Deja vu: Checkers sink Sea Wolves

February 19, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Charlotte Checkers hosted the Mississippi Sea Wolves tonight in their second meeting of a two-game weekend series. Charlotte swept the series with a 7-4 win last night and a 4-1 victory tonight. Last year, the Checkers had 31 wins for the entire season. Tonight, the Checkers tied that win total with 20 games still remaining in the 2004-05 campaign. The Checkers are now 31-18-3 overall and 19-7-1 at home.

The Checkers skated hard in the first period and shut the Sea Wolves out, limiting them to six shots on goal in the first. Thomas Bellemare, with help from Eddie Pershin and Dusty Jamieson, started Charlotte off with a goal at 11:01. Charlotte is now 19-3-0 when leading after one period.

"We came out real strong. Our first goal was key," comments Checkers Head Coach Derek Wilkinson. "It made the difference in the game."

The Checkers game winning goal came in the second when Mike Wirll fed a pass to Lee Falardeau to put Charlotte up 2-0 on a power play. This was Falardeau's 15th goal of the season, tallying him 25 points total. Wirll had three assists in the series against Mississippi.

The Sea Wolves only goal came on a power play opportunity in the third when Chris Cava shot the puck past Checkers goaltender, Kelly Guard. Guard had 25 saves on the night. At 14:16 of the period, Dwight Helminen took a pass from Rory Rawlyk to put the Checkers up 3-1. This was Charlotte's second power goal of the night, giving them five power play goals in their last two games. In a last minute attempt to tip the scales, Mississippi pulled their goaltender leaving an empty net for Pershin to find for the second night in a row. Pershin's goal secured the 4-1 victory for the Checkers.

The Checkers finish their 10 game, 13 day stretch tomorrow afternoon at Gwinnett. They are 6-2-1 in their last 9 games. All Checkers road games can be heard free this season over the Internet and on the telephone through TEAMLINE. Fans can log on to the Checkers web site at www.gocheckers.com for more complete connection information.

ECHL Stories from February 19, 2005

• Rivermen Come Back but Fall to Alaska 3-2 in a Shootout - Peoria Rivermen
• IceGators shoot down Wildcatters 6-5 - Louisiana IceGators
• Aces win 3-2 - Alaska Aces
• Everblades end Ice Pilots winning streak with 2-1 victory - Florida Everblades
• Deja vu: Checkers sink Sea Wolves - Charlotte Checkers
• Toledo Sneaks Past Bullies 2-1 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
• Pride fall to Lynx 6-2 - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
• Chiefs Extend Winning Streak to Three - Johnstown Chiefs
• Gladiators fall to Grrrowl, 2-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
• Chiefs Beat Bombers 4-2; Scott Gomez and the Alaska Aces Next - Dayton Bombers
• Turon Activated From 7 Day IR - Pensacola Ice Pilots
• Kinkel Recalled to Houston - Pensacola Ice Pilots
• Mississippi Swaps Goaltenders With Bakersfield - Mississippi Sea Wolves
• Legault Goes To Grand Rapids - Mississippi Sea Wolves
• San Diego Tries To Break Three-Game Winless Streak - San Diego Gulls
• Condors and Sea Wolves Swap Goalies - Bakersfield Condors
• ECHL Today - ECHL
• Falcons Blank Gulls 1-0 - Fresno Falcons
• Second period meltdown results in 12-3 final - Victoria Salmon Kings
• Wranglers Fall 5-3 to Long Beach - Las Vegas Wranglers
• Fresno Blanks Gulls, 1-0 - San Diego Gulls
• Steelheads set all-time team record for goals scored with 12-3 win over Salmon Kings - Idaho Steelheads

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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