RESILIENT CHECKERS BATTLE ON DESPITE INJURIES AND CALL-UPS
Newcomers Stefanishion, Crane Contribute To Wins Over Gwinnett, South Carolina
Overall Record: 28-16-6 (Home 17-5-3, Away 11-11-3)
Previous 10: 6-3-1
Standings: 2nd – South Division, 4th – American Conference
Playing shorthanded due to injuries and call-ups, the Checkers beat the league-leading Stingrays and split a two-game series with Gwinnett to pick up four important points last week. Newly-added players Matt Stefanishion and Ryan Crane each made immediate impacts. Stefanishion scored the game-winning goal in Wednesday’s win over South Carolina, his first game as a Checker, while Crane notched two goals and an assist on Saturday, also his first game in a Charlotte uniform.
The Checkers will host Toledo on Thursday at midnight before playing the next four in Gwinnett, Cincinnati and Kalamazoo. The team will then return to play 10 of the next 15 games at home where they are undefeated in regulation since Dec. 26 – a span of nine contests (8-0-1).
Feb. 10 vs. South Carolina (W 3-1)
The Checkers fell behind by one and battled back with three straight goals for a 3-1 victory over South Carolina. The game was the last ever regular season meeting between the division rivals as it was announced earlier in the day that the Checkers will begin play in the American Hockey League in 2010-11. Charlotte ends the season series with a 6-3-2 record over 11 games versus the Stingrays.
Feb. 12 @ Gwinnett (W 5-1)
Playing shorthanded and with two newly-added players, the Checkers scored five unanswered goals and downed the Gladiators. Newcomer Ryan Crane was moved from his regular post on defense to forward to fill the gap up front and led the charge with two goals and an assist in his first game. Ryan Munce stopped 25 shots for his fourth win in a row.
Feb. 13 @ Gwinnett (L 2-1)
The Checkers fell behind by two goals in the first period and could not bounce back as they were edged 2-1 by Gwinnett. Charlotte outshot the Gladiators 36-15 but netminder David Brown stopped all but one en route to his fourth win in eight tries against the Checkers. Coming into the game, the Checkers were on a four-game win streak and had picked up points in six straight games.
NOTES:
Charlotte is 8-0-1 in its last nine home games…David Marshall has seven points (3g, 4a) in his last six games…Mike Taylor is on a four-game point streak (1g, 4a)…Ryan Munce ranks fourth in the ECHL with a .911 save percentage…T.J. Reynolds leads the ECHL with 202 penalty minutes and is second in overall plus-minus with a +22 rating…Andrew Carroll, Derek Couture, Kenny Roche and Kevin Schaeffer remain 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.
MILESTONES/RECORDS:
100 career wins – Ryan Munce earned his 100th career victory in Friday’s 5-1 win over Gwinnett.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
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 host Toledo on Thursday for the Midnight Game. Puck drops at 11:59 p.m. and ticket information can be found at www.gocheckers.com or by calling 704-342-4ICE.
