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ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Six Checkers join AHL playoff rosters

April 19, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte Checkers announced today that goaltender Alex Westlund, forwards Bruce Graham and Mark Lee and defensemen Ryan Constant and Hannu Pikkarainen have all been summoned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. The Checkers also had defenseman Kenny Smith called up to the AHL as he signed a PTO with the Iowa Stars.

Hartford currently leads their series with the Providence Bruins 1-0 and Iowa begins their series with the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights tomorrow.

Westlund, an eighth-year pro and a former Yale University Eli, appeared in seven regular-season games with the Wolf Pack this year and compiled a 1-2-1 record, with a 2.38 goals-against average and a 91.9% save percentage. In 25 ECHL regular-season games, Westlund went 16-7-1, with a GAA of 2.73, a save percentage of 91.4% and three shutouts. He was in net for one Charlotte playoff game, and allowed three goals on 16 shots in a 4-0 loss.

Graham has suited up for seven games in a Wolf Pack uniform this season, chipping in one assist. The 2004 New York Ranger second-round pick was Charlotte's leading goal-scorer during the regular season, and finished third on the team in points, with 33-23-56 (83 penalty minutes) in 65 games. In five playoff contests, the second-year man contributed a goal and two assists and had eight penalty minutes.

Lee was the Checkers' leading regular-season point-getter, rolling up 26-54-80 with 64 penalty minutes in 59 games. That was good for a tie for sixth in the ECHL in assists and was the eighth-best point total in the league. The third-year pro followed that up with a goal and three assists for four points (six penalty minutes) in five postseason tilts. In eight games with the Wolf Pack, Lee notched a pair of goals.

Pikkarainen, a native of Finland playing his first year of North American pro hockey, registered two assists and two penalty minutes in seven regular-season contests with the Wolf Pack. He played in 10 ECHL contests during the regular year, after missing most of the season with an injury sustained prior to training camp, and contributed two goals and seven assists for nine points (10 penalty minutes). In his lone playoff appearance with Charlotte, he was held without a point.

Constant, a 21-year-old rookie out of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, logged five regular-season games with the Wolf Pack and posted five penalty minutes. The Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba native was the second-leading point-scorer among Charlotte defensemen during the regular season, with totals of 2-24-26 and 76 penalty minutes in 65 games. In five playoff contests, Constant had one assist.

Smith, a third-year pro, skated in 64 games with the Checkers during the regular season notching nine assists and 95 penalty minutes. He played in all five playoff games this season recording 11 penalty minutes. Drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in round 3 of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, the Stoneham, Mass. native played four years at Harvard University before turning pro. Smith also was a member of two U.S. Jr. National Teams (1998-99 and 1999-2000).

The Checkers made their third-consecutive playoff appearance this season - a feat that hadn't been accomplished since the team went to the postseason five-straight years from 1994-98. For more information, or season ticket information, please call the Checkers at 704-342-4-ICE or visit www.gocheckers.com.

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