Overall Record: 22-13-5 (Home 14-5-2, Away 8-8-3)
Previous 10: 6-3-1
Standings: 3rd – South Division, 6th – American Conference
The Checkers have earned points in five straight games (4-0-1) and have won their last five in a row at home. The team is back on track offensively, having picked up 27 goals in its last five games (5.4 goals per game) and leads the league in shots per game (35.35). The Checkers have also improved on the power play and are currently ranked eighth in the ECHL (18.3%) after scoring six goals on their last 13 attempts with the man advantage.
With Sunday’s crowd of 11,484, Charlotte has sold out in consecutive games for the first time since Feb., 2007. Forwards Tyler Doig, Kenny Roche and defenseman Kevin Schaeffer were all loaned to Hartford (AHL) Saturday to help the injury-depleted Wolf Pack.
Jan. 18 @ Gwinnett (W 6-4)
Down by two late in the second period, the Checkers scored four unanswered goals and battled their way to a 6-4 victory over Gwinnett. Andrew Carroll scored two goals, including the game-winner, and added two assists. Special teams were a factor in the game as the Checkers scored three with the man advantage while Gwinnett recorded two short-handed tallies. Charlotte erased three two-goal deficits for the win and has picked up a point in four straight games (3-0-1) versus the Gladiators.
Jan. 22 vs. Wheeling (W 5-4)
For the second game in a row, the Checkers packed the building and treated the sell-out crowd to a thrilling victory as they downed the Wheeling Nailers, 5-4, as part of “Race Night”. Charlotte fell behind by two early in the third but battled back with three straight goals for the win in front of 11,484 screaming fans. Aaron Slattengren led the way with two goals and an assist, Daniel Tkaczuk added three assists and Ryan Munce stopped 25 of 29 for his third consecutive win.
NOTES:
Andrew Carroll has seven goals and six assists in his last nine games…Daniel Tkaczuk is on a six-game point streak (2g, 8a) and Michel Leveille is on a five-game point streak (2g, 7a)…Tyler Doig ranks fifth in ECHL scoring with 48 points (11g, 37a) while Leveille ranks tied for 11th with 42 points (14g, 28a)…Julien Brouillette has eight points (4g, 4a) in his last seven games and ranks fifth among all ECHL defensemen with 26 points (10g, 16a)…T.J. Reynolds leads all ECHL defensemen with 170 penalty minutes, and is second in overall plus-minus with a +19 rating…Derek Couture, Tyler Doig, Kenny Roche and Kevin Schaeffer are with Hartford (AHL) while Matt Ford and Randy Rowe are with Lake Erie (AHL)…Trevor Glass, Chris Snavely and Chris Chappell are on the 21-day injured reserve…Charlotte is 13-3-1 in its last 17 home games and has hosted the two highest attended games in the ECHL this season (Dec. 26 – 10,980, Jan. 22 – 11,484)
MILESTONES/RECORDS:
400 career points – Daniel Tkaczuk recorded his 400th career point in Friday’s win over Wheeling.
100 career wins – Ryan Munce currently has 95 professional victories.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
1/24 Delete Kevin Schaeffer Loaned to Hartford (AHL)
1/23 Delete Tyler Doig Loaned to Hartford (AHL)
1/23 Delete Kenny Roche Loaned to Hartford (AHL)
1/18 Add Kenny Roche Returned from Providence (AHL)
1/16 Add Codey Burki Activated off IR
UPCOMING GAMES:
The Checkers will embark on a four-game northern road swing on Wednesday before returning on Thursday, Feb. 4 to host the Florida Everblades (7 p.m.). Ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com.
