ECHL Charlotte Checkers

With coaching change, Checkers go 2-1-1 last week

February 2, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charlotte, NC - Monday, February 2) - The Checkers will prepare for another four-game week this week, including three games at home. Charlotte began a new era last Thursday as Don MacAdam was relieved of his duties and Derek Wilkinson was named interim Head Coach and General Manager. Charlotte went 2-0-1 and got five of a possible six points under Wilkinson who guided the Checkers to a 5-3 win against Greensboro on Thursday in his first game as Head Coach. The Checkers enter the week four points behind the South Carolina Stingrays for the fourth and final playoff spot in the ECHL's Southern Division of the Eastern Conference, but have played four more games than the Rays.

OVERALL 21-18-6 = 48 POINTS
HOME 7-9-4 = 18 POINTS
ROAD 14-9-2 = 30 POINTS
STREAK 2-0-1
LAST 10 3-5-2
STANDINGS TIED FOR FIFTH PLACE IN THE SOUTHERN DIVISION OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE

TUESDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers meet the Stingrays again this Tuesday and will try to snap a three-game losing streak in the series. After winning the first game of the seven-game season series on Nov 8 in Charleston, the Checkers have dropped three straight against South Carolina including two at home. The Stingrays begin the week with a four-game winning streak and are just four points ahead of the Checkers in fourth place in the ECHL's Southern Division with a record of 25-14-2 for 52 points. South Carolina has four games in hand on the Checkers. The Stingrays are coached by Jason Fitzsimmons, and are affiliated with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers and AHL's Toronto Roadrunners.

2003-04 VS. SOUTH CAROLINA - SEVEN-GAME SEASON SERIES
OVERALL - 1-3-0
HOME - 0-2-0 (1-4 loss on Nov 28) (1-3 loss Jan 27)
AWAY - 1-1-0 (3-2 win on Nov 8) (2-1 loss on Dec 16)
LIFETIME VS. SOUTH CAROLINA: 29-33-7

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THURSDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will close out the seven-game season series with the Gladiators. It's been pretty much a visitors series so far with Charlotte 2-0 in Gwinnett and the Gladiators 3-1 in games played in the Queen City. The Gladiators at 23-16-4 for 50 points have struggled of late, going winless in their last four games at 0-3-1 and 2-7-1 in their last 10 games. Gwinnett is affiliated with the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers and the AHL's Chicago Wolves.

2003-04 VS. GWINNETT - SEVEN-GAME SEASON SERIES
OVERALL - 3-3-0
HOME - 1-3-0 (Oct 18 - L 3-5) (Nov 19 - L 2-3) (Dec 2 - L 1-5) (Dec 20 - W 4-3)
AWAY - 2-0-0 (Oct 25 - W 4-3 SO) (Nov 27 - W 6-3)
LIFETIME VS. GWINNETT: 8-5-1 (Includes games when franchise was in Mobile)

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SATURDAY'S PREVIEW: Charlotte will host the Roanoke Express in the first of three meetings this season at Cricket Arena. Entering this week the Checkers and Roanoke are tied for fifth place in the Southern Division of the Eastern Conference with 48 points. Staring the week the the EXpress sports a record of 22-19-4 for 48 points. Charlotte will look for its first win of the season against Roanoke, having dropped two close decisions so far in Virginia. The Express is coached by Tony MacAuley who enters his frist full season behind the bench.

2003-04 VS. ROANOKE - SIX-GAME SEASON SERIES
OVERALL - 0-2-0
HOME - 0-0-0
AWAY - 0-1-0 (0-2 Loss on Nov 2) (1-2 loss On Dec 26)
LIFETIME VS. ROANOKE: 31-33-9

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SUNDAY'S PREVIEW: The Checkers will try to get their frist home win over the Lynx in three tries this season as Augusta comes to Cricket Arena on Sunday afternoon. Augusta starts the week in sixth place in the Central Division of the ECHL's Western Conference with a record of 18-22-4 for 40 points. The Lynx are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games, and trail Gwinnett by 10 points for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division. Augusta is coached by Stan Drulia and is affiliated with the NHL's Florida Panthers and the AHL's San Antonio Rampage.

2003-04 VS. AUGUSTA - SIX-GAME SEASON SERIES
OVERALL - 1-1-2
HOME - 0-0-2 (3-4 SO loss on Dec 27) (5-6 SO loss on Jan 10)
AWAY - 1-1-0 (3-1 win on Jan 3) ( 1-2 loss on Jan 11)
LIFETIME VS. AUGUSTA: 37-26-7 (Includes games when franchise was in Raleigh)

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CHECKERS RECENT MOVES AND TRANSACTIONS:

Fri. Jan 23 Signed right wing Mike Hartman
Fri. Jan 23 Placed right wing Kevin Caulfield on waivers
Fri. Jan 23 Hartford recalled goaltender Scott Meyer
Sat. Jan 24 Released right wing Mike Hartman
Sat. Jan 24 Activated center Ryan Cuthbert from the injured reserve list
Fri Jan 30 Hartford recalled right wing Brandon Cullen
Fri Jan 30 Hartford recalled center Ryan Cuthbert
Fri. Jan 30 Checkers signed right wing Mike Hartman

NEWS AND NOTES:

• Checkers went 2-1-1 last week.

• The Checkers went 2-0-1 under new Head Coach Derek Wilkinson last week.

• Charlotte is 3-5-2 in its last 10 games.

• Rookie right Mike Wirll has a three-game goal scoring streak (four goals)

• Center Richard Keyes has five assists in his last two games.

• The Checkers are in the midst of eight home games in ten games overall.

• Ryan Cuthbert, Brandon Cullen, and Jeff State are currently on recall to the Hartford Wolf Pack.

• Charlotte is in sixth place in the ECHL's Southern Division of the Eastern Conference, four points behind South Carolina for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division.

• The Checkers are 28th on the power play at 12.32% while 7th on the penalty kill at 85.83%.

• Goalie David St. Germain is 2-1-0 with a 2.34 goals against average in his last three games.

TEAM LEADERS:

POINTS ALLAN EGELAND (33)
GOALS ALLAN EGELAND (12)
ASSISTS DAVE INMAN, ALLAN EGELAND (20)
PLUS / MINUS DAVE INMAN (+14)
PENALTY MINUTES STEVE MACINTYRE (149)

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:

Tuesday, January 27 South Carolina (H) L 1-3
Thursday, January 29 @ Greensboro W 5-3
Friday, January 30 Florence (H) L 4-5 OT
Saturday, January 31 Columbia (H) W 3-2

Checkers went 2-1-1 last week.

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UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Tues., Feb. 3 - 7:00 p.m. vs. South Carolina
Two-for-Tuesday
Every Tuesday will have a different 2-for-1 special deal. This Tuesday: SELECT CHECKERS MERCHANDISE is 2-for-1!

Sat., Feb. 7th 7:30 PM
Scouting For Food
Bring a canned good and receive a free ticket to the March 10th game against the Louisianna IceGators.

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TICKET INFO: All individual game tickets are on sale and may be purchased at the Cricket Arena Box Office, the Charlotte Coliseum Box Office, and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be purchased by phone by using a credit card and calling Ticketmaster at (704) 522-6500, and through the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com.

Individual game tickets for the 2003-04 season are priced at $7.00 for balcony seats, $10.00 for end mezzanine seats, $12.00 for side mezzanine seats, $15.00 for circle seats, and $20.00 for box seats.

Season Tickets, mini plans and group tickets remain on sale through the Checkers office. Further information can be obtained by calling the Checkers office at (704) 342-4423.

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 2, 2004


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