ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Stingrays finally get the best of Charlotte in 3-2 victory

February 26, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charleston, South Carolina - Sunday, February 26, 2006) The Charlotte Checkers had beaten the South Carolina Stingrays eight consecutive times this season. Sunday afternoon the Stingrays finally broke the string and notched their first win over Charlotte in 2005-06 with a 3-2 victory at the North Charleston Coliseum.

Matt Reid's goal with just three minutes to go in the game proved to be the game winner for South Carolina, as the Stingrays are now 1-8 versus the Checkers in the 11-game season series. The win allowed South Carolina to capture five of a possible six points in their three games in three days weekend. Stingray's goalie Davis Parley made 26 saves in earning the win.

The loss was the Checkers second straight, and saw their record in the last five games fall to 1-3-1. Juris Stals did not play due to the flu, and Rick Kozak was also out with a minor injury. Checkers goalie Chris Holt took the loss with 27 stops in his first game back with the team following a sting in Hartford and New York. Bruce Graham scored both Charlotte goals.

"It was a much better effort than Friday night and was a good hockey game today," remarked Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson. "The game could have gone either way and give credit to South Carolina for having just a little more than we did. Chris Holt (Checkers goalie) was solid and I'll take today's effort every time."

Charlotte grabbed a 1-0 first-period lead as Graham scored his first of two at 16:10 of the first frame. It was a solid first period for the Checkers who outshot the Stingrays 12-8.

South Carolina took the lead with a pair of goals in the second period by Evan Schwabe and Cam McCaffrey. Schwabe's goal just 39 seconds into the period on a power play was partially stopped by Holt, but still managed to trickle over the goal line. McCaffrey blasted a 30 footer in at 10:47.

The Checkers managed to tie the game at 10:48 of the third period as Graham cleaned up Ryan Fultz's rebound for his second of the game. But Reid notched the game-winner when the Checkers had trouble clearing the puck out of their zone with three minutes left.

The loss dropped Charlotte's record to 27-24-5 for 59 points while the Stingrays improved to 22-19-11 for 55 points. The Checkers will close out their three-game road trip Saturday in Fort Meyers when they'll meet the Florida Everblades at 7:30 p.m.

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ECHL Stories from February 26, 2006


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