Checkers Weekly
March 10, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
TUESDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will begin a five-game week, the only five-game week of the season, Tuesday at Roanoke. Tuesday's game will be the next-to-last regular season meeting between the two teams, and the final in Roanoke. The Checkers and Roanoke will close out their eight-game, season series in Charlotte on Saturday, March 22. The Checkers will enter Tuesday's game trailing Roanoke by seven points, as the Express and Trenton are tied for third place in the Northeast Division. Tuesday's game will also be Charlotte's first against new Express Head Coach Tony MacAuley, who replaced fired Head Coach Perry Florio on January 29. Jason Jaffray leads all Express scorers and ECHL rookies in scoring at 31g, 48a, for 79 points.
2002-03 VS. ROANOKE (35-20-5 = 75 PTS) - EIGHT-GAME SEASON SERIES OVERALL - 3-2-1 HOME - 2-1-0 AWAY - 1-1-1 LIFETIME VS. ROANOKE: 30-30-9
WEDNESDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will take on the Wheeling Nailers for the one and only time this season. The game against the Nailers is only one of three games against the ECHL's Northwest Division. Wheeling will enter the game in sixth place in the Northeast Division. The Nailers are coached by veteran Head Coach John Brophy, who has also coached in the National Hockey League and American Hockey League. He also played for the old Charlotte Clippers in the late 50's. Zenon Konopka leads Wheeling in scoring at 18g, 36a, for 54 points. The Nailers are affiliated with the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins and the American Hockey League's Wilkes-Barre/Scanton Penguins.
2002-03 VS. WHEELING (24-34-3 = 51 PTS) - ONE-GAME SEASON SERIES OVERALL - 0-0-0 HOME - 0-0-0 AWAY - 0-0-0 LIFETIME VS. WHEELING - 9-2-2
FRIDAY'S PREVIEW: Charlotte will meet the Richmond Renegades for the eighth time in nine scheduled meetings this season. The Checkers have not lost to Richmond this season at Cricket Arena in four previous meetings, with a perfect 4-0 record. Two of the wins have been in shootouts, while another was an 8-0 shutout. The Renegades are in the midst of a season-long, nine-game roadtrip, and start the week 0-2 on the trip. Daniel Goneau (24g, 47a for 71pts) and Lars Petersen (22g, 46a, for 68pts) lead the Renegades in scoring. Goalie Mark Magliarditi was the ECHL "Goalie of the Week" for the week ending March 2.
2002-03 VS RICHMOND (30-29-4 = 64 PTS) NINE-GAME SEASON SERIES OVERALL - 5-1-1 HOME - 4-0-0 AWAY - 1-1-1 LIFETIME VS. RICHMOND - 31-27-11
SATURDAY'S PREVIEW: Charlotte will travel to Charleston, SC to conclude the six-game, season series with the Stingrays. In five previous games this season, the visiitng team has won each contest. The Checkers are 2-0 in Charleston while the Stingrays were 3-0-0 this season at Cricket Arena. South Carolina begins the week in second place in the Southeast Division with 79 points, five behind first place Columbia. Stingrays goalie Kirk Daubenspeck leads the ECHL in wins with 33 in 53 games. Dave Seitz leads South Carolina in scoring with 19g, 56a, for 75 points.
2002-03 VS SOUTH CAROLINA (36-20-7 = 79 PTS) SIX-GAME SEASON SERIES OVERALL - 2-3-0 HOME - 0-3-0 AWAY - 2-0-0 LIFETIME VS. SOUTH CAROLINA - 30-33-7
SUNDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will close out their busy, five-game week with their lone Sunday afternoon home game this season, hosting the Reading Royals at 3:05 p.m. Charlotte has been battling the Royals all season for one of the final playoff spots in the Northeast Division. Reading enters the week eight points behind Trenton and Roanoke for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division. Center Brian McCullough leads the Royals in scoring and is second in the ECHL in scoring with 34g, 52a, for 86 points.
2002-03 VS READING (31-27-5 = 67 PTS) SIX-GAME SEASON SERIES OVERALL - 3-2-0 HOME - 1-1-0 AWAY - 2-1-0 LIFETIME VS. READING - 7-4-2
CHECKERS RECENT MOVES AND TRANSACTIONS:
Thursday, March 6 - The Checkers placed right wing Brandon Cullen on the 7-day IR.
Saturday, March 8 - Defenseman Jeff State was recalled by the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Saturday, March 8 - The Checkers signed forward Mike Hartman.
Monday, March 10 - The Checkers released forward Mike Hartman.
Monday, March 10 - The Hartford Wolf Pack assigned defenseman Jeff State to Charlotte.
Monday, March 10 - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers returned defenseman Nick Bilotto to Charlotte.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Checkers went 2-0-0 last week. Charlotte has won three straight and six of its last seven.
Checkers are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games.
The Checkers are 6-0 in shootouts this season, getting their sixth Saturday night in a 2-1 SO victory over Richmond.
Rookie center David Evans notched two goals and two assists for four points in the club's last two games.
Goalie Scott Meyer went 2-0 last week, and is currently fourth in the ECHL in the goaltending parade with a 19-5-0 record, 2.56 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Meyer is also 4-0-0 with 2.74 goals against average in his last four games.
Defenseman Nick Bilotto is ninth in scoring by ECHL defensemen with 12g, 29a, for 41 points. He has also played the fewest number of games of any defenseman in the top ten.
The Checkers will play a five-game schedule this week, their only five-game week of the season.
Defenseman Jeff State was assigned to the Checkers by the Hartford Wolf Pack, and defenseman Nick Bilotto was returned to the Checkers from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL.
The television show, Totally NASCAR, will air highlights of its' drivers' appearance at the Charlotte Checkers game this past Friday night. The segment will air this Thursday night, March 13 on FOX Sports Net at 6:00 p.m. and the Speed Channel on 6:30 p.m.
Eighteen teams will make the ECHL playoffs. The Checkers presently have the 15th best record in the league. Eight teams in the Northern Conference will qualify for postseason. Charlotte is currently the seventh best team in the North. In the current ECHL playoff scenario, if the season ended today the Checkers would not qualify for the post-season. TEAM LEADERS:
POINTS EDDIE PERSHIN (55) GOALS KEVIN CAULFIELD (24) ASSISTS EDDIE PERSHIN (40) PLUS / MINUS CHAD WILCHYNSKI (+18) PENALTY MINUTES BRANDON CULLEN (202)
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:
Friday, March 7 (H) Dayton W 5-3
Saturday, March 8 (H) Richmond W 2-1 SO
Checkers went 2-0-0 last week.
TICKET INFO: Individual game tickets for all Checkers' regular season home games may be purchased through Ticketmaster via phone at (704) 522-6500, via website, www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the Cricket Arena Box Office located at 2700 E. Independence Boulevard in Charlotte (704) 335-3100. Group Tickets and Mini-Plans are also on sale. Specific ticket information can be obtained by calling the Checkers' office (704) 342-4423.
The Charlotte Checkers enter their tenth season as members of the East Coast Hockey League, who celebrate their 15th anniversary this season. The team is owned by Felix Sabates and Carl Scheer. The Checkers play all home games at Cricket Arena. For more information on Charlotte's professional hockey team, please visit www.gocheckers.com, or call (704) 342-4423.
American Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2003
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