ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Take Down First Place Columbia 3-2

Published on February 1, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charlotte, North Carolina – Saturday, January 31 ) The Charlotte Checkers continued to thrive under the leadership of new coach Derek Wilkinson Saturday, this time beating the first-place Columbia Inferno 3-2 at Cricket Arena. A shot by Checkers defenseman Nick Bilotto, which was inadvertently knocked in the goal by Columbia keeper Josh Blackburn with 8:11 left in the game, proved to be the game-winner. Mike Wirll scored a goal for the Checkers for the third consecutive game and Japanese defenseman Kengo Ito also tallied for Charlotte. Tim Smith and Matt Ulwelling scored the Inferno goals. Charlotte is now 2-0-1 under Wilkinson and also 2-0-1 versus Columbia this season."

"We squeaked one out tonight," commented Checkers Coach Derek Wilkinson. "The guys are working hard and earning every break they're getting. We didn't get down at all after missing the penalty shot early. I told the guys that we would take things shift by shift and that's what we did."

The Checkers had a golden opportunity to take an early lead as referee Chris Brown awarded Charlotte a penalty shot when he ruled an Inferno player closed the puck with his hand in the crease. Blaz Emersic took the shot and missed wide right. The Checkers scored first on a three on one break, as the final pass went to Ito and his blast from just to the left of the right circle beat Blackburn at 11:26 for a 1-0 lead. Charlotte played a solid first period, outshooting Columbia 11-6 and taking a 1-0 lead to the locker room at the end of the first period.

In the second period the Checkers increased their lead to 2-0 as red-hot Wirll tallied from in close on a backhand at 13:45. Charlotte was also forced to kill a penalty late in the period and did so despite heavy pressure from the Inferno, taking the 2-0 lead to the locker room after 40 minutes.

At 12:33 of the third period Columbia finally got on the scoreboard as Tim Smith chipped a goal by Checkers goalie Scott Meyer with the teams playing four a side to cut the Charlotte advantage to 2-1. Columbia tied the game 3:17 later on a Matt Ulwelling wrist shot that Meyer had no chance on as the Inferno knotted things at 2-2. Bilotto's goal proved to be the difference as the Checkers hung on for the 3-2 win.

The Checkers record improved to 21-18-6 for 46 points while Columbia dropped to 27-14-5 for 59 points. Charlotte will begin another four-game week on Tuesday when they'll conclude their three-game homestand by hosting the South Carolina Stingrays at Cricket Arena at 7:00 p.m.

All road games can be heard over the Internet and on the telephone on TEAMLINE. Fans can log onto the Checkers web site at www.gocheckers.com for complete connection instructions.

CHECKERS TICKETS: All regular season individual game tickets are on sale, and may be purchased at the Cricket Arena Box Office, the Charlotte Coliseum Box Office, and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be purchased by phone by using a credit card and calling Ticketmaster at (704) 522-6500, and through the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com.

Individual game tickets for the 2003-04 season are priced at $7.00 for balcony seats, $10.00 for end mezzanine seats, $12.00 for side mezzanine seats, $15.00 for circle seats, and $20.00 for box seats.

Season Tickets, mini plans and group tickets remain on sale through the Checkers office. Further information can be obtained by calling the Checkers office at (704) 342-4423.

All road games can be heard over the Internet and on the telephone on TEAMLINE. Fans can log onto the Checkers web site at www.gocheckers.com for complete connection instructions.

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ECHL Stories from February 1, 2004


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