SD12
10-27-2006, 12:18 AM
CHECKERS PRESS RELEASE
CHECKERS TASTE DEFEAT FOR FIRST TIME IN 4-1 LOSS TO EVERBLADES
FORT MEYERS, FL - The Charlotte Checkers tasted defeat for the first time this season on Thursday night in a 4-1 loss to the Florida Everblades in Fort Myers, Florida. The Everblades got goals from four different players and a 21 save performance from goalie David Shantz. Charlotte was outshot for the game 44-22.
The Checkers lone goal was scored by Blake Bellefeuille, with Chris Holt taking the loss in net with 40 saves. The loss was the Checkers’ eighth straight regular season defeat in Fort Myers, dating back to the 2003-04 season. The last regular-season Charlotte win at Germain arena was in March of 2003.
“The Florida team we played tonight is about the best team I’ve seen in the ECHL,” lamented Checkers coach Derek Wilkinson. ”But we had a lot of mistakes and it wasn’t just one guy, but several. We’ll have our captain Jan Vodrazka back for Saturday’s game here and may make a few other changes. We’ll see what happens.”
The first period was the Checkers strongest as they took a 1-0 lead at the break. Bellefeuille knocked home a shot from in close off a pass from Corey Potter at 9:45 of the first for the periods only goal.
Florida scored a pair of goals in the second period while keeping the Checkers off the board for a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes. A soft clearing pass by Bruce Graham from his own zone never got out, and paved the way for The Everblades first goal. At 4:34 Kevin Estrada tipped in a pass just outside the crease by Holt to knot the score at 1-1. Florida’s Ryan Brindley scored at 12:03 on a power play to give the Everblades a 2-1 advantage and a lead that they would not relinquish.
In the third period the Checkers collapsed as they allowed a pair of goals in a twenty second span, and were outshot 19-2. Vince Bellissimo beat Holt just inside the post at 6:06 for a 3-1 Everblades lead. Twenty seconds later David Brine found the back of the net for the game’s last goal and the 4-1 final. Charlotte did have one bright spot in the third period, as Holt stopped a penalty shot for the second time in as many starts.
The Checkers record dropped to 2-1-0 for four points, while Florida raised its record to 2-1-0 for four points. Charlotte, Florida and South Carolina are all tied for first place in the Southern Division of the ECHL’s American Conference.
Charlotte’s three-game Florida road trip will continue Saturday with another game with the Everblades at 7:30 p.m.
BOX SCORE (http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=933)
CHECKERS TASTE DEFEAT FOR FIRST TIME IN 4-1 LOSS TO EVERBLADES
FORT MEYERS, FL - The Charlotte Checkers tasted defeat for the first time this season on Thursday night in a 4-1 loss to the Florida Everblades in Fort Myers, Florida. The Everblades got goals from four different players and a 21 save performance from goalie David Shantz. Charlotte was outshot for the game 44-22.
The Checkers lone goal was scored by Blake Bellefeuille, with Chris Holt taking the loss in net with 40 saves. The loss was the Checkers’ eighth straight regular season defeat in Fort Myers, dating back to the 2003-04 season. The last regular-season Charlotte win at Germain arena was in March of 2003.
“The Florida team we played tonight is about the best team I’ve seen in the ECHL,” lamented Checkers coach Derek Wilkinson. ”But we had a lot of mistakes and it wasn’t just one guy, but several. We’ll have our captain Jan Vodrazka back for Saturday’s game here and may make a few other changes. We’ll see what happens.”
The first period was the Checkers strongest as they took a 1-0 lead at the break. Bellefeuille knocked home a shot from in close off a pass from Corey Potter at 9:45 of the first for the periods only goal.
Florida scored a pair of goals in the second period while keeping the Checkers off the board for a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes. A soft clearing pass by Bruce Graham from his own zone never got out, and paved the way for The Everblades first goal. At 4:34 Kevin Estrada tipped in a pass just outside the crease by Holt to knot the score at 1-1. Florida’s Ryan Brindley scored at 12:03 on a power play to give the Everblades a 2-1 advantage and a lead that they would not relinquish.
In the third period the Checkers collapsed as they allowed a pair of goals in a twenty second span, and were outshot 19-2. Vince Bellissimo beat Holt just inside the post at 6:06 for a 3-1 Everblades lead. Twenty seconds later David Brine found the back of the net for the game’s last goal and the 4-1 final. Charlotte did have one bright spot in the third period, as Holt stopped a penalty shot for the second time in as many starts.
The Checkers record dropped to 2-1-0 for four points, while Florida raised its record to 2-1-0 for four points. Charlotte, Florida and South Carolina are all tied for first place in the Southern Division of the ECHL’s American Conference.
Charlotte’s three-game Florida road trip will continue Saturday with another game with the Everblades at 7:30 p.m.
BOX SCORE (http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=933)