Overall Record: 29-17-6 (Home 17-6-3, Away 12-11-3)
Previous 10: 6-3-1
Standings: 3rd – South Division, 5th – American Conference
Playing in front of more than 4,500 fans who attended the first ever midnight game in the South, the Checkers couldn’t get anything going offensively and were thumped 7-0 by the Toledo Walleye. The team then re-grouped and headed to Gwinnett where they beat the Gladiators handedly, 7-2. Charlotte is now one point back of fourth-place Florida in the American Conference standings, with four games in hand, and will look to secure home-ice advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs.
The Checkers got some good news before Sunday’s game against Gwinnett as Kevin Schaeffer and Andrew Carroll were returned from the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). Carroll leads the team in goals with 23.
Charlotte will travel to Cincinnati and Kalamazoo this weekend for three important games against potential playoff opponents. The team will then return to play 10 of the next 15 games at home where they are 8-1-1 since Dec. 26.
Feb. 18 vs. Toledo (L 7-0)
More than 4,500 fans attended the first ever midnight game in Charlotte and were treated to a good time despite a 7-0 loss to the Toledo Walleye. Evan Rankin led the way for Toledo with five goals while Maxime Tanguay chipped in with four assists. The Checkers put 33 shots on net but Jordan Pearce stopped everything en route to his second shutout of the season.
Feb. 21 @ Gwinnett (W 7-2)
The Checkers followed up Friday’s lopsided loss to Toledo with a 7-2 blowout of their own over the Gwinnett Gladiators on Sunday afternoon. Matt Schepke led the charge with his second hat trick of the season while Matt Stefanishion recorded four assists. Andrew Carroll, who was returned earlier in the day from Hartford, notched two goals and Ryan Munce stopped 19 of 21 shots for some redemption after Thursday’s loss. Munce is now 6-3-1 since Miika Wiikman, the other half of the Checkers’ goaltending tandem, was called up to Hartford in late January.
NOTES:
Charlotte is 8-1-1 in its last 10 home games…Matt Schepke has the Checkers’ only two hat tricks this season…Andrew Carroll leads the team with 23 goals and ranks tied for third among all ECHL rookies…T.J. Reynolds leads the ECHL with 213 penalty minutes and is second in overall plus-minus with a +23 rating…Derek Couture and Kenny Roche remain with Hartford (AHL), Ethan Graham is with Texas (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.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
2/21 Add Andrew Carroll Returned from Hartford (AHL)
2/21 Add Kevin Schaeffer Returned from Hartford (AHL)
2/18 Delete Ethan Graham Loaned to Texas (AHL)
2/15 Add Ethan Graham Returned from Milwaukee (AHL)
2/12 Delete Ethan Graham Loaned to Milwaukee (AHL)
2/11 Add Ryan Crane Signed Contract
2/11 Delete Andrew Carroll Loaned to Hartford (AHL)
2/8 Delete Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll Recalled to Lake Erie (AHL)
2/7 Add Matt Stefanishion Acquired in trade from Alaska
UPCOMING GAMES:
The Checkers will travel to Cincinnati and Kalamazoo this weekend before returning on Wednesday, Mar. 3 to host Cincinnati. Puck drops at 7 p.m. and ticket information can be found at www.gocheckers.com or by calling 704-342-4ICE.
