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AHL Charlotte Checkers

Weekly Report: Thrilling Opening Weekend, True Keeps Scoring and More

October 25, 2021 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


The Checkers made their triumphant return home and snagged three out of four points in a pair of thrilling games against a strong Hershey Bears squad.

Week in Review

Team Statistics

Overall record

2-1-1-0

Home record

1-0-1-0

Road record

1-1-0-0

Last week's record

1-0-1-0

Last 10 games

2-1-1-0

Division Standings

5th

Conference Standings

8th

League Standings

14th

Checkers 5, Hershey 3

The Checkers put on a show for a raucous crowd at their home opener, rallying back to take down the Bears thanks to a late game winner from the Max McCormick-Alex True connection, with both forwards racking up three points on the night and Christopher Gibson making 33 saves between the pipes. Full recap

Checkers 1, Hershey 2 (OT)

The following night's rematch featured significantly less offense, as the defensive battle sat tied at one after 60 minutes of play. The overtime period saw an array of chances for both sides, but Hershey clinched the two points thanks to a tally with just 23 seconds remaining. Full recap

Three Stars Of The Week

3rd Star

Christopher Gibson

1-0-0, 33 svs

2nd Star

Max McCormick

1g, 2a

1st Star

Alex True

2g, 2a

NOTABLES

1) TRUE TURNS IT UP

Alex True continues to be the offensive catalyst for the Checkers this season, picking up four points in the two-game set against the Bears. That gives him seven points in four games this season, a number that ranks him second in the AHL and is tied for the third-highest point total through the first four games of a season in franchise history (Jon Matsumoto's nine-point start in 2011-12 holds the record). Dating back to last season, True now has 13 points in his last 12 AHL games.

2) HUTSKO'S HOT START

Logan Hutsko has started off his pro career on a strong note, picking up an assist on Friday and then netting his first pro goal the following night to give him five points thus far. Hutsko is just the second rookie in franchise history to record a point in each of the first four games of the season, matching Sergey Tolchinsky's start in 2015-16.

3) DYNAMIC TRIO

Joining True and Hutsko on a line has been Max McCormick, who is tied for second on the team with five points - the best start to an AHL season in his career. That trio has been the offensive motor for Charlotte early in this season. In fact, at least one of those players has factored into eight of the 12 goals that the Checkers have scored this season, and six of those 12 goals have featured at least two-thirds of the line.

4) TURNING THE PK AROUND

The Charlotte power play was a bright spot over the weekend, converting once in each contest. The Checkers didn't have a ton of opportunities on the man advantage, but their two strikes on five chances ties them for third in the league with a 40-percent clip.

5) HOME SWEET HOME

The Checkers took the ice at Bojangles Coliseum this weekend for the first time in nearly 600 days, and the fired-up crowd proved once again to be a positive boost for the team. Dating back to the 2019-20 season (the last season the Checkers played), Charlotte has earned at least a point in five straight home games.

RANKS

Alex True is tied for the league lead in goals (4), ranks second in points (7) and leads the league in plus-minus

Logan Hutsko is tied for ninth in the AHL in scoring (5), tied for fifth in assists (4) and tied for second in plus-minus (+7), and is tied for fourth in both points and assists among all rookies

Lucas Carlsson leads all AHL defensemen and is tied for second in the AHL in plus/minus (+7)

INJURIES

Karch Bachman - Missed four games starting 10/16

Zac Dalpe - Missed one game starting 10/23

Transactions

Incoming

Oct. 20 - Antoine Bibeau - Recalled from Allen (ECHL)

Oct. 19 - Kole Lind - Assigned from Seattle (NHL)

Oct. 19 - Matt Kiersted - Assigned from Florida (NHL)

Outgoing

Oct. 22 - Evan Fitzpatrick - Assigned to Greenville (ECHL)

Oct. 21 - Chase Priskie - Recalled by Florida (NHL)

Oct. 20 - Ryan Lohin - Assigned to Allen (ECHL)

Oct. 19 - Joey Daccord - Recalled by Seattle (NHL)

Coming Up

Friday, October 29 at 7:10 pm - Checkers at Providence

Saturday, October 30 at 7 pm - Checkers at Hartford

Sunday, October 31 at 2:05 pm - Checkers at Springfield

By the Numbers

CATEGORY RECORD AHL RANK LAST WEEK

Power play 16.7% t-17th t-3rd

Penalty kill 72.2% t-26th t-25th

Goals per game 3.00 t-14th t-13th

Shots per game 23.75 29th t-26th

Goals allowed per game 2.75 18th t-16th

Shots allowed per game 30.75 t-18th t-18th

Penalty minutes per game 10.25 t-23rd t-24th

LEADERS

CATEGORY LEADER(S)

Points Alex True (7), Logan Hutsko, Max McCormick (5)

Goals Alex True (4), Max McCormick, Aleksi Heponiemi (2)

Assists Hutsko (4), McCormick, True (3)

Power play goals Aleksi Heponiemi, Alex True (1)

Shorthanded goals None

Game-winning goals Alex True, Max McCormick (1)

Shots on goal Alex True (10), Aleksi Heponiemi, Lucas Carlsson (8)

Penalty minutes Kole Line (5), Four tied (4)

Plus/minus Alex True (+8), Lucas Carlsson, Logan Hutsko (+7)

Wins Joey Daccord, Christopher Gibson (1)

Goals-against average Joey Daccord (1.00)

Save percentage Joey Daccord (.963)

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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.

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