THREE OF A KIND A GOOD HAND FOR GREENVILLE

GREENVILLE, SC - The Greenville Road Warriors announced today that they have signed returning forwards Connor Shields and Brandon Wong, and that they have added newcomer Brett Robinson.

Shields, 27, comes back to Greenville for his third season of professional hockey. The Dartmouth College graduate played 55 games for the Road Warriors last season and posted 47 points (16G, 31A). His point total was good for sixth most on the team despite missing the final five weeks of the season after a call up to the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. With the Admirals, Shields netted a goal and an assist in 14 games. For his career, Shields has 109 points (44G, 65A) in 125 ECHL games. He was an All-Star as a rookie in 2009-10 and led the Johnstown Chiefs for that campaign with 62 points (28G, 34A) in 70 games.

ROAD WARRIORS ANNOUNCE PLAYER MOVES

GREENVILLE, SC - The Greenville Road Warriors announced today that Andrew Rowe has been loaned to the team by the Adirondack Phantoms of the American Hockey League. Additionally, the Road Warriors have loaned Connor Shields to the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals.

MORE SCORING HELP?

The Connecticut Whale need help in the scoring department. That’s no secret to anyone.

Yesterday the Whale signed forward Francis Lemieux of the Florida Everblades who was the ECHL leader in points and today they go out and sign his teammate, Alexandre Imbeault who leads the ECHL in goals scored.

Both are expected to make their Whale debut’s at 1pm Monday afternoon.

GREENVILLE VS. WHEELING GAME PREVIEW

The Greenville Road Warriors tangle with their first non-divisional opponent tonight when they welcome the Wheeling Nailers to the BI-LO Center for a 7:05 p.m. faceoff. Tonight will be the first of six meetings this season between the Road Warriors and the Nailers.

RECAPPING THE ACTION:

11/16/10 – GRW 1 – S.C. 3

The Road Warriors dropped their third consecutive road game as they fell to the Stingrays on Tuesday night. The Stingrays’ win evened the Palmetto State Rivalry at two games apiece. South Carolina opened the scoring 4:35 into the first when Maxime Lacroix netted a power play goal off of a rebound. Aside from that, Dov Grumet-Morris was shar as he turned in 14 saves in the period. A Lacroix goal 1:33 into the third doubled the Stingrays lead before Brendan Connolly chopped it in half at 14:49 of the frame. Greenville had a great opportunity before Connolly’s goal with a 90 second 5-on-3 power play but Todd Ford made a sprawling left-leg save against Mark Voakes on the doorstep. Nikita Kashirsky added an empty-net goal with 30 seconds left to play to seal the win. Grumet-Morris finished with an impressive 35 saves on the night.

11/14/10 – WHL 0 – KAL 5
The Nailers were shut out for the fourth time this season when they lost to the Wings in Kalamazoo last Sunday. The Wings blew open a one-goal game with three tallies in the second period. Two goals came on the power play as the Wings capitalized on 12 of their man advantage opportunities. Wheeling was limited to just 22 shots in the game while rookie goalie Patrick Killeen turned in 33 saves. The game was just Wheeling’s fourth on the road so far this season and kicked off a four-game trip away from WesBanco Arena.

WHAT’S ON TAP FOR TONIGHT:

Tonight marks a renewal of rivalry, of sorts. When the Greenville Road Warriors had played as the Johnstown Chiefs in Johnstown, Pennsylvania their biggest, and longest standing, rivals were the Wheeling Nailers. During the Chiefs days the club had a record of 81-73-19 against the Nailers and their 173 games played were the most between any two clubs in the ECHL. The Nailers have some history of their own in the Carolinas as they played in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as the Thunderbirds from 1988-1992. The Thunderbirds defeated the Chiefs in front of nearly 4,200 fans at the Cambria County War Memorial in Game 7 of the first ECHL championship series (The Riley Cup Finals) in the spring of 1989.

Brendan Connolly will be counted on to continue to bring production to the Road Warriors’ offense. The second-year forward from Canmore, Alberta leads the Chiefs with eight goals this season. Five of the eight have come during his current three-game goal scoring streak. He has been particularly effective at home with five points (4G, 1A) in his last three home contests.

A trio of Road Warriors have logged plenty of travel miles this week. After traveling with the Road Warriors to Charleston and back on Tuesday Nic Riopel, Cullen Eddy, and Julien Brouillette were called up to play with the Adirondack Phantoms – Charlotte Checkers game last night in Charlotte. Eddy and Riopel went up to the Phantoms, who have each player under contract, while Brouillette went up to play for the Checkers. Riopel started in goal for the Phantoms and notched 22 saves in a 2-1 loss. Eddy had the primary assist on Adirondack’s loan goal, but Brouillette did not register a point for the Checkers. All three returned to Greenville following the game and are expected to be in uniform for the game tonight.

Please click here for Game Notes page one.
Please click here for Game Notes page two.
Please click here for Road Warriors player information.
Please click here for Nailers player information.

Tonight is a Dollar Draught Thursday at the BI-LO Center. Be sure to get here for select fountain drinks and draught beers on sale for just $1! The Road Warriors are also kicking off their Thanks for Giving Weekend with a coat drive to benefit the Salvation Army. Road Warriors fans who bring a new, or gently used, coat to donate to the drive will receive a buy-one-get-one free ticket coupon that is good for the December 14 home game against Gwinnett. For more information call the Road Warriors at 864-674-PUCK.

SPIN THE DIAL…

Nobody is saying officially what team is going to be the new ECHL affiliate for the AHL’s soon-to-be Connecticut Whalers and the parent New York Rangers.

That doesn’t mean though that talks aren’t going on.

Howlings has been checking around and has concluded that the most likely place the team will wind up having their new affiliation is with ex-Ranger’s GM, Neil Smith’s team, the Greenville Road Warriors.

Here’s the logic.

There’s obviously the connection and familiarity between Neil Smith and the New York Rangers.

Both teams are in a position of need. The Rangers need an ECHL affiliate and Smith needs to find a team to supply him with players.

When the Blueshirts had their East Coast affiliation with the Charlotte Checkers, the team had excellent attendance. Now to be fair to Charlotte, they also did an unbelievably great job in marketing their team to the community. The Checkers also put on an outstanding program night-in and night-out. Did we mention the Check-mates? They were worth watching even if the team at times wasn’t. But put that aside, Neil Smith is by a country mile, perhaps the most underrated and savvy hockey minds in the sport. Smith will not be afraid to take marketing chances and doing what he needs to do to get the job done for his team in Greenville.

For the Rangers the team would essentially be in the same area as last season. For the team to recall a player to Hartford won’t be a major concern. While it’s not exactly a ten minute ride between Charlotte and Greenville, it’s near enough that the good will from Charlotte should find it’s way to South Carolina. It’s a great area to build off the good name they established with the Checkers.

From the Road Warriors perspective, the Rangers make the most sense of just about any team available. Last season Smith’s team were the Johnstown Chiefs. They had virtually no help from their affiliate relationships. They were in a decrepit building and not drawing flies to their games. Having an affiliation with the Rangers is a boon for the team’s Stanley Cup architect. The affiliation with the team that rose him to prominence will allow him to build his brand around an “Original Six” affiliation..and one that he knows so well. For the Road Warriors, they’ll be stocked with better quality and caliber of players to establish their name in the community. With a better quality team they can be more competitive which will  in turn draw him better crowds.

It just makes sense.

If an announcement is forthcoming, it’s likely to be at the end of this month and no later than the first week in September. Then it will be up to Smith and his staff to really go to work to make this thing fly. Given his understanding of the business and his ability to get things done, I’d expect Smith to turn this one around pretty quickly.

___________________

Not that anyone asked, but this is our 1,000th posting to Howlings…yeah me….

RANGERS AND THE ECHL

Ever since the Charlotte Checkers made the announcement that they were moving up to the American League from the East Coast League, the question has been who the New York Rangers would affiliate themselves with for their players at that level.

Howlings has learned from various informed sources that the franchise that the New York Rangers are in discussions with are the Florida Everblades.

Talks between New York and Florida and are said to be ongoing and moving along well, but sources did caution that there are still lots of things to work out and no official announcement is imminent and things can change.

The Florida Everblades have been affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes. Since there are only twenty teams in the ECHL and 30 in the NHL, obviously someone’s got to share. That might be the case or perhaps that situation could change.

As an aside, maybe it’s just us, but doesn’t it seem like a shame that former Rangers General Manager Neil Smith, who was forced to move the Johnstown Chiefs, the ECHL team he owns and the last remaining original franchise, out of Pennsylvania due to lack of support from the community. So life imitated art and the Chiefs have been relocated to Greenville, South Carolina.  Wouldn’t it have been some sort of beautiful poetic justice if the Rangers could have entered into an agreement with their former GM and both parties would have been the better for it. We guess ultimately that, “Alls fair in love and hockey…”

CHECKERS MAKE MOVES

The Charlotte Checkers, currently the New York Rangers ECHL affiliate, made a pair of moves with former Rangers General Manager and current owner of the Johnstown Chiefs, Neil Smith and acquired defenseman Trevor Hendrikx and forward Mike Bartlett in exchange for future considerations General Manager and Head Coach Derek Wilkinson announced today.

It’s the trade deadline in the ECHL season. Wednesday the Checkers added a strong puck moving defenseman as the Hartford Wolf Pack reassigned David Urquhart to Charlotte.

Hendrikx, 24, has six goals, 19 assists and 164 penalty minutes in 43 games with Johnstown this season. He ranks second in penalty minutes among all ECHL defensemen behind T.J. Reynolds and his 25 points leads all Chiefs blueliners. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Ontario native has 28 goals, 63 assists and 567 penalty minutes in 205 career ECHL games. ”Trevor is a guy we’ve been after for a while,” Checkers’ general manager and head coach Derek Wilkinson said. “He’s a real rugged, tough, stay-at-home physical defenseman. He certainly makes guys pay the price to play. So he’s someone we feel will hopefully be a good addition to our lineup.”

Wilkinson also likes the sandpaper aspect of Hendrikx’s game. ”When the games get tougher and harder, he’s the kind of guy we think will be harder to play against. He’s a warrior and blocks a lot of shots and we feel we needed a little bit more of that; to get tougher down low and in front of our net come crunch time. We’re happy we were able to get a guy like him.”

T.J. Reynolds, the only person with more penalty minutes than Hendrikx, is currently our for the next couple of weeks with an undisclosed injury. “Having Trevor will help off set that loss as well.” The GM/Head Coach said.

Putting  Reynolds and Hendrikx out there together will be quite the intimidating duo. “That’s kind of the idea,” Wilkinson said with a laugh. “We really want to make sure we have that physical presence out there on the back end.”

Hendrikx played five seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Peterborough Petes prior to becoming a professional. He was drafted twice by the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets – once in 2003 and again in 2005. In 2005-06, Hendrikx helped the Petes to an OHL championship. 

Bartlett, 25, is currently with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters and has five goals and four assists in 30 games. He began the season in Johnstown where he notched 10 goals and 15 assists in 30 games before being loaned to Lake Erie in late December. 

The 6-foot, 190-pound winger is in his third professional season and played four years at the collegiate level with Notre Dame. 

“(Barlett)’s in Lake Erie and was more of a chance on our end. He added an option to us though we’re not really sure what his plans are or Lake Erie’s plans are.” Wilkinson said. “He’s playing well for them. Basically we wanted him as an option. We’re not banking on him coming any time soon. Right now (Barlett)’s an American League player and that’s where he’s going to stay. But with callups and injuries you never know where someone is going to be.”

In terms of what he brings to the table, Wilkinson likes what he sees. “He’s a great player with great speed and a right handed shot; which we lack. He brings that element of speed and grit and a scoring touch at our level. So if we have the option to add him to our playoff roster we certainly will.”

Wilkinson added, “As many options as we were able to aquire we wanted to get.”  

Urquhart, 25, began the 2008-09 season with the Checkers and registered five assists in seven games. He was then called up the Wolf Pack and added six goals and eight assists in 54 games. 

In 49 games in Hartford this season, the native of Thorold, Ontario has four assists and 34 penalty minutes. 

“He’s a great kid first and foremost. We had him a bit last year.  With (Julien) Brouilette going up there (to Hartford) and (Jared) Nightingale also being up there, David was sort of the odd-man out. I think more or less of anything it’s to get him ice time. I don’t know how long we’ll have him, but he’s a great skater, moves the puck and competes real hard. He’ll definitely help offset the loss of Brouilette. He played (Thursday) night and he played real well. He’s a great addition for us.” 

Prior to joining the professional ranks, Urquhart played four seasons at McGill University in Montreal where he notched 13 goals and 57 assists in 86 games while helping the Redmen to the OUA Queen’s Cup Championship in 2007-08 – his senior year.

Wilkinson then added that players like Derek Couture, (Hartford), or Kenny Roche (Providence), Matt Ford or Randy Rowe (both with Lake Erie) could return to Charlotte. “Anybody still in the American League can still come and play for us. Our playoff roster isn’t due until the Monday after our season ends”

SHADOW OF THEMSELVES

VERSUS

****Update****

Howlings had unconfirmed reports earlier that Miika Wiikman was returning to Hartford. The Wolf Pack have now confirmed those reports as true. Wiikman will be with the team tonight when they take on the first place Manchester Monarchs. The question now is simply the status of Steve Valiquette and Matt Zaba. Is one of them injured or could some other announcement be coming regarding one of them? (For the actual release view the bottom of the page).

_____________________________________

The already injured depleted Hartford Wolf Pack suffered not one, but two more injuries to key players Friday night as both defenseman Michael Sauer and fourth line center Ryan Garlock were added to the list of walking wounded. Combine that loss of manpower with a dreadful start with the Pack staking the visiting Lowell Devils a two-goal lead in the first 8:41 of the game, and a perfect storm scenario engulfed the home team in a 3-2 defeat in front of 4,162 at the XL Center in the first of back-to-back home dates.

Garlock left the game in the first period and Sauer left in the second with injuries undisclosed by the team. They join a who’s who of Wolf Pack hockey with NHL veteran Mathieu Dandenault still weeks away with a lower body injury; P.A. Parenteau and Corey Potter out with concussions, Bobby Sanguinetti with a lower body injury and Brent Henley and Mike Hoffman done for the season after having knee and shoulder surgery respectively.

As of right now, the Pack are only playing minus four of the six starters they opened the season with. Only Ilkka Heikkinen and Nigel Williams remain healthy from opening night. Overall, the Pack have lost five defenseman to injury this season.

“I’ve been a pro for nine years and never seen anything like this. We have to say a prayer to God.” Henley told reporters after the game.

After the game, Pack head coach Ken Gernander was on his cell phone with Derek Wilkinson in Charlotte and the decision was made to recall defenseman, Julien Brouillette (10g, 16a, 26pts along with 19PIM and a plus-11 in 39 games with the Checkers) to take Sauer’s place in the lineup. Unconfirmed reports suggest that also returning to Hartford is goaltender Miika Wiikman. The Mariestad, Sweden native has been exceptionally solid in Charlotte. The 5’11” 180-pounder has a 2.77GAA and a .909 save percentage while posting a 9-2-1 record.

The start of the game was clearly the story of this loss, the third straight for Hartford and fourth without a win (0-3-1-0). The Pack were outshot 13-1 before getting a second shot on goal at 14:12.

Starting netminder Steve Valiquette was not sharp either. Valiquette (7 saves) surrendered an early power play goal allowing Nathan Perkovich to slide one between his legs. It was one of those goals that netminders will always say they wanted back. Valiquette then went down too early 3:26 later on Brad Mills’ shot from the right circle. The puck whizzed right over his glove and like that the Pack were down two goals.

Gernander had seen enough and after allowing two goals on nine shots, at 8:41 Matt Zaba (25 saves, 3-6-1) was brought in to tend to the Pack net.

“It’s hard battling back when you get down that quickly,” Wolf Pack captain Dane Byers said to reporters afterwards. “Getting a good start was addressed before the game, and it wasn’t Valiquette’s fault that we got behind so fast. He had to pay for the bad start. We nearly tied it up, but we couldn’t pull it out.”

“We don’t question the guys’ heart or character or ability to fight off the mat, but now we have to question the start and why we put ourselves behind the 8-ball,” Gernander said. “We got stronger as the game went on, had plenty of scoring chances and did some good things, but we paid the price for our start.

It’s often said that a good fight can wake a team up from it’s doldrums. While in terms of scraps, this one wasn’t much, but when Pack forward Justin Soryal dropped the gloves with defenseman Rob Davison behind the Devils net, it gave the Pack life.

“Everyone kind of built off (the fight),” Corey Locke said. “But it shouldn’t take until the 10-minute mark to get started.”

The team used that adrenaline boost wisely and got on the board with a power play goal at 15:10.  Tim Sestito of the Devils was sent to the penalty box on a tripping infraction at 13:47. It took Hartford just 25 seconds to capitalize as Byers beat Devils starter Mike McKenna (35 saves, 16-8-1). Kenny Roche was stationed in the slot and took a pass from  Locke. The recent Charlotte call-up fanned on a shot, but got enough of it that it found its way right to Byers stick. Byers then got it and put the puck under McKenna for his 13th of the season.

In the second period period, Soryal continued his strong play when he rang up his first of the season with an incredible redirection of a laser of a shot from the right side by Jared Nightingale that beat McKenna to the short side of the cage.

The score was even.

But it wasn’t to be as Mills scored his second of the contest when he deflected a Stephen Gionta shot after getting away from Jordan Owens in front of Zaba at 14:12 for what would prove to be the game winner.

It wasn’t like the Pack did not get their chances.

The Pack had three power play chances to tie it through the remainder of the contest, but just could not buy a goal.

“We had numerous chances on every power play,” Locke said. “One sits on the line, and even some of the shots from the point got tipped or just hit him. We just didn’t get the breaks.” The line shot mentioned by Locke came midway through the final frame when Brodie Dupont’s shot sat behind McKenna for what seemed like an eternity before the Devils’ netminder dove back to cover it.

“We need any number of things to turn the momentum, but collectively, everyone has to be better off the get-go.” He added.

“Our start cost us the game,” Locke said. “When you need to come back at home, it’s tough, especially when a lot of guys have to play a lot of minutes due to some injuries. But there were a lot of positives to come out of the game, other than the start.”

Bruce Berlet is on the scene and takes you inside the Pack’s locker room at Hartfordwolfpack.com.  Lowell’s story can only be found on their team website at LowellDevilsHockey.com. There’s also an interesting story about the Devils attendance woes at LowellSun.com.

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORERS SHEET

STANDINGS

TEAM	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	PTS	GF	GA	STK	P 10	PIM
1. Monarchs	49	28	14	2	5	63	136	113	2-0-0-1	4-3-1-2	729
2. Sharks	46	29	14	1	2	61	149	140	1-0-0-0	6-3-0-1	701
3. Devils	49	28	17	3	1	60	156	128	1-0-0-0	6-3-0-1	918
4. Pirates	46	23	16	5	2	53	136	128	2-0-0-0	6-3-1-0	843
5.WOLF PACK	48	23	19	2	4	52	133	140	0-3-1-0	4-5-1-0	981
6. Sound Tigers	49	22	20	2	5	51	119	130	0-1-0-2	3-3-1-3	1126
7. Bruins	47	21	23	3	0	45	111	127	0-1-0-0	3-5-2-0	742
8. Falcons	50	16	24	8	2	42	123	171	1-0-0-0	5-4-1-0	1027

NOTES:

* Former Wolf Pack Enforcer Trevor Gillies will play in only his second NHL game of his career. The 6’3” 215-pounder has been recalled by the New York Islanders. He will play the Marty McSorley role to John Tavares’ Gretzky.

* Howlings has started something new. In addition to keeping you posted here on all major news stories, visit www.twitter.com/howlingstoday for in-game coverage of both the Pack and Checkers games. Please “Follow” us on Twitter.

* Chad Johnson ranks fifth among AHL netminders with a 14-8-2 record and 2.03GAA and a .930%

* Brodie Dupont, Evgeny Grachev and Corey Locke have played in EVERY game thus far for the Pack.

* The Pack’s record in 1-goal games drops to 11-7-2-4 and when they outshoot their opponents its 15-10-1-2.

LINES:

Grachev – Dupont – Weise
Byers © – Locke – Roche
Ambϋhl – Crowder – Owens
Soryal – Garlock - Couture

Urquhart – Sauer
Williams – Nightingale
Heikkinen – Schaeffer

Valiquette
Zaba

(Assistant Captains Bold and Italicized)

SCRATCHES:

Devin DiDiomete – Healthy Scratch
Bobby Sanguinetti – Lower Body – Day-to-Day
Corey Potter – Concussion – Indefinite
P.A. Parenteau – Concussion – Indefinite
Mathieu Dandenault – Lower Body – Indefinite
Chad Johnson – On recall with the NY Rangers
Brent Henley – Knee  – Season
Mike Hoffman – Shoulder – Season

THREE STARS:

1. LOW – B. Mills
2. LOW – S. Gionta
3. HFD – D. Byers

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:
Shaun Davis (31)

Linesmen:
Luke Galvin (2)
David Spannaus (8)

NEXT GAME:

The Norfolk Admirals and AHL All-Star Blair Jones, with ex-Ranger Adam Hall and ex-Pack Mitch Fritz continue their northern states visit when they steam into the XL Center for a battle on the ice with the Wolf Pack Wednesday night. One could say this one would be a sea battle since the Admirals embrace the Navy and the Wolf Pack are named after a fleet of submarines. Bob Crawford will have the pre-game at 6:30 and then the call of the contest starting at 7:05

To watch the game live, you can purchased it for $6.99 at AHL-live.

If you can attend the cost is as little as $10 a ticket, why not just go? For Ticket information call (860) 548-2000.

Too far away or can’t make it? Listen live at WTIC.com.

SCORE-SHEET:

Lowell Devils 3 At Hartford Wolf Pack 2 – Status: Final

Jan 29, 2010 – XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Lowell 2 1 0 – 3

Hartford 1 1 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Lowell, Perkovich 12 (Swift, Eckford), 5:15 (pp). 2, Lowell, Mills 6 (Gionta, Murphy), 8:41. 3, Hartford, Byers 13 (Roche, Locke), 15:10 (pp). Penalties-Roche Hfd (hooking), 4:49; Davison Low (fighting), 10:28; Soryal Hfd (fighting), 10:28; Sestito Low (tripping), 13:47.

2nd Period-4, Hartford, Soryal 1 (Nightingale, Williams), 9:10. 5, Lowell, Mills 7 (Gionta, Murphy), 14:12. Penalties-Swift Low (fighting), 1:35; Nightingale Hfd (fighting), 1:35; Locke Hfd (roughing), 2:43; Sestito Low (slashing), 4:15; Weise Hfd (boarding), 4:54; Robitaille Low (boarding, fighting), 9:29; Byers Hfd (fighting), 9:29; Eckford Low (tripping), 14:59; Couture Hfd (high-sticking), 18:08; Urquhart Hfd (hooking), 19:36.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Murphy Low (cross-checking), 3:09; Robitaille Low (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:02; Soryal Hfd (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:02; Murphy Low (slashing), 8:19.

Shots on Goal-Lowell 14-10-11-35. Hartford 8-10-19-37.

Power Play Opportunities-Lowell 1 of 5; Hartford 1 of 6.

Goalies-Lowell, McKenna 16-8-1 (37 shots-35 saves). Hartford, Valiquette 4-5-1 (9 shots-7 saves); Zaba 3-6-1 (26 shots-25 saves).

A-4,162

MEANWHILE BACK IN CHARLOTTE

VERSUS     

CHECKERS STORM BACK FOR 5-2 VICTORY OVER CHIEFS

Carroll Adds Another Two; Charlotte Undefeated Against Chiefs, East Division

The Charlotte Checkers spotted the Johnstown Chiefs two goals and stormed back for the 5-2 win on Friday night in Western Pennsylvania. With the win, the Checkers improve to 3-0-0 against the Chiefs and 6-0-0 against East Division teams this season.

Andrew Carroll led the charge with two goals, including the game-winner while Tyler Doig, who was returned from Hartford (AHL) earlier in the day, added a goal and two assists. Miika Wiikman stopped 28 of 30 shots for his ninth win of the season. The Swedish netminder has only one regulation loss in his last 13 starts.

Johnstown drew first blood, just over two minutes into the contest, on a fluky goal from 100 feet out. Chiefs defenseman Jonathan Ralph let go a slap shot from the red line that fooled Wiikman and dipped just under the crossbar for the 1-0 lead.

The Chiefs would take a two-goal lead near the end of the period when Connor Shields, stationed in the slot, took a pass from Bryan Marshall and lifted the puck past Wiikman on the blocker side for the shorthanded tally.

For the second game in a row, the Checkers headed to the locker room after 20 minutes down by two goals and came out in the second period looking to turn the tide.

Midway through the second period, David Marshall notched his second goal in as many games to cut the Johnstown lead to 2-1. Defenseman Ethan Graham threw a bomb of a pass to Marshall, who then snuck past the opposing defenders and skated in alone on Chiefs goaltender John Murray. Marshall then slipped the puck between the legs of Murray for his 10th of the season.

Charlotte then tied the game, with less than three minutes to play in the period, when Aaron Slattengren banged home a rebound from a Matt Schepke wrist shot.

The Checkers did not stop there and took their first lead of the game with 38 seconds to play in the frame. Michel Leveille dished a pretty pass over to Carroll who beat an out-of-position Murray for his team-leading 19th of the season.

Charlotte held the 3-2 lead for the first three quarters of the third period before Carroll added another. Doig centered a pass from the wing that was redirected by Carroll past the blocker of Murray, putting the Checkers ahead 4-2 and giving Carroll the third-highest goal total among all ECHL rookies.

Doig then added some insurance, with less than two minutes left, when he fired a slap shot over the shoulder of the Johnstown netminder.

The Checkers killed a late penalty and cruised to a 5-2 victory, their first of the season north of Charlotte.

The Checkers (23-14-5) will continue their northern road trip in Reading tomorrow before returning home on Thursday, Feb. 4 to host the Florida Everblades Ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com.

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORERS SHEET

STANDINGS:

TEAM	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	PTS	GF	GA	STK	P 10	PIM
1. South Carolina Sting Rays	48	30	11	3	4	67	169	150	0-2-1-0	5-3-2-0	693
2. Florida Everblades	45	23	16	2	4	52	144	131	1-0-0-0	6-3-0-1	872
3. Charlotte Checkers	42	23	14	3	2	51	157	144	1-0-0-0	5-4-0-1	880
4. Gwinnett Gladiators	42	19	18	3	2	43	149	162	0-1-0-0	4-5-1-0	736

NOTES:

* The Chiefs are owned and coached by Neil Smith. Yes Rangers fans, that Neil Smith.

* Charlotte is 13-3-1 in its last 17 home games

* The Checkers are 6-0-0 against East Division opponents this season

* Andrew Carroll has nine goals and six assists in his last 11 games and his five game-winning goals are the second highest total in the entire ECHL

* Tyler Doig ranks fourth in ECHL scoring with 51 points (12g, 39a) while Leveille ranks tied for 11th with 43 points (14g, 29a)

* Julien Brouillette has eight points (4g, 4a) in his last nine games and ranks seventh among all ECHL defensemen with 26 points (10g, 16a)

* T.J. Reynolds leads all ECHL defensemen with 174 penalty minutes, and is fourth in overall plus-minus with a +17 rating

* Derek Couture, Tyler Doig, Kenny Roche and Kevin Schaeffer are 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.

LINES:

Carroll -Leveille © – Doig
Slattengren – Tkaczuk – Schepke
Chabot – Taylor – Marshall
Burki

Berube – Reynolds
Graham – Ward
Brouillette – Dowzak

Wiikman
Munce

(Assistant Captains Bold and Italicized)

SCRATCHES:

Chris Snavely – 21-day IR
Trevor Glass – Close to returning
Chris Chappell – Season ending injury

THREE STARS:

1. CHR – A. Carroll
2. CHR – T. Doig
3. CHR – M. Wiikman

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:
Geno Binda (15)

Linesmen:
Paul Carnathan (93)
Zach Roberts (77)

NEXT GAME:

The Checkers leave Johnstown to head to Reading for a 7pm faceoff with the East Division leading Royals. Then it’s back on the bus and a return trip to finish what they started with the Chiefs for a Sunday tilt at 5:30.

You can buy tickets for any Checkers game home or away at Ticketmaster.com.

Should you want to watch this very exciting team from the comfort of your computer chair, all Checkers games are available on B2Live.

SCORE-SHEET:

Charlotte Checkers 5 At Johnstown Chiefs 2 – Status: Final

Jan 29, 2010 – Cambria County War Memorial Arena

Charlotte 0 3 2 – 5

Johnstown 2 0 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Johnstown, Ralph 2 (Murray), 2:33. 2, Johnstown, Shields 16 (Marshall, Zarb), 18:29 (sh). Penalties-Berube Chr (fighting – major), 5:25; Schwab Jhn (fighting – major), 5:25; Myers Jhn (interference), 7:09; Doig Chr (slashing ), 10:37; Hendrikx Jhn (slashing ), 10:37; Reynolds Chr (roughing), 14:55; Ralph Jhn (hooking), 17:18; Chabot Chr (fighting – major), 20:00; Hendrikx Jhn (cross-checking, fighting – major), 20:00.

2nd Period-3, Charlotte, Marshall 10 (Graham, Wiikman), 11:06. 4, Charlotte, Slattengren 10 (Schepke, Tkaczuk), 17:46. 5, Charlotte, Carroll 19 (Doig, Leveille), 19:22. Penalties-Dowzak Chr (hooking), 6:39; Myers Jhn (roughing), 8:43; Schwab Jhn (slashing ), 12:50.

3rd Period-6, Charlotte, Carroll 20 (Doig), 14:29. 7, Charlotte, Doig 12   18:39. Penalties-Zarb Jhn (delay of game), 3:10; Dowzak Chr (hooking), 15:41; Berube Chr (delay of game), 18:49.

Shots on Goal-Charlotte 11-13-8-32. Johnstown 12-11-7-30.

Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 0 of 6; Johnstown 0 of 4.

Goalies-Charlotte, Wiikman 9-2-1-2 (30 shots-28 saves). Johnstown, Murray 3-10-2-0 (32 shots-27 saves).

A-2,208

Here’s the official release on Brouillette coming to Hartford:

WOLF PACK SIGN DEFENSEMAN JULIEN BROUILLETTE TO PTO
* * * *
Was Leading Scorer Among ECHL Charlotte’s Defensemen

Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the team has signed defenseman Julien Brouillette to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement.

Brouillette, currently in his third year of pro hockey, is the leading point, goal and assist-producer among defensemen for the Wolf Pack’s ECHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, with 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 38 games. Brouillette is also tied for second among all ECHL defensemen in goals, and tied for sixth among league blueliners in points.

The 5-11, 185-pound St. Esprit, Quebec native has also played three AHL games this year for the Providence Bruins, registering one assist. Last season Brouillette topped all Charlotte defensemen in points and goals, and finished tied for fifth overall on the Checker team in points, with 11-18-29 in 70 games.

In 175 career ECHL games with Charlotte and the Columbia Inferno, the 23-year old Brouillette has totaled 27 goals and 45 assists for 72 points, along with 141 penalty minutes. Prior to turning pro, he played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, amassing 27 goals and 96 assists for 123 points, plus 206 PIM, in 227 career games.

Here is the Wiikman press release:

GOALTENDER MIIKA WIIKMAN RE-JOINS WOLF PACK

* * * *

Had 9-3-2 Record in 16 Games with ECHL Charlotte

Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned goaltender Miika Wiikman to the Wolf Pack from the team’s ECHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.

Prior to being assigned to the Checkers October 31, Wiikman appeared in four games with the Wolf Pack, going 2-2-0 with a 3.27 goals-against average and an 88.8% save percentage. In 16 ECHL games with Charlotte, the 5-11, 187-pound native of Mariestad Sweden has compiled a 9-3-2 slate, with a 2.77 GAA, a 90.9% save percentage and one shutout. His 2.77 goals-against average ranks seventh among ECHL netminders.

Wiikman, who is in his third year of North American pro hockey, has played in 79 career AHL games with the Wolf Pack and has gone 44-28-7, with a 2.56 GAA, a 91.0% save percentage and four shutouts. In 20 career ECHL contests with Charlotte, Wiikman is 10-4-2 with a 2.68 GAA and a 91.2% save percentage.

Wiikman signed as a free agent with the Rangers April 24, 2008.

The Wolf Pack are back in action tonight at the XL Center, hosting the Atlantic Division-leading Manchester Monarchs in a 7:00 PM game

CRUNCHED

VERSUS     

The Hartford Wolf Pack entered Saturday night’s contest with the Syracuse Crunch two points out of first place in the Atlantic Division and on a 9-2-0-1 roll over their last twelve games.  They had also earned at least a standings point in four straight and eight of their last nine. Conversely the Crunch came into this contest on the entire AHL, winless in their last four and had only managed three wins in their last twelve (3-6-2-1). Given the young nature of this edition of the Hartford Wolf Pack it would be easy for them to potentially get overconfident about this game. But those are the pitfalls that trip up a young team like this one. This was, as experts are so fond of saying, part of the process in learning how to win.

Right form the outset the Pack looked out of kilter. While both teams shot the puck on net eight times apiece in the first period, it was clearly the Crunch that were dictating the play. The Pack’s best chance of the first came at 4:54 when the Pack had a two on one odd man rush that was extinguished by a terrific save by Syracuse starting netminder, and the game’s first star, Kevin Lalande.

Pack netminder Chad Johnson, who had been playing very steady in net, he did not have a good game. The Calgary native did only surrendered two goals, but one of them was weak and should have been stopped. Johnson also was battling the puck all night and having difficulty controlling rebounds. Far too many were left in the hot zone giving second chance opportunities that a better team than Syracuse would have jumped all over.

At 3:28 of the second period, Jon Mirasty shoved Corey Potter to the ice for no apparent reason and was sent off to think about it alone for two minutes on a roughing call. Ordinarily, given the Pack’s number one overall ranking on the power play, this would be a golden opportunity for the boys representing Connecticut’s capital to score. However, the team was clearly not functioning how Head Coach Ken Gernander would have wanted them to. As the power play was coming to a close, former Wolf Pack defenseman Dylan Reese picked up a loose puck and floated it over to right wing Maksim Mayorov. The second year pro out of Andizhan, Russia picked up a loose puck and skated totally unmolested through the neutral zone shorthanded. When he reached the right face off circle, he unloaded a shot that Johnson misread and it flew right past his outstretched glove. The goal, which came at 5:18, was the second the Pack have surrendered thus far this season.

The Crunch would continue to play safe, but unimposing hockey throughout the period but the Pack were just asleep at the wheel.

At 13:40, Trevor Frischmon separated the puck form the Pack while forechecking and gave it to Nick Holden who took a low, hard shot from the right point. There was lots of traffic in front of Johnson and Syracuse tough guy Kevin Harvey got his stick on it and redirected it past Johnson for what would prove to be the game winner.

The Pack were badly outplayed in the second and outshot 12-5. The five shots on goal were their lowest output in a second period this season.

It looked as if the Pack were going to be shut out for only the second time this season, and frankly they deserved to be, but off a rush as the game was coming to a close, Illka Heikkinen ruined Lalande’s bid for a second career shut out when his blast from the high slot off a feed from Corey Locke who had received it from Dale Weise, blew right past him with just 1.2 seconds left on the clock for the final score of 2-1.

Bob Crawford sums up the game about as well as you could in this one at Hartfordwolfpack.com. The Syracuse perspective is captured by Lindsay Kramer at Syracuse.com.

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORERS SHEET

NOTES:

* Columbus GM Scott Howson was in the house for the contest.

* Corey Locke maintained his hold on first place in the scoring race. He has 11g, 19a for 30 points through 20 games. Ex-Pack Alexandre Giroux is second with 10g, 16a for 26 points in just 15 games. Bobby Sanguinetti is 10th with 20 points (6g, 14a). P.A. Parenteau, still on recall with the Rangers is now 7th (10g, 10a, 20 pts in 13 games).

* Chad Johnson has broken into the top ten in goaltending. He’s 8-5-1 with a 2.06GAA and a .927%

* With the assist on the final goal, Weise has points in two consecutive games for the first time this season.

* Dane Byers points streak was stopped at seven. (4g, 5a, 9pts)

* This was the 11th meeting all-time between the two clubs. The Pack have dominated and have a record of 6-3-2-0 against the Crunch.

* Tied after one period, the Pack are 5-4-0-0. Trailing after two they are –0-7-0-1. Being outshot the team falls to 6-2-0-1 and are 3-4-0-1 in one goal games.

MEANWHILE DOWN IN CHARLOTTE:

VERSUS

ROUND TWO

CHECKERS ON A ROLL, DUMP CHIEFS 6-2

Charlotte On Four-Game Win Streak

There seems to be no shortage of goals by the Charlotte Checkers lately as they added another six and downed the Johnstown Chiefs, 6-2, on Saturday in front of a packed house at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Frank Doyle stopped 30 of 32 shots for the win and the line of Michel Leveille, Tyler Doig and Kenny Roche combined for another eight points. The Checkers got goals three different ways – three on the power play, two at even strength and one shorthanded. The Checkers have now scored 26 goals in their last four games.

For the ninth time in 14 games this season, Charlotte drew first blood. Matt Schepke, fresh off a three-goal performance last night, carried the puck around a Johnstown defender and slid it through the crease to Devin DiDiomete who tucked it home for his second of the season.

The Checkers would make it a 2-0 game later in the period on a great shorthanded effort by Julien Brouillette and Daniel Tkaczuk. Brouillette, from the Checkers’ end, banked a pass off the glass right onto the stick of Tkaczuk who then came in alone, deked and backhanded a shot off the far post past Chiefs netminder Kris Mayotte. The goal came at the 12:34 mark of the first period.

Just over 13 minutes into the second period, Charlotte increased their lead to three on a power-play goal by Doig. Doig received a pass in the corner from Leveille and circled in front before letting a shot go that beat Mayotte between the legs.

Johnstown would answer back just four minutes later on a power play of their own as Dan Collins took advantage of a Charlotte miscue in front of the net and beat Doyle over the glove with a wrist shot.

Charlotte then regained the three-goal lead on the power play late in the period on a one-time shot by Leveille. The goal came with 10 seconds to play in the second frame and was assisted by Doig and Brouillette.

The Chiefs scored again to make it 4-2, however, the Checkers would add another goal on the power play, this time by Kenny Roche. The goal was Roche’s sixth in the last four games and was assisted by Leveille and Doig.

With less than four minutes to play the Checkers added some insurance and put the game out of reach. Mike Taylor circled down low and fed a pass to Brouillette who one-timed the puck past Mayotte for his fourth of the season.

The Checkers (9-3-2-0) will travel to Gwinnett over Thanksgiving before returning home to host the Gladiators on Sunday, Nov. 29 at Time Warner Cable Arena. Game time is 2pm and ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com.

Notes: Tyler Doig now has 13 points (2g, 11a) in his last six games…Kenny Roche has six goals in his last four games…Michel Leveille leads the team in scoring with 22 pts (10g, 12a) in 14 games…rookie Andrew Carroll had his five-game goal streak snapped in Saturday’s win… Matt Ford remains with Lake Erie (AHL) and defenseman Ethan Graham is with Norfolk (AHL)…Ryan Munce, Trevor Glass and Randy Rowe are all on the 21-day injured reserve.

LINES:

Grachev – Dupont – Weise

Byers – Locke – Owens

Soryal – Crowder – Couture

Chappell- Garlock – Ambϋhl

Potter – Williams

Heikkinen – Sanguinetti

Dandenault - Urquhart

Johnson

(Assistant Captains Italicized)

SCRATCHES:

P.A. Parenteau – Recall with NY Rangers

Devin DiDiomete – Conditioning in Charlotte

Michael Sauer – Upper Body, Day-to-Day

Brent Henley – Undisclosed Injury – Day-To-Day

THREE STARS:

1. SYR – K. Lalande
2. SYR – K. Harvey
3. SYR – M. Mayorov

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:
Chris Cozzan (68)

Linesmen:
Jeff Walker (28)
Brian Lemon (25)

NEXT GAME:

The Pack face another four-point game as they travel up to Massachusetts for a pre-Thanksgiving meeting with franchise rival, and second place Lowell Wednesday night. The Pack easily beat the Devils in Hartford on October 24th knocking off New Jersey’s minor league affiliate 5-2.

SCORE-SHEET:

Hartford 0 0 1 – 1

Syracuse 0 2 0 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Harvey Syr (tripping), 3:53; Heikkinen Hfd (tripping), 6:43; Weise Hfd (roughing), 11:37; Picard Syr (roughing), 11:37.

2nd Period-1, Syracuse, Mayorov 3 (Reese), 5:18 (sh). 2, Syracuse, Harvey 2 (Holden, LaVallee-Smotherman), 13:40. Penalties-Mirasty Syr (roughing), 3:28; Potter Hfd (holding), 11:32.

3rd Period-3, Hartford, Heikkinen 5 (Locke, Weise), 19:58 (sh). Penalties-Garlock Hfd (roughing), 6:17; Harvey Syr (roughing), 6:17; Sanguinetti Hfd (tripping), 19:18.

Shots on Goal-Hartford 8-5-10-23. Syracuse 8-12-4-24.

Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 of 2; Syracuse 0 of 3.

Goalies-Hartford, Johnson 8-5-1 (24 shots-22 saves). Syracuse, Lalande 3-4-1 (23 shots-22 saves).

WHERE ARE THE HANSONS WHEN YOU NEED THEM?

     VERSUS     

The Charlotte Checkers used a three goal third period, hard physical play and simply outworked the Johnstown Chiefs en route to a 7-4 victory in front of 5,899 at the Times Warner Cable Arena Friday night.

Matt Schepke was a force to be reckoned with especially in the third period when he netted two of his three goals for his first career hat trick. Left winger Kenny Roche, a New York Rangers third round pick in 2003 (75th overall), also gave General Manager and Head Coach Derek Wilkinson all he could ask for depositing two shots past Chiefs starter Kris Mayotte (30 saves, 1-4-2-0).   Michel Leveille picked up a goal and two assists. Mike Taylor, Codey Burki and T.J. Reynolds all added a pair of helpers a piece.

“It was a frustrating game for us.” Wilkinson told Howlings. “We did not handle their trapping style of play very well through 2 periods but made some adjustments in the 3rd and found a way to win. Miika made some great saves in the 3rd to get us the win. He has been playing very well.”

In addition to the offensive surge where Charlotte scored in every scenario imaginable, the Checkers received magnificent netminding from Miika Wiikman. The Swedish goaltender, who has no business being in the ECHL at this point in his career but is caught as the odd man out with the Rangers current log jam of talent between the pipes, was incredible despite surrendering four goals. The four goals all came when the team played shorthanded and he had virtually no coverage in front of him. The Checkers surrendered four goals in six shorthanded tries.

Team Captain, and former Pack defenseman Jared Nightingale said, “I thought we came out a little sluggish and let them in the game with our penalty trouble. We let them have 4 pp goals. But then in the second period, we took the game over with a few fights and just wore them out in the third for 3 goals. Miika played excellent as usual.”

Johnstown took advantage of a “Too Many Men on the Ice” penalty charged to the Checkers just 1:50 into the contest. Winger Ryan Menei picked up a rebound in front of the net and put a rising shot on goal that just managed to elude Wiikman’s glove. But Charlotte came storming right back.

Less than two minutes later, at 3:35 the Checkers knotted the score.

Reynolds started the play with a teeth-loosening hit on one of the Johnstown defenseman who coughed up the puck and surprising not part of his lunch. Leveille grabbed the loose biscuit and Mayotte followed him to the left. The Checker forward then slid the puck back to the right and over to Roche who tapped it into the empty 4X6.

The Checkers struck pay dirt again just 3:08 later. This time Taylor and Schepke worked a shorthanded two-on-one odd man rush to perfection. Taylor faked a shot and fed Schepke who was completely alone and went five-hole on Mayotte. It was the first of three on the night for Schepke.

It took just 38 seconds for Charlotte’s lead to evaporate.  Johnstown came back and tied the score at 7:21 with their second power play tally. Jim McKenzie saw traffic in front of Wiikman and beat the Checker defenseman to the glove side with for his fourth of the season.

But the Checkers just kept coming. Less than a minute later, Devin DiDiomete, rehabbing a broken arm in the bible belt after missing almost two months of action, rushed the puck up the left side. The Pack agitator came in alone and got Mayotte to bite on his fake and go down to the ice. The Stratford, Ontario native, trying to find a scorer’s touch, got the puck by Mayotte and on net, but just missed and hit the post. “It was a pretty tough angle and a half inch over and its in the net, the main thing is I’m getting the chances and my game is starting to come back to me”

DiDiomete picked up his first assist of the season on the next Checker tally. When he and linemates Andrew Carroll and Taylor put the screws to the Chiefs with hard forecheck pressure in the Johnstown end, DiDiomete recovered the puck and fed Taylor. Taylor in turn found Carroll in the right corner. The Checker winger skated virtually though the chief’s entire defense. cut across the crease and beat Mayotte for his sixth tally of the young season.

Charlotte almost scored again late, but a Schepke’s bid for a second goal was waved off and replays confirmed that the Checker forward clearly kicked the puck into the Chief net.

In the early part of the second period, with the Checkers down a man from a DiDiomete Unsportsmanlike Conduct infraction, the Checkers almost got their second short handed goal, but Nightingale was in the Chief’s crease and made contact with Mayotte and the goal was again waved off.

Johnstown was not about to quit. They tallied moments later when Connor Shields did his best Johan Franzen impression on a breakaway using a toe drag backhanded shot to flip the puck over a fallen Wiikman and knot the score at three.

Julien Brouillette was then denied a breakaway scoring attempt with a solid stop by Mayotte. That was followed seconds later by Nightingale mixing it up with Chiefs tough guy Michael Couch. Nightingale connected with a solid left and dropped the Chief defenseman right to the ice.

Roche picked up his second of the contest on a nice deflection of a point shot from Reynolds at 13:41.

But then all hell broke loose.

Just nine seconds later, Moises Gutierrez snow showered Wiikman for the second time and fed Reynolds nose the butt end of his stick. That did not sit well with DiDiomete who jumped the right wing and just pounded him like he was marinating a steak. A Chiefs player failed to hold back an incensed Reynolds who went completely berserk and just pummeled Gutierrez. Even after the Anchorage, Alaska native was clearly beaten and down, Reynolds would not let up. Based upon the beating Gutierrez took, you’d have thought the Right Winger told Reynolds to, “Go home and get your @&*%* shoebox.” Reynolds and DiDiomete gave him a beating that looked like a reenactment of the Tommy DeVito and Jimmy Conway beat down on Billy Batts in “Good Fellas.”  The only difference was Gutierrez was able to be helped off the ice by the training staff and didn’t appear as if he would wind up in the trunk of a 1970 Chevy.

After DiDiomete and Reynolds were assessed their penalties, the Chiefs added their fourth power play score as Wiikman never saw Jarrett Konkle’s high shot that beat the goalie’s glove.

Schepke had another big scoring chance on a breakaway seconds later but was denied as Mayotte held his ground and kick saved the puck away.

The Checkers didn’t see their first man advantage until there were 54 seconds left in the second frame, but could do nothing with it.

The third period was the Schepke Show. At 5:38 he took advantage of a terrific play by Nightingale to keep the puck in the zone and beat Mayotte from the left doorstep. Then Leveille got his team leading ninth goal of the season off a great pass from Tyler Doig to make it 6-4.

Wiikman, who was able to stop all nine shots he faced in the third, should some nifty glove work snuffing out a Jim McKenzie breakaway.

A Johnstown minor for Too Many Men sent the Checker power play unit to the ice and Schepke completed his hat trick off a great set up pass from Burki from the left corner for what would be the game’s final score with just 1:41 to go.

 

For the Johnstown coverage you’ll find it at The Tribune-Democrat and for the Checkers, The Charlotte Observer has a brief blurb on the contest.

 

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORER’S SHEET 

 

NOTES:

After the game Howlings caught up with Devin DiDiomete and asked him how he felt he was coming along since being out of the game for a couple of months with the broken arm he suffered in training camp?

“The first couple of games were a bit of a battle, after being out that long its tough to just jump back into it. But I’ve felt like these last two games I’ve had real good legs and have been making smart plays with the puck and I’ve been getting some chances to score.”

You seem to be pushing yourself on the physical aspect of your game. You were challenging guys all over the ice tonight and then had quite the altercation with Gutierrez. You seem to relish the role of agitator. When you return to Hartford is that how you see yourself fitting in the lineup…

“Yeah, I mean that’s how I got to this level, so why would I stop doing that now, if I can get guys on the opposing team thinking about me it gives the skilled guys more room and there checkers don’t pay as much attention to them. I’m definitely not going to make any friends on the other team but if I can get in their heads and have them thinking about me, I’m doing my job”

Obviously the coaching staff is going to make the final determination when they feel you’re ready to come back to Hartford. What are your thoughts on how much more time you think you need?

“I’m starting to get back to where I was before my injury so hopefully “G” (Pack Head Coach Ken Gernander) and “Schoney” (General Manager Jim Schoenfeld) think I’m ready and I can be back as soon as possible”

* The Checkers start the day in second place four points behind the first place South Carolina Stingrays. However Charlotte has FOUR games in hand already this early in the season.

* The Checkers are on a run of 5 straight without a loss. (4-0-0-1).

* Miika Wiikman is sporting a 3-1-0-1 record since going to Charlotte and has a 1.98 GAA and .930 save percentage.

* Tyler Doig now has 10 points (1g, 9a) in his last five games

* Matt Schepke has eight goals in his last eight games

* Michel Leveille leads the team in scoring with 19 pts (9g, 10a) in 13 games

* Rookie left winger Andrew Carroll has a goal in each of his last five games

 

THREE STARS:

1. CHR – 24 Matt Schepke

2. CHR – 16 Kenny Roche

3. CHR – 11 Michel Leveille

 

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:

Steve Patafie (29)

Linesmen:

Mark Hamlett (81)

Rob Montepare (62)

 

NEXT GAME:

Charlotte hosts what should be a wild rematch Saturday night against the very same Johnstown Chiefs.

 

BOX-SCORE:

Johnstown 2 2 0 – 4

Charlotte 3 1 3 – 7

1st Period-1, Johnstown, Menei 2 (Konkle, Marshall), 1:50 (pp). 2, Charlotte, Roche 5 (Leveille, Reynolds), 3:35. 3, Charlotte, Schepke 6 (Taylor), 6:43 (sh). 4, Johnstown, McKenzie 4 (Shields, Schwab), 7:21 (pp). 5, Charlotte, Carroll 6 (Taylor, DiDiomete), 16:52. Penalties-served by Burki Chr (bench – too many men), 1:44; Leveille Chr (high-sticking), 5:58; DiDiomete Chr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:56.

2nd Period-6, Johnstown, Shields 7 (Hendrikx, Konkle), 5:16 (pp). 7, Charlotte, Roche 6 (Reynolds, Leveille), 13:41. 8, Johnstown, Konkle 2 (Schwab), 17:41 (pp). Penalties-Nightingale Chr (interference on the goalkeeper), 4:44; Couch Jhn (fighting – major), 11:36; Nightingale Chr (fighting – major), 11:36; Gutierrez Jhn (roughing), 13:50; Zarb Jhn (fighting – major), 13:50; DiDiomete Chr (fighting – major, misconduct – continuing altercation), 13:50; Reynolds Chr (fighting – major, game misconduct – aggressor), 13:50; Konkle Jhn (slashing ), 19:06.

3rd Period-9, Charlotte, Schepke 7 (Burki, Nightingale), 5:38. 10, Charlotte, Leveille 9 (Doig), 10:17. 11, Charlotte, Schepke 8 (Burki, Tkaczuk), 18:19 (pp). Penalties-Doig Chr (hooking), 7:07; Zarb Jhn (interference), 12:32; Berkstresser Jhn (bench – too many men), 17:59; Schulz Jhn (fighting – major), 19:11; Roche Chr (slashing , fighting – major), 19:11.

Shots on Goal-Johnstown 9-13-9-31. Charlotte 15-11-11-37.

Power Play Opportunities-Johnstown 4 of 8; Charlotte 1 of 3.

Goalies-Johnstown, Mayotte 1-4-2-0 (37 shots-30 saves). Charlotte, Wiikman 3-1-0-1 (31 shots-27 saves).