Checkers vs. Lynx: 12/02/06

[Tiny44]

The Checkers post-game news conference from the Sat., Dec 2 game is now up on the Checkers web site. Click on the link below or on Derek Wilkinson's picture on th home page.

http://www.prosportsmedia.com/checkers/mm/video/clip/12-2-2006.wmv

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CHECKERS PRESS RELEASE

CHECKERS REBOUND FROM LOSS TO DEFEAT LYNX

CHARLOTTE, NC - After losing Friday night to Pensacola the Charlotte Checkers bounced back to defeat the August Lynx 6-3 Saturday night at St. Lawrence Homes Home Ice at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Mark Lee and Bruce Graham led the Checkers to victory with 1 goal and 3 assists, and 2 goals and 2 assists, respectively.

Augusta struck first at 10:20 in the first period with an even-strength goal from Jamie Johnson with help from, center, Ryan Lang. The Checkers returned scoring at 14:02 in the period with an even-strength goal from Lee Falardeau giving him his second goal in two consecutive games with the Checkers. Falardeau’s goal was assisted by both Graham and Lee. Two minutes before the end of the period, the Checkers took the lead with an even-strength goal from Kirk DeWaele, giving him his first goal of the season, and Bruce Graham earned his second assist of the evening.

Charlotte’s Corey Potter scored on the power play at 13:37 in the second period giving him his fifth goal of the season, and Potter had help from both Ryan Constant and Lee. Augusta scored less than one minute later on the power play with a goal from Lang who was assisted by both J.B. Bittner and Sean Blanchard. The Checkers scored the last goal of the second period with a short-handed goal from Lee, his first of the evening. The score at the end of the second period was 4-2 with the Checkers in the lead.

Augusta’s Lang scored the first goal of the third period at 8:41 in the period. His goal was assisted by both Bittner and Johnson and put the Lynx within one goal. Mark Lee scored his second short-handed goal of the evening which was unassisted at 12:35 in the third period. Graham scored his second goal of the evening at 14:31 which finalized the score at 6-3.

Saturday afternoon before the Checkers game, two teams participated in the annual Hemby Cup hockey game. In honor of the game, the Checkers wore specialized green and purple Hemby Cup Jerseys. After the game, the specialty jerseys were auctioned off, and all proceeds from the day went to benefit the Presbyterian Hemby Children's Hopital.

The Checkers next home game is Friday, December 15 against the Trenton Titans at 7:30 p.m. 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=1118)

[SD12]

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER (http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/hockey/echl/charlotte_checkers/16153323.htm)

LEE, GRAHAM GIVE CHARLOTTE VICTORY

Penalties trouble coach ahead of 5-game trip

TIM DONELLI Special Correspondent

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Checkers were hopeful of a victory before embarking on their longest road trip of the season. Excellent special teams play bailed out Charlotte on Saturday night in a 6-3 ECHL win against the Augusta Lynx.

Mark Lee had two short-handed goals and added two assists, and Bruce Graham had a goal and three assists. Chris Holt, who struggled the past few games, came up big with 30 saves and several point-blank stops during the third period.

Coach Derek Wilkinson was pleased, but clearly troubled by the bad penalties his club took. "Our penalty killing was great but we took way too many bad penalties," said Wilkinson. "If we're going to be successful on our long road trip, we will have to get those out of our system."

The Checkers (11-7-0), under urging from Wilkinson, came out strong, netting two first-period goals. After Jamie Johnson's goal gave the Lynx (11-11-0) an early lead, Charlotte stormed back to assume 2-1 lead.

Lee Falardeau scored his second goal in as many nights, skating into the slot and placing a perfect shot just inside the right post to tie the game at 14 minutes, 1 second.

The Checkers' surge continued in the second period, with Corey Potter's power-play goal and Lee's short-handed goal, sandwiched around an Augusta power-play goal by Ryan Lang, put the Checkers up 4-2 through two periods.

The Checkers closed out their home stand with a record of 2-2-0. Charlotte will embark on its longest road trip of the season, a five-game, 10-day trek beginning Tuesday in Pensacola at 8 p.m.

[SD12]

AUGUSTA LYNX PRESS RELEASE (http://www.augustalynx.com/gameday/news/?id=7109)

CHECKERS DOUBLE LYNX 6-3

CHARLOTTE, NC - Charlotte, SC – Mark Lee scored two shorthanded goals and added a pair of assists to lead the Charlotte Checkers past the Augusta Lynx 6-3 Saturday night at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

Augusta opened the scoring with a Jamie Johnson goal at 10:20 of the first period from Ryan Lang and J.B. Bittner. Johnson slapped home a bouncing puck past diving Charlotte goaltender Chris Holt for the 1-0 lead.

Charlotte scored the next three straight goals to take a 3-1 lead just over half way through the second period. Finally Augusta got back on the score sheet when Lang potted a power play marker at 14:41 from Bittner and Sean Blanchard to close the gap to 3-2.

Lee moved the advantage back to 4-2 Charlotte with his first goal and third point of the night at 17:08, cashing in on a shorthanded opportunity by beating Dave McKee high on the glove side.

Augusta once again closed the gap on Lang’s second goal of the night to open the scoring at 8:41 of the third period, but Lee’s second goal at 12:35 was followed by Bruce Graham’s 14th of the year at 14:31 to cap the scoring at 6-3 for the game.

With his two goal, one assist performance, Lang moves temporarily into third place in ECHL scoring pending the outcomes of Saturday night’s games with 12 goals and 26 points.

The Lynx are back in action next Tuesday night at the James Brown Arena, taking on the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:35 pm. Radio coverage begins with the Classic Stucco and Stone Pre-Game Show one-half hour before game time on your Home for Lynx Hockey, NEWSTALKSPORTS 1630. Tickets are on sale now through the Lynx office at (706) 724-4ICE, on line at www.TicketMaster.com, and via all TicketMaster locations.