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ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers tired, still holding East

February 14, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC – The Charlotte Checkers (28-17-2; 59 PTS; 1ST East Div) began one of the most grueling stretches in their 2004-05 season last Tuesday night, playing game one of ten games in 14 days. They took on the Columbia Inferno, beating them 3-2 in a shootout at the Carolina Coliseum. On Wednesday, the Checkers faced the Pee Dee Pride, defeating them definitively 7-3. Friday night marked a third straight win for the Checkers, as the Gwinnett Gladiators fell to the Checkers 5-4. Charlotte traveled to Pee Dee on Saturday, but lost 1-0 in overtime. They finished out the week with a valiant but losing effort in Augusta, 6-4. Tomorrow night, the Checkers begin a four game home stand, meeting the Inferno on Tuesday and Gwinnett on Wednesday. Charlotte faces Mississippi on Friday and Saturday night at Cricket Arena, then travels to face off with Gwinnett once again on Sunday.

LAST WEEK

Tuesday, February 8 at Columbia, W 3-2 OT

After three periods and a five-minute sudden-death overtime session, the teams entered the shootout tied at 2-2. Mike Harder and Eddie Pershin scored in regulation for Charlotte, and Alex Westlund earned the victory in net with 25 saves. The Checkers fell behind 2-1 at the end of the first period of play. Columbia scored first on the power play when the Inferno converted a two-on-one break. With former Checkers forward Eric Boulton in the penalty box, Harder knocked home Kenton Smith's rebound at 8:27 to tie the game at 1-1. Columbia regained the lead at 12:28. After a scoreless second period, Pershin tied the game at 2-2, tapping in his 17th goal of the season just 1:41 into the third period. In the shootout Checkers goalie Alex Westlund stopped all four Inferno shooters while Mike Wirll and Jason Dawe scored on Columbia goalie Mike Minard to give the Checkers the win and the two points.

Wednesday, February 9 vs. Pee Dee, W 7-3

The Checkers came out strong in the first with two goals, both from Dusty Jamieson. Jamieson's first goal came off a pass from goaltender, Alex Westlund at 5:01 of the period. Less than two minutes later, Jamieson took a shot from the blue line and scored his second goal of the evening (15th of the season). Only 1:11 into the second period, Pride's Greg Johnson scored to put Pee Dee on the board. However, Charlotte answered with three more goals, two from Mike Wirll and one from Mike Harder. Steve MacIntyre stood out in the third, lighting the lamp off a pass from Wirll to put the Checkers up 7-2. The goal earned him a Gordie Howe hat trick. For the game, MacIntyre had a goal, an assist, and a fight.

Friday, February 11, vs. Gwinnett, W 5-4 The Checkers ended Gwinnett's four game streak and continued one of their own. Just twenty one seconds into the first, Checkers forward Dusty Jamieson beat Gwinnett's goaltender, Adam Berkhoel, on a pass from Jason Dawe. Mike Harder was also credited with the assist, his first of three assists on the night. Ryan Glenn put the Checkers up 2-0 on his third goal of the season. Later in the first, Jamieson got his second goal of the night on a breakaway pass from Rory Rawlyk. Each team saw a goal in the second. Gwinnett‘s Andrew Oke put the Gladiators back in the game with a goal early in the period. Kenton Smith answered on a Checkers power play goal to extend their lead 4-2. With two goals in twenty one seconds of the third, the Gladiators tied the score at 4-4. Charging down the ice, Jamieson nailed his hat trick by putting his third goal of the evening between the pipes. That was Jamieson's third game-winning goal of the season.

Saturday, February 12, at Pee Dee, T 0-1 OT

Ben Knopp's winner at three minutes, ten seconds of sudden death overtime was the game's only goal, and ended a ten-game winless for the Pride. The two teams battled to a scoreless tie through two periods, with both goalies making key saves. Kelly Guard made 12 saves in the second period, including several point-blank stops on a Pride power play late in the second period. The Pride poured on the pressure in the third period, outshooting the Checkers 19-7. With just 1:50 left in overtime, the Pride broke into the Checkers zone on a two-on-one break. After the initial shot was stopped, Knopp got loose in front of Guard and launched home the game winner. Guard got his first start in seven games and turned in a stellar performance with 43 saves, thwarting numerous Pee Dee Pride chances throughout the game. Pee Dee outshot the Checkers 44-23 for the contest.

Sunday, February 13, at Augusta, L 6-4

The Charlotte Checkers were playing their fifth game in six days Sunday afternoon in Augusta, Georgia. The minds were willing but the legs were not. A tired Checkers team played hard with what little energy they had left but finally succumbed to the Lynx. Alex Westlund suffered his first loss of the week after three wins. The Lynx grabbed a 1-0 first-period lead on a power play. In the second period Augusta out-scored the Checkers two-to-one for a 3-1 advantage with Mike Wirll notching the only Checkers goal in the period. Wirll scored again in the final period and Dusty Jamieson struck twice to pull Charlotte to within one at 5-4. After pulling Westlund for an extra attacker in the final minute, the Lynx scored once again for the 6-4 final.

THIS WEEK

Tuesday, February 15, vs. Columbia, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 16, vs. Gwinnett, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, February 18, vs. Mississippi, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 19, vs. Mississippi, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, February 20 at Gwinnett, 4:05 p.m.

CHECKERS NEWS

· The Checkers are currently first in the East Division with 59 points. They are second in the American conference, and tied with one other team for fourth in the league overall.

· Mike Harder is among the top 17 leading scorers in the league with 12 goals and 31 assists. He leads the Checkers in assists and is also team points leader over the last ten games with 11 points(2g-9a).

· Eddie Pershin is among the top 16 leading scorers in the league with 17 goals and 27 assists for 44 points. He has 10 points in the last 10 games.

· Dusty Jamieson has 8 points in the last four games, including a hat trick and the game winner against Gwinnett.

· Goaltender, Alex Westlund is fourth in the league for minutes played and fourth in saves (1939 min, 916 svs). He is tied for the most overtime wins in the league (3).

· The Checkers have five players in double digits for goals.

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