shouldered more than two-thirds of the games in 1995-96 leading the Checkers to their only ECHL Championship. Despite donning a Checkers sweater for only two seasons, Nick's 52-23-7 combined record makes him one of the best goalies in league history. He currently holds or shares the ECHL goalie record for career games played (479), career minutes played (27,291), career wins (265), career 20-or-more win seasons (7), career 30-or-more win seasons (2), and consecutive 30-or-more win seasons (2). Also, the two-time ECHL All-Star is one of seven ECHL goalies to have scored a goal. During his career in the ECHL, Vitucci won four Riley Cups in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 1996 and was named the Finals Most Valuable Player on two occasions (1989 and 1996), one of only two players in the league's history to do so, and Goaltender of the Year in 1998.
Matt Robbins:
It takes great leadership to win a championship at any level. When the Checkers won the Riley Cup in 1996, their leader was Matt Robbins. He solidified himself among the Checkers great by donning the captains "C" on his sweater when the organization was presented its first ever championship. The Westford, Mass. native was drafted by the New York Islanders in 1989 and spent five season playing in the ECHL four of which were spent in Charlotte where he led the team in scoring his first two seasons and totaled 113 goals 227 assists for 340 points in 256 career games for Charlotte.
Maurice "Moe" Savard:
If you're looking for a player that was a staple of Checkers hockey in the early days of the Eastern Hockey League, then you will come across the name of Maurice Savard. The man they simply called "Moe" spent all but one game of his professional career in a Charlotte sweater. Amassing an amazing 755 points over nine seasons (303 goals, 452 assists), Moe was a real fan favorite in the early days of Checkers hockey. In his 55 games during the 1964-65 season, he did not record a single penalty minute. Ex-Checkers coach Fred Creighton once said "If I had 15 hockey players like Moe...I'd be taking money under false pretenses - I wouldn't have to coach." Coach Creighton's words are a testament to the greatness of Moe on and off the ice.
Chubby Checker:
No one person can properly capture the spirit of Checkers hockey like the team's beloved mascot, Chubby Checker. Chubby is a face that families gravitate towards because of his warm loving demeanor and the excitement he brings to each and every game. Despite holding the dubious distinction of being the only ECHL mascot to be ejected from a game after using his super soaker on an occupant of the visiting penalty box, Checkers fans young and old alike love the Checkers furry mascot as he is truly the face of the team appearing at over 100 events per year.
The Checkers are in their 16th season of play as a member of the ECHL. The next Checkers home game will take place on March 26 against the Gwinnett Gladiators at 7 p.m. In the team's 16-year history, the Checkers have made the playoffs 12 times including five consecutive playoff appearances to date. The Checkers are playing their fourth season of play at Time Warner Cable Arena. For ticket information, please call 704-342-4-ICE or visit www.gocheckers.com.
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