New Year's resolution: shoot and score
Published on January 7, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC â The Charlotte Checkers, coming off their longest losing streak of the season, gave the Columbia Inferno a rude welcome into the New Year, topping their division rival 5-2 at Cricket Arena Friday evening. In what was the sixth meeting between these two teams, the Checkers relied on a strong showing from goaltender Kelly Guard and an offensive explosion from forward Mike Wirll and center Ryan Cuthbert to notch another win. It was just what the team needed after being outscored 9-4 in their last three games, all losses.
Going into the second period with a 1-0 lead on Rory Rawlyk's fireball from the point of a Checkers power play, the game could have gone either way. Columbia goaltender Mike Minard had stopped eight-of-nine shots in the first, all of them excellent chances for the Checkers attack. Minard's wall would not hold for long, however. Wirll and Cuthbert were just getting warmed up.
At 2:11 into the second period, Wirll took a Cuthbert pass to show some flashy moves around the net, beating Columbia goaltender Mike Minard for his third goal of the season. Not one minute later, Wirll would pay back the favor, dropping a wraparound into the slot for Cuthbert to clean up for his sixth goal of the season. Wirll tickled the twine once more in the period, taking forward Stephen Greeley's quick face-off pass to Minard's stick hand. Lighting the lamp three times in the period, the Wirll-Cuthbert line put the Checkers up 4-0.
"He has a tremendous amount of ability," Checkers Head Coach Derek Wilkinson said of Wirll, who had been held to only two goals on 21 shots in the last 10 games. "He could easily play in the AHL, and this game, he finally got his confidence back."
The Checkers even got some point-production from some new faces on the team. Defenseman Brian Escobedo tallied his first assist in a Checkers uniform when he found Rawlyk in the first, and defenseman Joseph Dustin added his first goal as a Checker at 5:55 into the third period. With such a depleted lineup due to injuries and call-ups, the roster additions have become major contributors to the team. Wilkinson attributes this to a commitment to work hard the team put forth in Training Camp.
"It's a credit to the guys in this room," he said of his resilient team.
While Columbia would attempt to climb back into the game with two third-period goals, the game was all but put away, as Guard finished the game with 30 saves on 32 shots. The win allows the Checkers to hold on to their first-place position in the East Division of the American Conference with 38 points. They return to Cricket Arena to face the Florida Everblades on Saturday, January 8th in the second of a six-game homestand.
ECHL Stories from January 7, 2005
- Steelheads mauled by Ice Dogs, 7-2 - Idaho Steelheads
- Bill Kinkel Activated From 30 Day IR - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Lynx earn shootout point against Gladiators - Augusta Lynx
- New Year's resolution: shoot and score - Charlotte Checkers
- Bombers Take Storm To Shootout; Lose 3-2 Decision - Dayton Bombers
- Gladiators Beat Lynx in Shootout, 5-4 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Pilots Fly by Gators 7-4 - Louisiana IceGators
- Condors Squeeze Out Third Straight Win, 4-3 - Bakersfield Condors
- Bertoli Keys Titans' 5-2 Win Over Chiefs - Trenton Devils
- Chiefs Fall to Titans - Johnstown Chiefs
- Power Play Powers Pride to 4-2 Win - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Weiss Completes Bullies All-Star Cast - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Connor James Named to National Conference All-Star Team - Bakersfield Condors
- Lisabeth Placed On Injured Reserve - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Ford Named CCM Vector ECHL Rookie of the Month - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- O'Connor Named CCM Tacks ECHL Player Of The Month - San Diego Gulls
- Ice Pilots' Ford Named CCM Vector ECHL Rookie of the Month - ECHL
- Inferno's Minard Named Sun National Bank ECHL Saver of the Month - ECHL
- Michael Named Broadcaster For All-Star Game - Johnstown Chiefs
- Callahan named to All-Star radio broadcast - Augusta Lynx
- Radio Broadcasters Named For Coors Light All-Star Game - ECHL
- Three Assigned to Chiefs; Packard Recalled to Springfield - Johnstown Chiefs
- Two Chiefs Named To All-Star Team - Johnstown Chiefs
- Rookie Defenseman Sanford Named ECHL All-Star - Peoria Rivermen
- Stingrays game notes - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Tonight's game postponed - Wheeling Nailers
- Weather Postpones Atlantic City-Wheeling Game On Friday - ECHL
- Bullies Game At Wheeling Postponed - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Johansson Assigned From Albany, Sarich Returns As Lynx Prepare For Gladiators - Augusta Lynx
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