CrossFit Shootout
The inaugural Checkers CrossFit Shootout was held Saturday, Dec. 1, at Time Warner Cable Arena with 250 competitors from 40 local gyms, raising more than $2,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project. Competitors performed three rounds of one-minute workouts, consisting of rows, push presses, slam balls and kettle bell swings. For more information on the Wounded Warrior Project, please visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.Teddy Bear Toss
The Checkers’ annual Teddy Bear Toss was held Friday, Dec. 7, when the team played host to the Lake Erie Monsters. The team collected more than 2,000 stuffed animals for the kids at Presbyterian Hemby Children’s Hospital, which will be delivered in mid-January. Special thanks go out to Carolina Panthers tight end Gary Barnidge, Wells Fargo, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment and Bar Cocoa for donating bears to the cause.Hemby Christmas Party
Checkers players Justin Faulk and Riley Nash attended the yearly holiday party at Presbyterian Hemby Children's Hospital on Dec. 19. They helped build ginger bread houses and spread holiday cheer to the kids and families spending the holidays in the hospital.Public Skating
Checkers players Nicolas Blanchard, Zach Boychuk, Zac Dalpe and Michal Jordan skated with Speedway Children’s Charities grant recipients and fans on Dec. 4 at the Coca-Cola Family Ice Rink at Charlotte Motor Speedway.The Coca-Cola Family Ice Rink, operated by Extreme Ice Center, is a 5,100-square-foot rink located in the zMAX Dragway pavilion, near the entrance to the Speedway Christmas light show. The rink is open through Jan. 21. For more information, please visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.
School Visits
Throughout the month of December, Checkers players, staff members and Chubby visited several area schools. Checkers players Drayson Bowman, Sean Dolan, Justin Krueger, Riley Nash, Rasmus Rissanen, Jerome Samson, Tim Wallace and Jeremy Welsh took part in the Science of Hockey program, which demonstrates the relationship between elements of hockey and science. Meanwhile, Dolan and Justin Peters visited Reedy Creek Elementary as part of Wells Fargo’s Reading First program.