SWEET VICTORY IN HERSHEY

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(We were unable to attend or watch yesterday’s battle between the Whale and Hershey due to a prior commitment to do our standup comedy at a fundraiser. – It went very well in case you’re interested. We will watch the replay and repost something later.)

BY: Brian Ring

Hershey, PA, February 4, 2012 – The Connecticut Whale defeated the Hershey Bears, 4-1, Saturday night at the Giant Center to win their second straight game. Tommy Grant scored twice for the Whale and goaltender Chad Johnson made 39 saves in the victory.

The win, coupled with Bridgeport’s loss to Manchester, moved the Whale back into a share of first place in the Northeast Division with 51 points.

JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS…

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Rosanne Rosannadanna was a character created by Gilda Radner on Saturday Night Live back in the 1970’s.  Rosanne used to do “Weekend Update” with Chevy Chase and would always end here reports with the phrase, “Well, if it’s not-one-thing-it’s-another. If it’s not (Fill in the blank) then it’s (something really silly).” That sentiment so perfectly summarizes the Connecticut Whale’s 5-3 loss to the Hershey Bears in front of 3,027 Friday night at the XL Center.

Kris Newbury was at his locker when a loose cinder block somewhere in the ceiling became loose and fell coming through the dropped ceiling and hitting his shin guards and the name plate, changing direction and not hitting the Whale’s top centerman.

BEST GOALTENDERS IN THE AHL

PENGUINS’ THIESSEN, CURRY WIN HARRY “HAP” HOLMES MEMORIAL AWARD

SPRINGFIELD, MA … The American Hockey League has announced that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins goaltenders Brad Thiessen and John Curry have won the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award for the 2010-11 season. Since 1972, the award has been presented to the goaltenders on the team which allows the fewest goals in the regular season.

GOALTENDING

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON’S BRAD THIESSEN NAMED
AHL’s OUTSTANDING GOALTENDER FOR 2010-2011

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Brad Thiessen of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins has been named the winner of the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding goaltender for the 2010-11 season, as voted by coaches, players and members of the media in each of the league’s 30 cities.

CHECKERS DOUBLED UP BY BEARS

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CHECKERS ROAD WIN STREAK SNAPPED IN 6-3 LOSS TO BEARS
Charlotte handed first regulation loss away from home since Oct. 24

HERSHEY, Pa. – The Charlotte Checkers gave up a pair of late first period goals and could not recover as they were doubled up, 6-3, by the Hershey Bears on Sunday afternoon.

It was the first regulation loss on the road for the Checkers since Oct. 24, snapping a 7-0-1 streak away from Charlotte.

DOV GRUMET-MORRIS NAMED GOALIE OF THE WEEK AGAIN

One of the great mysteries to us is why Dov Grumet-Morris is not playing in the American League. In the games we’ve seen him play we thought he was solid and he’s really kicking it in the ECHL. Someone is going to grab this guy and have on fine goaltender.

BEARS STRIKE EARLY, DOWN CHECKERS, 5-2

VERSUS

BEARS STRIKE EARLY, DOWN CHECKERS, 5-2
Charlotte splits two-game series with defending champs

The Charlotte Checkers fell behind early and could not recover as they were downed 5-2 by the defending champion Hershey Bears on Tuesday evening in Charlotte.

The loss snapped a seven-game undefeated-in-regulation streak for Charlotte who went 4-0-3 over that span. Bears forward Kyle Greentree led the way offensively with two goals while Chris Terry scored for the Checkers to extend his point streak to six games (5g, 3a).

Hershey opened the scoring with two quick goals, early in the first period. Boyd Kane forced a turnover in the Charlotte zone and fed Francois Bouchard, who scored on a wrist-shot from the high slot at 5:58. Then, just 56 seconds later, a turnover in the Checkers’ end sent the puck to Greentree, who banked a shot off of Pogge’s stick and in from the side of the net.

Charlotte pulled goaltender Justin Pogge for Mike Murphy, after 6:54, to try to swing the momentum.

The Checkers began to create scoring chances, including a shot by Drayson Bowman that beat Bears netminder Dany Sabourin but rang off the post.

Hershey made it a 3-0 game at 13:58 of the second period when Patrick Wellar blasted a slap shot from the point to beat Murphy.

Terry got the Checkers on the board late in the second period when he and Jerome Samson broke in on a 2-on-1. Samson carried the puck down the right-wing side and slid a pass over to Terry, who redirected it into the back of the net.

Charlotte outshot Hershey 19-8 in the second period but could only manage one goal on the scoreboard.

Zac Dalpe cut the Hershey lead to 3-2, 47 seconds into the third period. From the corner, Jacob Micflikier sent a pass to the top of the crease to Dalpe, who put the puck into the top corner of the net.

The Bears regained their two-goal lead when Greentree buried his fourth goal of the two-game series. Greentree, hanging out in front of the net, picked up a rebound and flicked it over a sprawling Murphy.

Charlotte pulled Murphy with 1:59 left for an extra attacker, but couldn’t beat Sabourin. Kane iced the game for Hershey when he lofted the puck into the empty net to win, 5-2.

The Checkers (6-7-3) will host Bridgeport (5-7-0), the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, for a pair of games on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4423 or visiting www.gocheckers.com.

NOTES:

Chris Terry extended his point scoring streak to six games (5g, 3a)…Jerome Samson ranks tied for third in the league in goals (9), and first in the league in shots (84)…Zack FitzGerald leads the league in penalty minutes (73)…The Checkers are 4-1-3 in their last eight games.

Hershey Bears 5 at Charlotte Checkers 2 – Status: Final
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 – Time Warner Cable Arena

Hershey 2 1 2 – 5
Charlotte 0 1 1 – 2

1st Period-1, Hershey, Bouchard 3 (Kane), 5:58. 2, Hershey, Greentree 6 (Bouchard), 6:54. Penalties-Collins Her (interference), 1:05; McNeill Her (fighting), 6:57; Blanchard Cha (fighting), 6:57.

2nd Period-3, Hershey, Wellar 1 (Collins), 13:58. 4, Charlotte, Terry 8 (Samson, Graham), 17:21. Penalties-Bruess Her (hooking), 3:22; Fahey Her (cross-checking), 9:44.

3rd Period-5, Charlotte, Dalpe 3 (Micflikier, Osala), 0:47. 6, Hershey, Greentree 7 (Finley, Fahey), 5:09. 7, Hershey, Kane 5   18:30 (EN). Penalties-McNeill Her (hooking), 10:25; Samson Cha (double minor – high-sticking), 12:31.

Shots on Goal-Hershey 9-8-9-26. Charlotte 6-19-14-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 0 / 2; Charlotte 0 / 4.
Goalies-Hershey, Sabourin 1-4-0 (39 shots-37 saves). Charlotte, Pogge 3-4-0 (3 shots-1 saves); Murphy 3-3-2 (22 shots-20 saves).
A-3,659
Referees-Jason Rollins (37).
Linesmen-Mike Sheehan, Mark Hamlett (81).

CHECKERS TAME BEARS

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CHECKERS OUTLAST DEFENDING CHAMPS, 4-2
Muphy stumps Hershey offense with 42-save performance

For the second straight game, the Charlotte Checkers witnessed an outstanding performance from their starting goaltender and outlasted the defending champion Hershey Bears, 4-2.

The Checkers have now picked up points in seven straight games (4-0-3).

Mike Murphy made 42 saves, including a flurry in the final two minutes, for his third win of the season. Chris Terry scored the game-winning goal and added an assist to extend his point streak to five games (4g, 3a) while Jerome Samson scored two goals including the insurance marker into the empty net.
Charlotte opened the second period with a 5-on-3 power play for 1:09 and did not squander the opportunity. Samson took a pass from Rodney at the bottom of the left-wing circle and banked it off a defender past Hershey goaltender Dany Sabourin. Drayson Bowman picked up the second assist on the play.

Zac Dalpe would double the Checkers’ lead on the power play, less than two minutes later. Dalpe fired a wrist shot from the right point through a screen by Zach Boychuk and past the blocker of Sabourin. Boychuk and Bowman recorded the assists on the play.

Terry made it 3-0 for Charlotte at the 7:32 mark of the second period. Terry was sent in on a breakaway by Boychuk, held off two Bears defenders, deked Sabourin and tucked the puck home with one hand on his stick.

The Checkers got into penalty trouble late in the second period and were forced to kill off a 5-on-3 for 1:57. Mike Murphy stood tall for the Checkers making saves through traffic and foiled any second chance opportunities the Bears could muster.

Kyle Greentree would cut the Charlotte lead to 3-1, three minutes into the third period, with a power-play goal. The Bears’ power play moved the puck around fluidly in the offensive zone before Greentree snapped a shot from the right-wing dot that beat Murphy far side, off the post and in.

The Bears then pulled within one goal with 8:20 to go in the third period. Greentree banked the puck in off a defender from behind the net for his second of the game.

Hershey applied pressure late in the game but Murphy stopped everything that was thrown his way. Samson potted an empty-net goal with five seconds to play and Charlotte walked away with a 4-2 victory.

The Checkers (6-6-3) will host Hershey again Tuesday at 7 p.m. before hosting Bridgeport for a pair of games on Thursday and Friday. Ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4423 or visiting www.gocheckers.com.

NOTES:

The Checkers are undefeated in regulation in their last seven games (4-0-3)…Chris Terry extended his point scoring streak to five games (4g, 3a)…Jerome Samson ranks second in the league in goals (9), and first in the league in shots (83)…Zack FitzGerald leads the league in penalty minutes (73)…Mike Murphy is second among rookie goaltenders in goals against average (2.22) and second in save percentage (.927).

SCORESHEET:

Hershey Bears 2 at Charlotte Checkers 4 – Status: Final
Sunday, November 7, 2010 – Time Warner Cable Arena

Hershey 0 0 2 – 2
Charlotte 0 3 1 – 4

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Bellemore Cha (interference), 4:06; Terry Cha (hooking), 6:05; Collins Her (tripping), 8:43; Rome Her (interference), 13:29; Boychuk Cha (hooking), 14:19; Miskovic Her (tripping), 19:08; Beagle Her (double minor – high-sticking), 19:29; Kane Her (misconduct – abuse of officials), 19:29.

2nd Period-1, Charlotte, Samson 8 (Bowman, Rodney), 0:40 (PP). 2, Charlotte, Dalpe 2 (Boychuk, Bowman), 2:35 (PP). 3, Charlotte, Terry 7 (Boychuk), 7:32. Penalties-Blanchard Cha (interference), 2:44; Pinizzotto Her (fighting), 3:18; Herauf Cha (fighting), 3:18; FitzGerald Cha (tripping), 17:41.

3rd Period-4, Hershey, Greentree 4 (Fahey, Willsie), 2:58 (PP). 5, Hershey, Greentree 5 (Fahey, Gordon), 11:40 (PP). 6, Charlotte, Samson 9 (Dalpe, Terry), 19:55 (EN). Penalties-Chaput Cha (tripping), 2:21; Micflikier Cha (tripping), 10:59.

Shots on Goal-Hershey 12-14-18-44. Charlotte 5-13-6-24.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 2 / 7; Charlotte 2 / 5.
Goalies-Hershey, Sabourin 1-4-0 (23 shots-20 saves). Charlotte, Murphy 3-3-2 (44 shots-42 saves).
A-5,644
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Alex Stagnone, Paul Carnathan (93).