ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers top Greenville 3-1 in season opener

October 23, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


Greenville, SC - Friday, October 22 - The Checkers hard work in the off-season paid some early dividends as Charlotte dominated Greenville in a 3-1 season-opening victory Friday night at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, South Carolina. Mike Harder scored a short-handed goal while Dan Preston and Kenton Smith had even strength goals to pace the Checkers in the win. Charlotte goalie Alex Westlund made 27 saves in his Checkers' debut.

"We played great especially after we got over our early-game jitters," remarked Checkers coach Derek Wilkinson. "We dominated offensively tonight and our offense was our best defense. Mike Harder is one of the best players in the league and he got off to a great start tonight and Alex Westlund was very steady in goal for us."

Harder gave the Checkers a 1-0 lead in the first period at 7:10 with a short-handed goal while teammate Juris Stals was serving a double minor. The Grrrowl tied the game on a goal by veteran Krzystof Wieckowski at 14:10 of the opening period. Late in the first frame the Checkers took the lead for good as Preston's shot from the top of the right wing circle eluded Grrrowl goalie Mike Morrison, and Charlotte went to the locker room with a 2-1 lead after the first period.

The Checkers, despite not scoring, dominated the second period by out-shooting Greenville 17-6 and held their one-goal lead after 40 minutes. In the third period the Checkers kept the pressure on and got an important insurance goal just 2:07 in as Smith redirected an Eddie Pershin pass by Morrison for a 3-1 Checkers lead. The Grrrowl had two power play chances late in the period but were unable to capitalize and the Checkers closed out the 3-1 victory.

Charlotte (1-0-0) will continue its three-game, opening-season road trip Saturday night when they'll meet the South Carolina Stingrays in Charleston.

Saturday night the Grrrowl (0-1-0) will be back on home ice to host the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies.

Following the Checkers third and final game of a season-beginning road trip next Friday night at Columbia, Charlotte will stage its home opener on Saturday, October 30 at Cricket Arena at 7:00 p.m. when they'll host the Inferno.

Tickets are available now through the Charlotte Checkers office by calling (704) 342-4ICE, through all TicketMaster locations, or on line through _www.TicketMaster.com_ (http://www.ticketmaster.com/) .

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ECHL Stories from October 23, 2004


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