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ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers snap two-game skid with 4-3 shootout win over Texas

December 19, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


Beaumont, Texas - Saturday, December 18: The Charlotte Checkers snapped a two-game losing streak Saturday night and improved their record on their season-long, eight-game road trip to 2-3-0 with a 4-3 shootout win over the Texas Wildcatters. The Checkers rallied from a two-goal, second-period deficit and a three-goal in 2:37 Texas barrage, to tie the game in the third period and send the contest to overtime. After a scoreless, five-minute sudden death overtime session, the game went to the shootout. Both teams' first three shooters missed while the next two shooters each scored. Juris Stals was Charlotte's sixth shooter and connected with a bullet to the upper right hand corner of the net. Mark Wires was up next for the Wildcatters and mis-fired, giving the Checkers the victory. Dusty Jamieson, Ryan Cuthbert and Mike Wirll scored for Charlotte in regulation and goalie Alex Westlund made 33 saves to notch his sixth win of the season. Charlotte outshot the Wildcatters 45-36, with Texas goalie Davis Parley making 42 saves.

"I love the way the guys battled back tonight," commented Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson. "We could have given up after the Wildcatters three-goal barrage but we rebounded and stuck to the game plan. I was also pleased with the fact that we got a goal from all three lines tonight. We really need that right now."

The Checkers took a 1-0 first period lead as Jamieson rammed home a rebound of a Stals shot at 10:03. Charlotte dominated the period by outshooting the Wildcatters 18-11.

In the second period the Checkers experienced a similar lapse that has plagued them on the road trip. Texas ripped off three, unanswered goals in a 2:37 span to assume a 3-1 lead. Terry Marchant, Brad Voth and Ryan Fultz all scored from in close on Westlund. The key goal of the period for the Checkers was Cuthbert's tally in front of Farley with just 1:32 left on a pretty feed from behind the net from Mike Harder. The goal cut the Texas lead to one and pumped some life into the Checkers after yielding the Wildcatters a two-goal lead.

Charlotte's persistence paid off as they finally got the equalizer 12:03 into the final period, as Wirll's first goal of the season tied the game at 3-3. Westlund, Cuthbert, Harder and Stals did the rest in the shootout to snag the two points.

"I was down a bit after giving up the two shootout goals," said Westlund. " On the sixth Texas shooter I just tried to compose myself and technically do what I could to give me an opportunity to make the save."

The Checkers road trip continues Sunday in Beaumont when Charlotte once again will meet the Wildcatters at 6:05 p.m.

Following the eight-game road trip, the Checkers will return home to Cricket Arena to host the Augusta Lynx on Sunday, December 26 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets available at the Cricket Arena Box office, the Charlotte Coliseum box office, and at all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be purchased on line at _www.ticketmaster.com_ (http://www.ticketmaster.com/) or by phone at (704) 522-6500. Group, season and mini-plan tickets cab be purchased through the Charlotte Checkers office by calling (704) 342-4ICE.

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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.

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