The Checkers kicked off one of the busiest stretches of their schedule by claiming a road win in Hartford before splitting their first home series of 2022 against the Stars.

Week in Review

Team Statistics

  • Overall record
    17-13-2-0
  • Home record
    8-6-2-0
  • Road record
    9-7-0-0
  • Last week's record
    2-1-0-0
  • Last 10 games
    7-3-0-0
  • Division Standings
    5th
  • Conference Standings
    8th
  • League Standings
    15th

Checkers 2, Hartford 1 (OT)

The Checkers wrapped up their first road trip of the calendar year by locking in a defensive battle against the Wolf Pack. Joey Daccord continued his stellar play and put up 29 saves, while Grigori Denisenko single handedly carried the offense - tying the game at one midway through the third period and then netting the overtime winner just under two minutes into the extra frame. Full recap

Checkers 8, Texas 3

Charlotte’s offense exploded in their return home against Texas, with Serron Noel’s first-period hat trick leading the way. After being deadlocked at two midway through the first, the Checkers pumped in six unanswered tallies to blow the Stars out of the water and claim a victory on Charlotte Night. Full recap

Checkers 5, Texas 6

The Checkers couldn’t replicate that success in the following day’s rematch, however. Playing in front of a small crowd due to a winter storm, Charlotte and Texas traded blows throughout the contest until Aleksi Heponiemi drew things to a 4-4 tie early on in the third. The Stars quickly responded with a pair of goals of their own, however, to reestablish their lead, and despite Kole Lind’s buzzer-beating power-play strike, the Checkers couldn’t muster a comeback. Full recap



Three Stars Of The Week

Carrick

3rd Star

Connor Carrick

1g, 3a
Tippett

2nd Star

Owen Tippett

0g, 4a
Noel

1st Star

Serron Noel

3g, 0a

NOTABLES

NOEL'S BIG NIGHT

Serron Noel lit the lamp three times in the first period of Charlotte’s big 8-3 win over Texas on Saturday, picking up his first pro hat trick. It marked the first hat trick by a Checkers player on home ice since Janne Kuokkanen did it in 2018, and it is only the second time a player has scored three goals in a single period in franchise history - joining Zach Boychuk’s third-period hat trick in 2014.

DACCORD STEPS UP

After spending much of the first chunk of the season rotating through a stable of goalies, the coaching staff has leaned heavily on Joey Daccord as of late. Saturday’s win over Texas marked the fifth consecutive start for the netminder - prior to that, no Checkers goalie had started more than two games in a row this season. Daccord has won five of his last six starts and has given up a single goal in four of his last seven appearances. Those strong performances have pushed Daccord to rank fourth in the AHL in both goals-against average and save percentage.

STILL TIPPETT

Having been assigned to Charlotte just before the weekend slate of games, Owen Tippett showed up big in his first games wearing a Checkers sweater. The forward picked up two assists in each contest and now has 19 points in his last 12 AHL games dating back to the 2019-20 season.

LIGHTING IT UP

After a dip in production that saw them score 10 total goals over a five-game stretch, the Checkers got back to their high-scoring ways against the Stars by pumping in 13 goals over the two-game series. Charlotte now boasts the fifth-ranked offense in the AHL and have scored over five goals eight different times this season.

OUT WEST

The two-game set with Texas marked the only time that a Western Conference team will visit Bojangles Coliseum this regular season, as the Stars are the only Western Conference team on Charlotte’s schedule. Those contests marked the first time the Checkers have faced a Western Conference opponent during the regular season since 2016-17 - the last season the Checkers themselves were in the Western Conference.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Serron Noel racks up the first hat trick of his career!

RANKS

  • Joey Daccord ranks fourth in the AHL in goals-against average (2.18) and save percentage (.925)
  • Cole Schwindt is tied for the lead among AHL rookies in plus-minus (+14) and tied for sixth overall
  • Cole Schwindt is tied for eighth among AHL rookies in goals (9)
  • Kole Lind ranks fifth in the AHL in penalty minutes
  • Kole Lind and Zac Dalpe are tied for eighth in the AHL in power-play goals (5)
  • Logan Hutsko ranks ninth among AHL rookies in scoring (22)
  • Logan Hutsko is tied for ninth among league rookies in assists (15)
  • Cale Fleury is tied for sixth among AHL defensemen in goals (5)
  • Connor Carrick and Cale Fleury are tied for the lead among AHL defensemen in power-play goals (3)

INJURIES

  • Grigori Denisenko - Out since 1/15
  • Gustav Olofsson - Out since 1/12
  • Max Gildon - Out since 12/19
  • Chris Gibson - Out since 12/3
  • John Ludvig - Out since 11/12

Transactions

Incoming

  • Jan. 14 - Aleksi Heponiemi - Assigned from Florida (NHL)
  • Jan. 14 - Owen Tippett - Assigned from Florida (NHL)

Outgoing

  • Jan. 14 - Nick Albano - Released from PTO


Coming Up

Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. - Checkers vs. Springfield

Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. - Checkers vs. Springfield

Central Carolina Acura Dealers
  • 50s Week - throwback pricing! Hot dogs, popcorn and soda available for just $1 each.
  • College Night presented by Central Carolina Acura Dealers - get $18 best available tickets with your valid college email address

Saturday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. - Checkers vs. Lehigh Valley

  • Country Music Night - get a ticket and a limited edition cowboy boot koozie together for just $25 total. Click here to purchase.

Sunday, Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. - Checkers vs. Lehigh Valley

World Travel MatesNovant Health
  • Olympics Night presented by World Travel Mates - gold medal giveaway to the first 750 fans
  • Postgame Skate presented by Novant Health. Details pending AHL COVID-19 protocols.

By the Numbers

CATEGORY RECORD AHL RANK
Power play 22.1% 5th
Penalty kill 82.6% t-9th
Goals per game 3.44 5th
Shots per game 28.91 20th
Goals allowed per game 3.00 12th
Shots allowed per game 28.66 8th
Penalty minutes per game 11.34 25th


LEADERS

CATEGORY LEADER(S)
Points Logan Hutsko (22), Cole Schwindt (20), Four tied (18)
Goals Scott Wilson (11), Kole Lind, Zac Dalpe (10)
Assists Logan Hutsko (15), Aleksi Heponiemi, Connor Carrick (12)
Power play goals Kole Lind, Zac Dalpe (5), Three tied (3)
Shorthanded goals Cole Schwindt (2), Max McCormick, Scott Wilson, Alex True (1)
Game-winning goals Max McCormick, Grigori Denisenko (3), Scott Wilson (2)
Shots on goal Zac Dalpe (83), Connor Carrick (66), Chase Priskie (64)
Penalty minutes Kole Lind (62), Connor Carrick (39), Cale Fleury (25)
Plus/minus Cole Schwindt (+14), Lucas Carlsson (+9), Luke Henman, Chase Priskie (+6)
Wins Joey Daccord (8)
Goals-against average Joey Daccord (2.18)
Save percentage Joey Daccord (.925)