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Charlotte Checkers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, seeCharlotte Checkers (disambiguation).
Charlotte Checkers
CityCharlotte, North Carolina
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
ConferenceEastern
DivisionAtlantic
Founded1990
Home arenaBojangles Coliseum
ColorsRed, black, silver, white
Owner(s)Zawyer Sports & Entertainment
General managerGregory Campbell
Head coachGeordie Kinnear
CaptainZac Dalpe
Media
AHL.TV (Internet)
AffiliatesFlorida Panthers(NHL)
Savannah Ghost Pirates(ECHL)
Franchise history
1990–1993Capital District Islanders
1993–2010Albany River Rats
2010–presentCharlotte Checkers
Championships
Regular season titles1(2018–19)
Division titles2(2018–19,2021–22)
Conference titles1(2018–19)
Calder Cups1(2018–19)
Current uniform
Current season

TheCharlotte Checkersare a minor-league professionalice hockeyteam based inCharlotte, North Carolina.They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in theAmerican Hockey League(AHL), and are the top minor league affiliate of theFlorida Panthersof theNational Hockey League(NHL). The Checkers play their home games atBojangles' Coliseum.

The current organization is the third team by this name; it succeeded aCheckers franchisethat played in theECHLfrom 1993 until the end of the2009–10 ECHL season.The original Checkers teamplayed in the city from 1956 to 1977, originally in theEastern Hockey Leagueand then in theSouthern Hockey League.The franchise is one of six teams to replace and share a name with a predecessor franchise from a lower-tier league; the others are theBakersfield Condors,Colorado Eagles,Ontario Reign,Rockford IceHogs,andSan Diego Gulls.

History[edit]

The franchise was originally based inTroy, New York,as theCapital District Islandersfrom 1990 to 1993. They then became theAlbany River Ratsfrom 1993 to 2010, until the River Rats were sold to MAK Hockey, LLC, led by Charlotte beer distributorMichael Kahn,owner of theECHL Checkers.[1]The new ownership relocated the team to Charlotte for the2010–11season, renaming the franchise the "Charlotte Checkers", and relinquished the ECHL franchise to the league.[2][3]

The Checkers are the second North Carolina-based team to play at the highest level of minor-league hockey, following theCarolina Monarchs,who played inGreensborofrom 1995 to 1997. The Checkers inherited the River Rats' affiliation with theCarolina Hurricanes,in keeping with a recent trend to have NHL teams' top affiliates geographically close to their parent teams in order to ease movement between the AHL and the NHL.

The AHL Checkers' first home game was October 15, 2010 at theTime Warner Cable Arenain front of 12,512 spectators, which set an attendance record for a hockey game in Charlotte.[4]On February 26, 2011, the attendance record was broken as 12,933 fans watched the Checkers defeat theConnecticut Whale1–0.[5]Almost a year later, on February 25, 2012, the attendance record was broken yet again as 13,102 fans watched the Checkers fall to theOklahoma City Barons,3–2.[6]On April 11, 2015, the attendance record was broken a third time as 13,219 fans watched the last Checkers game at Time Warner Cable Arena, a 2–0 loss to theRockford IceHogs.[7]

In late 2014, the Checkers announced they would return in the following season to theBojangles' Coliseum,the home of the previous Checkers teams until 2005.[8]As Kahn detailed, the move would reconnect with said team legacy. Additionally, having a dedicated arena allowed for "greater control over every aspect of our business, including scheduling, amenities, game presentation and sponsorship inventory." To make sure the Coliseum was up to AHL standards, the Charlotte City Council arranged to provide $16 million to fund renovations.[9][10]While Time Warner Cable Arena had been one of the largest arenas in the AHL, it left much to be desired as a hockey venue. It seated 14,100 people, but over 4,000 seats had obstructed views.[11]

Panoramic view ofBojangles' Coliseumfor Game 2 of the 2019 Calder Cup Finals, against theChicago Wolves.

In Charlotte on May 9 and 10, 2018, in game four of the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs, the Checkers and theLehigh Valley Phantomsplayed the longest game in the history of the American Hockey League. A 1–1 tie was broken by a Phantoms' goal at 6:48 of the fifth overtime period, more than six hours after the game began. The Checkers made 95 shots against Lehigh Valley goalieAlex Lyon.[12]

The 2018–19 season was the Checkers' best season as an AHL team to date and one of the best in Charlotte's hockey history. They won their first division title with 110 points and theMacgregor Kilpatrick Trophyfor the league's best regular season record. It was the first time a Charlotte hockey team had broken the 100-point barrier since the SHL Checkers earned 101 points in 1974–75. They defeated the defending championToronto Marliesin the Eastern Conference finals to advance to their first Calder Cup final. They defeated theChicago Wolvesin five games to win their first AHL title, and the seventh hockey championship by a Charlotte-based team.[13]

The following2019–20 seasonwas curtailed by theCOVID-19 pandemicand the Calder Cup was not awarded. Following the cancelled postseason, the Hurricanes ended their affiliation with the Checkers after ten seasons,[14]resulting in the Checkers affiliating with theFlorida Panthersbeginning with the 2020–21 season. However, due to the ongoing restrictions during the pandemic, the Checkers were one of three teams that opted out of the2020–21 AHL season.[15]When the Checkers returned for the2021–22 season,they remained the primary affiliate of the Panthers, but agreed to also serve as the affiliate for the 2021–22 expansion teamSeattle Kraken.The Kraken's general managerRon Francisformerly worked for the Hurricanes when the team was still affiliated with the Checkers.[16]

Season-by-season results[edit]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Games Won Lost OTL SOL Points PCT Goals
for 		Goals
against 		Standing Year Prelims 1st
round 		2nd
round 		3rd
round 		Finals
2010–11 80 44 27 2 7 97 .606 265 243 3rd, East 2011 — W, 4–2,HER W, 4–2,WBS L, 0–4,BNG —
2011–12 76 38 29 3 6 85 .559 209 214 3rd, Midwest 2012 Did not qualify
2012–13 76 42 26 4 4 92 .605 226 202 2nd, South 2013 — L, 2–3,OKC — — —
2013–14 76 37 36 1 2 77 .507 228 241 4th, West 2014 Did not qualify
2014–15 76 31 38 6 1 69 .454 172 231 4th, West 2015 Did not qualify
2015–16 76 36 32 3 5 80 .526 214 229 5th, Central 2016 Did not qualify
2016–17 76 39 29 7 1 86 .566 212 208 4th, Central 2017 — L, 2–3,CHI — — —
2017–18 76 46 26 1 3 96 .632 261 212 3rd, Atlantic 2018 — W, 3–0,WBS L, 1–4,LV — —
2018–19 76 51 17 7 1 110 .724 255 189 1st, Atlantic 2019 — W, 3–1,PRO W, 4–0,HER W, 4–2,TOR W, 4–1,CHI
2019–20 61 34 22 5 0 73 .598 202 172 3rd, Atlantic 2020 Season cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 Did not participate due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Did not participate
2021–22 72 42 24 5 1 90 .625 234 197 1st, Atlantic 2022 BYE W, 3–1,BRI L, 0–3,SPR — —
2022–23 72 39 25 5 3 86 .597 235 220 3rd, Atlantic 2023 W, 2–1,LV L, 1–3,HER — — —
2023–24 72 39 26 7 0 85 .590 217 203 4th, Atlantic 2024 L, 1–2,HFD — — — —

Players[edit]

Current roster[edit]

Updated July 17, 2024.[17][18]

Team roster
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
– Canada Andre Anania D L 21 2024 Richmond Hill, Ontario Checkers
– Canada Ken Appleby G L 29 2024 North Bay, Ontario Checkers
– United States Jamie Armstrong LW L 25 2024 Warwick, Rhode Island Checkers
– Canada Liam Arnsby C R 20 2024 Ajax, Ontario Checkers
13 United States Riley Bezeau RW R 22 2022 Mansfield, Massachusetts Checkers
31 United States Cooper Black G L 23 2024 Alpena, Michigan Panthers
17 United States Skyler Brind'Amour C L 24 2023 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Checkers
– Canada Trevor Carrick D L 30 2024 Stouffville, Ontario Checkers
22 United States Dennis Cesana D R 26 2022 Providence, Rhode Island Checkers
34 Canada Evan Cormier G L 26 2023 Bowmanville, Ontario Checkers
– United States Kyle Criscuolo C R 32 2024 Southampton Township, New Jersey Checkers
21 Canada Zac Dalpe(C) C R 34 2021 Paris, Ontario Panthers
– Canada Riese Gaber RW R 24 2024 Gilbert Plains, Manitoba Checkers
1 United States Mack Guzda G L 23 2022 Knoxville, Tennessee Checkers
– Canada Riley Hughes RW R 24 2024 Westwood, Massachusetts Checkers
– United States John Leonard LW L 25 2024 Amherst, Massachusetts Checkers
23 Canada Ryan McAllister C L 22 2023 London, Ontario Panthers
– United States Aidan McDonough LW L 24 2024 Milton, Massachusetts Checkers
26 Canada Evan Nause D L 21 2023 White Rock, British Columbia Panthers
– United States Jay O'Brien C R 24 2024 Hingham, Massachusetts Checkers
20 United States Keaton Pehrson D R 25 2024 Lakeville, Minnesota Checkers
12 Canada Kai Schwindt LW L 20 2023 Breslau, Ontario Panthers
25 Sweden Wilmer Skoog C L 25 2023 Stockholm,Sweden Panthers
40 United States Nathan Staios D L 23 2022 Atlanta, Georgia Panthers
6 United States Ben Steeves LW L 22 2024 Bedford, New Hampshire Panthers
7 Canada Zach Uens D L 23 2022 Belleville, Ontario Panthers
8 Canada Mitchell Vande Sompel D L 27 2024 London, Ontario Checkers
– Canada Nicholas Zabaneh C L 23 2024 Toronto, Ontario Checkers

Team captains[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Capital District Sports announce River Rats sale".Albany River Rats.February 10, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2010.RetrievedJune 16,2010.
  2. ^"AHL Hockey coming to Charlotte in 2010-11".Charlotte Checkers.February 15, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon February 19, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 15,2010.
  3. ^"Charlotte added to AHL for 2010-11".American Hockey League.February 10, 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-02-15.RetrievedFebruary 10,2010.
  4. ^"CHECKERS DOUBLED UP, 4-2, IN HISTORIC OPENER".Charlotte Checkers.October 15, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon November 24, 2010.RetrievedNovember 13,2021.
  5. ^"CHECKERS BLANK WHALE IN FRONT OF RECORD CROWD!".Charlotte Checkers.February 26, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon March 15, 2012.RetrievedNovember 13,2021.
  6. ^Lasko, Seth (April 10, 2015)."Charlotte Checkers looking to leave Time Warner Cable Arena with team attendance record".The Charlotte Observer.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-09-15.RetrievedApril 10,2015.
  7. ^Niedzielski, Nicholas (April 11, 2015)."Checkers fall to Rockford in front of record crowd".Charlotte Checkers.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-04-18.RetrievedApril 11,2015.
  8. ^Brough, Jason (November 25, 2014)."The Charlotte Checkers would like to move back to Bojangles' Coliseum".NBC Sports.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-09-06.RetrievedNovember 25,2014.
  9. ^Branecky, Paul (December 9, 2014)."Checkers Make Return to Bojangles' Coliseum Official".Charlotte Checkers.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-02-09.RetrievedDecember 9,2014.
  10. ^Spanberg, Erik (February 10, 2015)."Council backs Charlotte Checkers, arena".Charlotte Business Journal.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-02-14.RetrievedFebruary 10,2015.
  11. ^"Charlotte City Council Approves Funding to Renovate Bojangles' Coliseum".Charlotte Checkers.December 8, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-02-19.RetrievedAugust 4,2018.
  12. ^"MARATHON MEN: PHANTOMS WIN LONGEST AHL GAME EVER".American Hockey League.May 10, 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-05-10.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  13. ^Niedzielski, Nicholas (June 9, 2019)."CHECKERS WIN CALDER CUP CHAMPIONSHIP".Charlotte Checkers.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-06-10.RetrievedNovember 13,2021.
  14. ^"Wolves forge partnership with Carolina Hurricanes".Chicago Wolves.September 10, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-09-29.RetrievedSeptember 10,2020.
  15. ^"28 teams to participate in 2020-21 AHL season".American Hockey League.January 4, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-01-04.RetrievedJanuary 4,2021.
  16. ^Pelletier, Justin (July 2, 2021)."No longer affiliated with the Canes, the AHL's Checkers now have two NHL parent clubs".The Herald-Sun.RetrievedJuly 3,2021.
  17. ^"Charlotte Checkers Team Roster".Charlotte Checkers.July 17, 2024.RetrievedJuly 17,2024.
  18. ^"Charlotte Checkers current roster".Elite Prospects.July 17, 2024.RetrievedJuly 17,2024.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charlotte_Checkers&oldid=1235153621"