South Carolina knocks off Checkers in overtime 4-3

February 27, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release

(Charleston, South Carolina - Saturday, February 26) The Charlotte Checkers did everything but win the game Saturday night, falling 4-3 in overtime to the South Carolina Stingrays in Charleston. Kevin Spiewak's goal just 58 seconds into sudden-death overtime completed a Stingrays comeback from two goals down late in the second period, and then a goal down late in the third.

The Checkers produced a whopping 48 shots on goal Saturday including 24 in the first period, but those numbers were still not enough to produce a win.

Spotty goaltending was the Checkers main culprit Saturday night, as rookie Kelly Guard let in two questionable goals including Spiewak's game winner in overtime.

"We had 17 guys out there playing their hearts tonight and it's disappointing not to get a win," remarked Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson. "We out-played the Stingrays tonight but our goaltender did not make some saves he should have made. South Carolina has a very good team but I like my team and the way we've played the last two nights. Only getting one point in the last two games is a big disappointment."

The Checkers jumped in front just 2:19 into the game as Ryan Lang took the puck from the left wing corner, skated toward the slot and backhanded a shot past Stingrays' goalie Justin Eddy for a 1-0 Charlotte lead.

The Checkers broke a 0-16 power-play drought and made it 2-0 at 10:22 of the first as Dusty Jamieson knocked home a rebound for his team-leading 23rd goal of the season. Charlotte dominated the first period, outshooting the Stingrays 24-12.

South Carolina got back in the game with a pair of goals late in the second period in a 43-second span. Joe Tenute scored on a deflection while the Stingrays were on the power play at 18:12. Rich Peverly then beat Guard over his left shoulder, glove side at 18:55 to tie the game at 2-2.

A major altercation broke out in the second period between the Checkers Thomas Bellemare and the Stingrays Robin Gomez. After the two fought and went to their respective penalty boxes, Gomez removed his pads and jersey and charged through the scoring booth divider and jumped into the Checkers penalty box to get at Bellemare.

Once the linesmen jumped into the Checkers penalty box and separated the two players, Gomez was given a game misconduct and Bellemare a ten-minute misconduct. While Gomez was heading off the ice to the Stingrays locker room, he got into a verbal confrontation with Guard. Gomez charged towards Guard and the Checkers netminder cocked his goal stick back into order to protect himself if necessary. The linesmen fortunately grabbed Gomez and escorted him to his locker room without further incident. Guard was given a two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his actions, while Gomez received no additional penalty by referee Ryan Fraser.

In the third period at 12:06 Jamieson gave Charlotte the lead at 3-2, as he took a rink-wide pass from Ryan Cuthbert and blasted a 30 footer by Eddy. But South Carolina tied the game again as Matt Reid, from behind the net, deflected the puck into the Charlotte net off the back of Guard's pads to knot the score at 3-3.

After concluding regulation tied and each team picking up a point, Spiewak's goal earned the Stingrays the extra point and the win.

The Checkers record following the overtime loss now stands at 31-20-4 for 66 points, while South Carolina improved to 28-18-7 for 63 points. Charlotte will close out its three-games in three-day schedule Sunday afternoon in Florence, South Carolina when they'll meet the Pee Dee Pride at 2:30 p.m.

The Checkers will return home to Cricket Arena Saturday, March 5 to host the Greenville Grrrowl at 7:00 p.m.

ECHL Stories from February 27, 2005

• Gulls Squeeze Past Steelheads, 3-2 - San Diego Gulls
• Tyler Beechey Recalled To St. Johns of the AHL - Pensacola Ice Pilots
• Salmon Kings Weekly Report - Victoria Salmon Kings
• Pride fall to Checkers 3-2 - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
• Bullies Rough Up Bombers 4-2 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
• Bombers Bullied On The Boardwalk Sunday Aftternoon - Dayton Bombers
• Chiefs Fall In Shootout to Trenton - Johnstown Chiefs
• Titans Down Chiefs in Shootout, 3-2 - Trenton Devils
• Gladiators Sting Rays, 6-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
• Checkers romp by Pride 5-2 - Charlotte Checkers
• Sea Wolves Stymie Wildcatters 2-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
• Las Vegas Rookies Johner and Huxley Set New Team Records - Las Vegas Wranglers
• Gators shot down by Everblades 6-5 in shootout - Louisiana IceGators
• Lynx come back to beat Grrrowl - Augusta Lynx
• Sawruk Returns to Gwinnett - Atlanta Gladiators
• San Diego Tries To Break Idaho's Seven-Game Winning Streak - San Diego Gulls
• ECHL Today - ECHL
• ECHL Transactions - ECHL
• De ja Vu: All Over Again - Victoria Salmon Kings
• Rosebush turns the trick against the Gulls, 6-4 - Bakersfield Condors
• South Carolina knocks off Checkers in overtime 4-3 - Charlotte Checkers
• Bakersfield Beats Gulls, 6-4 - San Diego Gulls
• Ice Dogs Fall To Idaho, 2-1 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
• Steelheads gain two points over Long Beach - Idaho Steelheads
• Wranglers Edge Salmon Kings 4-3 - Las Vegas Wranglers
• Ice Pilots Slip Past Sea Wolves 4-3 - Mississippi Sea Wolves

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.

Other Recent Charlotte Checkers Stories

• Panthers Agree to Terms with Tobias Bjornfot on One-Year, Two-Way Contract
• Panthers Agree to Terms with Wilmer Skoog on One-Year, Two-Way Deal
• Robert Mastrosimone Joins Checkers on AHL Deal
• Tera Black Named 2025 Thomas Ebright Award Winner by AHL
• Checkers 2025-26 Schedule Released