Overall Record: 30-19-6 (Home 17-6-3, Away 13-13-3)
Previous 10: 6-4-0
Standings: 3rd – South Division, 6th – American Conference
The Checkers have a very busy month ahead of them with 17 games to play (10 home, 7 away) in 32 days. The good news is that the team will play 10 of the next 15 at Time Warner Cable Arena where it is 8-1-1 in its last 10 games. Charlotte got some good news in the last few days as Miika Wiikman, Devin DiDiomete and Kenny Roche were all returned from the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). Wiikman will look to relieve Ryan Munce, who started in goal for the Checkers 12 straight times from Jan. 30 to Feb. 27.
Feb. 26 @ Cincinnati (W 2-1)
Munce turned aside 30 shots, including several game-saving stops late in the third, and the Checkers edged the Cincinnati Cyclones 2-1. Munce is now 7-3-1 in 11 games since taking over lone goaltending duties for the Checkers after Wiikman was recalled to Hartford. Cincinnati came into the game undefeated in regulation in its last 11 games (9-0-2) and the Checkers avenged a 4-1 loss on Jan. 27, the only other meeting between the two teams this year.
Feb. 27 @ Kalamazoo (L 5-2)
The Checkers fell behind early in the first period and couldn’t regain their scoring touch as they lost 5-2 to the Kalamazoo Wings on Saturday. Charlotte struggled to find rebounds and create second and third chances. Kalamazoo goalie Jeremy Duchesne played well, but gave up many rebounds and Charlotte couldn’t seem to take advantage. Matt Stefanishion and David Marshall recorded the lone tallies for the Checkers.
Feb. 28 @ Kalamazoo (L 4-2)
Charlotte out-shot and out-chanced Kalamazoo but came up empty-handed as they dropped a 4-2 decision. Wiikman made 24 saves in a losing cause in his first start since Jan. 29, a 5-2 win over Johnstown. With the loss, the Checkers dropped to sixth place in the American conference, one back of Florida with two games in hand. Charlotte holds on to an eight point lead over ninth-place Gwinnett in the hunt for playoff positioning as the top eight teams in the conference qualify for postseason action.
NOTES:
The Checkers are 8-1-1 in their last 10 home games…Kevin Schaeffer has three goals in his last four games including two short-handed tallies…Ryan Munce is 7-3-1 in his last 11 games…Julien Brouillette ranks tied for second among ECHL defensemen with 13 goals…Andrew Carroll leads the team with 23 goals and ranks tied for fifth among all ECHL rookies…T.J. Reynolds ranks second in the ECHL with 224 penalty minutes and is tied for third in overall plus-minus with a +22 rating…Julien Brouillette and Derek Couture are up with Hartford (AHL), Ethan Graham is with Texas (AHL) while Matt Ford and Randy Rowe are with Lake Erie (AHL)…Codey Burki, Chris Chappell, Trevor Glass and Chris Snavely are on the 21-day injured reserve.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
3/3 Add Kenny Roche Returned from Hartford (AHL)
3/3 Add Devin DiDiomete Assigned by Hartford (AHL)
2/28 Delete Julien Brouillette Loaned to Hartford (AHL)
2/28 Add Miika Wiikman Re-assigned by New York Rangers
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)
UPCOMING GAMES:
The Checkers will host Cincinnati tonight at 7 p.m. and ticket information can be found at www.gocheckers.com or by calling 704-342-4ICE. The team will then travel to Wheeling (Friday) and Toledo (Saturday and Sunday) this weekend. Fans can hear Jason Shaya call all of the action or watch the games on B2 Networks at www.gocheckers.com.
