Checkers vs. Gladiators: 11/18/06

[SD12]

CHECKERS PRESS RELEASE

CHECKERS DEFEAT TOP-RANKED GWINNETT IN 3-1 VICTORY

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Checkers defeated the division-leading Gwinnett Gladiators 3-1 on Saturday night at St. Lawrence Homes Home Ice at Charlotte Bobcats Arena in front of 5,526 fans. Mark Lee led the team in scoring with one goal and one assist, and goaltender Alex Westlund took the win stopping 28 of 29 shots on goal.

Bruce Graham notched the first goal for the Checkers at 3:07 in the first period giving him his ninth goal of the season. Both Rick Kozak and Lee combined for the assist giving the Checkers the edge at 1-0 for the first period.

The next Checkers goal was not scored until the third period. The goal was scored on the power play from Ryan Constant at 1:57 who had help from both Cory Potter and Graham giving the Checkers the lead 2-0. The only goal scored by Gwinnett was an even-strength goal from B Kaleniecki and the assist was given to B Mulherin at 7:56 putting Gwinnett within one goal. At 11:25 Gwinnett was faulted with a penalty allowing Lee to take a penalty shot against goaltender Dan Turple. Lee scored the game winning goal on the penalty shot icing the game with a final score of 3-1.

The Checkers win against Gwinnett gave Westlund his third win of season and Turple was the hard luck loser for Gwinnett.

The Checkers next home game is Sunday, November 19 at 4:00 p.m.
against the South Carolina Stingrays at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. For ticket information call the Checkers at 704-342-4-ICE or purchase and print your tickets at www.gocheckers.com (http://www.gocheckers.com).

BOX SCORE (http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1046)

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CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

LEE PUTS CAPPER ON RARE SERIES WIN

GWINNETT'S 9-GAME RUN STOPPED BY POWER OUTAGE

by Keith Cannon

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Checkers now have one more victory against the Gwinnett Gladiators than they had all last season.

A 3-1 Checkers win Saturday night at Charlotte Bobcats Arena broke a nine-game losing streak to their ECHL South Division rivals -- eight games last season and a 4-3 loss at home Nov. 3.

"They're a dynamic team and when you make a mistake, they usually make you pay," Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson said of the Gladiators. "We got away with a few things tonight, and we played pretty well, too."

The Checkers (8-3) killed all 11 power-play attempts by the Gladiators. Gwinnett entered the game second to Charlotte in power-play percentage in the league. Alex Westlund recorded 28 saves in goal.

"We took some things away from them on the penalty kill," Wilkinson said. "Whatever they got, Westy saw, and that was critical."

The Checkers survived a scoreless second period in which they gave the Gladiators five power-play opportunities. "We took some bad penalties and we had some calls which were not ones I'd agree with," Wikinson said. "But we didn't give them a lot of shots, even when they had some 5-on-3's."

Charlotte took a 2-0 lead on a power play goal from the right circle by defenseman Ryan Constant 1 minute, 57 seconds into the third period. Brandon Kaleniecki scored Gwinnett's goal with 12 minutes left.

Mark Lee finished the scoring on a penalty shot with 8:35 to play, awarded after he was dragged down on a short-handed breakaway.

"He's a sniper, so we decided to let him go on in and finish," Wilkinson said of Lee. "He made a perfect shot."

The Checkers will host South Carolina at 4 p.m. today.

[SD12]

GWINNETT GLADIATORS PRESS RELEASE

GLADIATORS FALL TO CHECKERS, 3-1

KALENIECKI HAS ONLY GOAL FOR GWINNETT IN LOSS

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Gwinnett Gladiators dropped a 3-1 decision to the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday night at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Gwinnett falls to 7-3-3 on the season with the loss.

Charlotte jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 3:07 into the first period as the Checkers capitalized on a Gladiators defensive turnover deep in the Gwinnett zone. Mark Lee picked up the loose puck in the right wing circle and fed Bruce Graham in the slot to set up the goal. Graham then beat Gladiators netminder Dan Turple with a quick shot from on top of the slot.

Despite a handful of power play chances in the second period, the Gladiators were unable to beat Charlotte netminder Alex Westlund. Gwinnett was 0-5 on the power play in the period as both teams collected 8 shots in the middle stanza.

Ryan Constant pushed the Checkers lead to two goals as he walked down the right wing wall and ripped a slap shot over the shoulder of Turple for the maker. Corey Potter and Graham collected the assists on the goal just 1:57 into the third period on the power play.

Brandon Kaleniecki broke Westlund’s shutout bid at the 7:56 mark of the third period as he found the puck in a pile of bodies in the slot and jammed it past the netminder for the goal. Bruce Mulherin collected an assist on the goal for Gwinnett.

Charlotte regained the two-goal lead with a penalty shot maker by Mark Lee at the 11:25 mark of the third period. The Gladiators’ Bryan Lee went diving to knock the puck away from Lee on a break but took out Charlotte’s Lee to draw the penalty shot. The penalty shot came while the Checkers were shorthanded.

Turple finished with 23 saves in the loss while the Gladiators went 0-for-11 on the man advantage while Charlotte was 1-for-5 on the power play.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fourth season as a proud member of the ECHL on November 21st as they host the Charlotte Checkers on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m. Season tickets are on sale now. In addition, the Gladiators offer several unique multi-game ticket packages as well as discounted group rates, suite rentals, and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com (http://www.gwinnettgladiators.com).

The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and play all home games on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the spectacular 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, where parking is always free.

[SD12]

GWINNETT DAILY POST

GLADIATORS CAN't MUSTER COMEBACK

from Staff Reports

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Gwinnett Gladiators dropped a 3-1 decision to the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday night at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

Charlotte jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 3:07 into the first period as the Checkers capitalized on a Gladiators (7-3-3) defensive turnover deep in the Gwinnett zone. Mark Lee picked up the loose puck in the right wing circle and fed Bruce Graham in the slot to set up the goal. Graham then beat Gladiators netminder Dan Turple with a quick shot from on top of the slot.

Despite a handful of power play chances in the second period, the Gladiators were unable to find a goal.

Gwinnett was 0-5 on the power play in the period as both teams collected 8 shot.

Ryan Constant pushed the Checkers lead to two goals as he walked down the right wing wall and ripped a slap shot over the shoulder of Turple for the second goal. Corey Potter and Graham collected the assists on the goal just 1:57 into the third period on the power play.

Brandon Kaleniecki broke Westlund’s shutout bid at the 7:56 mark of the third period as he found the puck in a pile of bodies in the slot and jammed it past the netminder for the goal.

Bruce Mulherin collected an assist on the goal for Gwinnett.

Charlotte regained the two-goal lead with a penalty shot by Mark Lee at the 11:25 mark of the third period. Gladiators’ Bryan Lee went diving to knock the puck away from Lee on a break, but took out Charlotte’s Lee to draw the penalty shot.

Turple finished with 23 saves in the loss while the Gladiators went 0-for-11 on the man advantage while Charlotte was 1-for-5 on the power play.