Friday, Dec15 Checkers news conference now up

[Tiny44]

Click in link below or go to www.gocheckers.com and click on Derek's picture on front page of web site.


http://www.prosportsmedia.com/checkers/mm/video/clip/12-15-06.wmv

[SD12]

CHECKERS PRESS RELEASE (http://www.gocheckers.com/fullstory.php?id=538)

BRUCE GRAHAM LEADS CHECKERS TO VICTORY WITH HAT TRICK

CHARLOTTE, NC - Bruce Graham, with a hat trick for the evening, led the Checkers to a 5-2 victory over the Trenton Titans Friday night in front of 5852 fans at St. Lawrence Homes Home Ice at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Mark Lee also had all three assists for Graham’s three goals.

Trenton started scoring early in the first period at 4:57 with an even-strength goal from Scott Shepard assisted by Bryan Miller giving Trenton the early lead. The Checker’s Nathan Gillies evened the score at 15:13 in the period with an even-strength goal. Gillies was assisted by both Ryan Constant and Blake Bellefeuille.

Graham scored his first goal of the evening at 2:37 in the second period. Graham’s goal was an even- strength goal assisted by both Dan Murphy and Lee. Less than two minutes later, Blake Bellefeuille scored his seventh goal of the season which was a shorthanded goal, and the assist was given to Daymen Rycroft. The Checkers went into the second intermission with a 3-1 lead over the Titans.

Trenton’s Jim Henkel put the Titans within one goal with an even-strength goal with help from Gregg Johnson at 1:02 in the third period. Bruce Graham scored his second goal of the evening with an even –strength goal again assisted by both Lee and Murphy at 3:37 in the period putting the Checkers ahead 4-2. Bruce Graham also scored the final goal of the evening on the power play, giving him his 17th goal of the season, and icing the score at 5-2. Lee and Rycroft were both given the assists on Graham’s third goal.

The Checkers next home game is Thursday, December 21 against the Reading Royals at 7:00 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=1175)

[SD12]

TRENTON TITANS PRESS RELEASE (http://www.trentontitans.com/display_story.asp?sid=834&lg=1)

TITANS KNOCKED DOWN BY CHECKERS, 5-2

Graham’s hat trick leads way for Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Trenton Titans could not overcome Bruce Graham’s hat trick in falling to the Charlotte Checkers, 5-2, at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

With the Titans trailing 3-1 heading into the third period, Jim Henkel was able to pull his team back with one at 1:02, taking a centering a pass and sweeping his sixth of the season inside the far post.

Graham would, however, put the game out of reach converting a 3-2 break 2:23 later and then complete his trick by notching a power play goal midway through the same period.

Scott Sheppard put the Titans up 1-0 4:57 into the contest when he took a home run pass from Bryan Miller and beat Alex Westlund to the top corner for his fourth of the season.

The Checkers would tie it up with under five minutes left in the frame as Nathan Gillies banged home the rebound from Ryan Constant’s slapshot from the point.

Coming out of the locker for the second period, Charlotte pounced on Trenton early. Graham picked up his first goal of the night just 2:37 into stanza when Dan Murphy found him alone for a one-timer at the far circle to make it 2-1. Blake Bellefeuille added a shorthanded goal 1:23 after Graham’s goal to push the Checkers’ lead to two.

The Titans were outshot 44-27 with Joel Martin making 39 saves in the loss. Trenton finished 0-for-3 on the power play and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill.

The Trenton Titans have the week off before hosting the Dayton Bombers on Friday, December 22 at 7:30pm. Tune into 91.3FM-WTSR to listen to all of the Titans’ action or go to www.trentontitans.com to listen or watch live courtesy of B2 Networks.


TRENTON TITANS – The Buzz is Back!!! - Full and partial season tickets plans for the 2006-07 season are available by calling a Titans Ticket Representative at (609) 599-9500.

The Trenton Titans are a member of the ECHL – North America’s Premier “AA” Hockey League. The Trenton Titans are owned and operated by the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils.