Checkers News

The summer is over and the 2019-20 season is underway, as the Checkers kicked off the new year with a road split.

Week in Review

Hartford 5, Checkers 3

Charlotte’s title defense had a rough start as five straight Wolf Pack tallies sunk the Checkers in game one, despite a late push from the visitors. Full recap

Checkers 4, Springfield 2

The Checkers righted the ship the next night, riding a strong start and snuffing out a rally attempt from the Thunderbirds en route to their first win of the new season. Full recap

Three Stars Of The Week

FIVE NOTABLES

1) OPENING UP

With Saturday’s loss to Hartford, Charlotte fell to 5-4-1 all time in season openers – all of which have come on the road. The Checkers were also the first Calder Cup champion since 2011 to lose their opener the following season.

2) WELCOME BACK KUOKS

After missing the back half of last season due to injury, Janne Kuokkanen suited up for his first game since March 2 on Saturday. Having recorded a point in seven of his last nine games last season, the Finn kept the ball rolling by lighting the lamp on Saturday and then adding an assist on Saturday.

3) NEW GUYS CHIP IN

Playing in their first games in a Checkers sweater, Dave Gust, Brian Gibbons, Hunter Shinkaruk and Chase Priskie all recorded a point on Saturday. Add in a goal by Anthony Louis on Sunday and five different skaters notched their first points as a Checker over the weekend.

4) CAPTAIN Q

Roland McKeown was named the sixth captain in Checkers history last week and then turned in a dominant two games to open the season. The blueliner tallied four assists over the weekend, including a career-high three in Sunday’s win alone.

5) SPECIAL TEAMS SOAR

It’s a small sample size, but Charlotte’s special teams have looked strong through the first two games of the season. The Checkers have been on the power play six times thus far and lit the lamp on three of them, while also killing 10 of their own 11 penalties, including a perfect 7-for-7 showing on Sunday against a Springfield team that boasted the league’s best power play last season.

RANKS

• Roland McKeown leads the AHL in assists (4) and is tied for the lead in points (4), powerplay assists (2) and power-play points (2)
• Julien Gauthier is tied for second in the AHL in goals (2)
• Anton Forsberg is tied for 10th in the AHL in goals-against average (2.00)
• Jake Bean is tied for second among league defensemen in points (2) and assists (2)

INJURIES

• Stelio Mattheos - Missed two games starting 10/5
• Spencer Smallman - Missed two games starting 10/5
• Max McCormick - Missed two games starting 10/5

Transactions

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Outgoing

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Coming Up

By the Numbers

CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	50.0%	2nd	N/A
Penalty kill	90.9%	13th	N/A
Goals per game	3.50	t-10th	N/A
Shots per game	34.50	7th	N/A
Goals allowed per game	3.50	t-21st	N/A
Shots allowed per game	29.00	t-14th	N/A
Penalty minutes per game	12.00	t-12th	N/A

LEADERS

CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Roland McKeown (4), Five tied (2)
Goals	Julien Gauthier (2), Five tied (1)
Assists	Roland McKeown (4), Jake Bean, Brian Gibbons (2)
Power play goals	Julien Gauthier, Morgan Geekie, Dave Gust (1)
Shorthanded goals	None
Game-winning goals	Anthony Louis (1)
Shots on goal	Julien Gauthier (8), Morgan Geekie (7), Four tied (5)
Penalty minutes	Gustav Forsling, Julien Gauthier, Brian Gibbons (4)
Plus/minus	Six tied (+1)
Wins	Anton Forsberg (1)
Goals-against average	Anton Forsberg (2.00)
Save percentage	Anton Forsberg (.943)