ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Rangers, Wolf Pack renew affiliation

October 5, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Derek Wilkinson, head coach and general manager of the Charlotte Checkers, announced today that the team has renewed its affiliation with the New York Rangers of the NHL and the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.

"We are thrilled to renew our affiliation with the New York Rangers and Hartford Wolf Pack," said Wilkinson. "The number of quality players we receive from Hartford and New York helps us tremendously. It's an honor to help develop their prospects and ultimately help the Rangers reach their goal of winning another Stanley Cup Championship."

The renewal of this affiliation marks the 12th season the Checkers will be affiliated with the New York Rangers.

"We are very happy to be working with the Charlotte organization again this season," stated Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather. "To have a successful operation in the National Hockey League, you must develop continuity and consistency within your affiliates, and I believe we have done just that with the Checkers. They are a first class franchise, dedicated to developing young talent and providing a great product for their fans."

Hartford is the next stop for a prospect on his way from Charlotte to New York and the 2005-06 season will be the ninth in which the Checkers have been affiliated with the Wolf Pack.

"The Hartford Wolf Pack have enjoyed an excellent relationship with the Charlotte Checkers," said Jim Schoenfeld, head coach and general manager of the Wolf Pack. "We work closely with Coach Wilkinson to determine how best to develop our players, and with the NHL back in full swing, I fully expect we will be seeing a number of players making the move between Charlotte and Hartford this season."

CHECKERS ASSIGNED FOUR PLAYERS FROM WOLF PACK

Wilkinson also announced today that the Hartford Wolf Pack has reassigned four players to Charlotte. Returning from the 2004-05 American Conference finalist roster are Lee Falardeau, Rory Rawlyk and Juris Stals. The Checkers were also assigned defenseman Lee Jacobson from Hartford.

Lee Falardeau, a 6-foot-4-inch, 215-pound center, returns for his second season with the Checkers. He was the team's fifth-leading scoring last season, recording 35 points (18g, 17a) in 55 games, while tallying 52 penalty minutes. He also registered eight points (7g, 1a) and 14 penalty minutes in 14 playoff games. Falardeau, a second round draft pick of the New York Rangers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft (33rd overall), also spent three games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL last season.

A native of Midland, Mich., Falardeau appeared in 108 games while at Michigan State where he racked up 39 points (18g, 21a) and 91 penalty minutes over three seasons for the Spartans. Falardeau, 22, was also a member of two U.S National teams.

Rory Rawlyk, a 6-foot-3-inch, 195-pound defenseman, returns for his third season with the Checkers. Last season, Rawlyk ranked second on the team with a plus-minus rating of +12 and scored 30 points (9g, 21a) while racking up 91 penalty minutes through 68 games. He appeared in 14 playoff games recording five points (1g, 4a) and 12 penalty minutes. Rawlyk, 22, also spent two games with the Hartford Wolf Pack last season.

In 2003-04, Rawlyk appeared in 67 games for the Checkers posting 32 points (9g, 23a) and 24 penalty minutes. A native of Edmonton, Alberta, he spent five games with Hartford during the 2003-04 season scoring one goal and recording two penalty minutes.

Juris Stals, a 6-foot-3-inch, 207-pound forward, enters his second season with the Checkers. Stals was selected in the ninth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers (269th overall). He appeared in 54 games last season with the Checkers recording 30 points (19g, 11a) and 31 penalty minutes.

Stals, 23, appeared in 62 games with Hartford (AHL) during the 2003-04 season recording 18 points (4g, 14a). A native of Riga, Latvia, Stals played two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League before signing with Hartford during the 2002-03 season.

Lee Jacobson, a 6-foot-4-inch, 230-pound defenseman, enters his first season with the Checkers. Last season, the Chicago native split time between the Mississippi Sea Wolves and Pee-Dee Pride of the ECHL and also appeared in 18 games with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the AHL. Jacobson, 24, racked up 109 penalty minutes in the ECHL last season and 104 penalty minutes with Cincinnati.

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics



ECHL Stories from October 5, 2005


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.

OurSports Central