1/13 Checkers Extend Unbeaten Streak To Five With 4-2 Triumph At Columbia

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CHECKERS PRESS RELEASE (http://www.gocheckers.com/fullstory.php?id=562)


CHECKERS EXTEND UNBEATEN STREAK TO FIVE WITH 4-2 TRIUMPH AT COLUMBIA

COLUMBIA, SC - Checkers Head Coach Derek Wilkinson wasn't getting much sleep this week. His team had a frustrating three-game series in Florida last weekend and earlier this week. The series saw Charlotte surrender third-period leads twice, give up six short-handed goals, allow soft goals by both netminders, and see veterans making bad decisions at crucial times.

But the Checkers were able to get a point in each of the last two games in Florida, and then reeled off three wins this week to extend their unbeaten streak to five at 3-0-2. Wilkinson should be sleeping much better this coming week.

The latest win was a 4-2 triumph over the Columbia Inferno Saturday night in South Carolina. Charlotte's Mike Ouellette scored twice and added an assist, and goalie Alex Westlund made 27 saves to earn his ninth win of the season in leading the Checkers (20-14-3 for 43 points) to victory. Blake Bellefeuille and Hugh Jessiman also scored single goals for Charlotte.

The Inferno got goals from Steve McJannet and Jeff Miles, as the Checkers beat Columbia for the second time this week and lead the nine-game season series 3-0-0. Inferno goalie Robert Gherson suffered the loss with 23 saves.

"We didn't let the bad rink and ice in Columbia hamper our game tonight," commented Charlotte captain Jan Vodrazka. "This week will help us a lot with our confidence. Even though we went 0-1-2 in Florida and didn't get a win, we played right with them and they're one of the best teams in the league. Our good play in Florida really carried over this week and it showed as we won three straight."

Bellefeuille gave the Checkers a 1-0 lead with an unassisted goal at 11:28 of the first period. Columbia tied the game at 1-1 with five minutes to go in the second period, when McJannet backhanded in his eighth goal of the season top shelf.

Late in the second stanza Charlotte got the lead back on the power play as Adam Nightingale made a beautiful back-handed pass to Ouellette for an easy tap in and a 2-1 Checkers advantage.

In the third period Jessiman's tally and Ouellette's second goal of the game gave Charlotte a 4-1 lead. Columbia got their second goal of the game with nine minutes remaining from Miles, but could get no closer as the Checkers secured the 4-2 victory.

Due to the ECHL All-Star break, the Checkers won't play until Friday when they'll host the South Carolina Stingrays at Charlotte Bobcats Arena at 7:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE (http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1329)


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GO CHECKERS!!!! :hescores:

p.s. - I don't know if this is the correct forum, so apologies if it's not... Just wanted to get it somewhere! :)

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CHARLOTTE OBSERVER (http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/hockey/echl/charlotte_checkers/16457718.htm)

WESTLUND, OUELLETTE TAKE LEAD

Observer News Services

COLUMBIA, SC - Alex Westlund won his third straight game against the Columbia Inferno, helping Charlotte to a 4-2 ECHL victory Saturday.

Mike Ouellette's two goals and an assist helped ensure the streak would continue.

Ouellette put Charlotte ahead for good with 1 minute, 42 seconds left in the second.

"The first goal was at the end of a power play," Ouellette said. "... (Adam) Nightingale just made an unbelievable pass to me."

Nightingale came out from behind the net, and slipped a backhand pass to Ouellette for an easy tap-in.

The Checkers (20-14-1-2), winners of three straight, now break for the All-Star contest.

"We've had a pretty good stretch of games and we could benefit from some rest," Ouellette said. "... I think we're going to come back after the game ready to get back at it, start climbing up the standings."

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COLUMBIA INFERNO PRESS RELEASE (http://www.columbiainferno.com/newsstats/?article_id=98)

CHARLOTTE UPENDS INFERNO

COLUMBIA, SC - The Charlotte Checkers outlasted the Inferno as they scored two goals in the third period to win 4-2.

Blake Bellefeuille gave the Checkers a 1-0 lead at 11:28 on an unassisted goal. Columbia tied the game at the 15:00 mark when Steve McJannet netted his eight goal of the season with passes from Tyson Marsh and Bryson Busniuk. At 18:18, Mike Ouellette scored to give the one goal lead back to the Checkers.

Hugh Jessiman added the Checkers third goal at 5:58 of the third period as he pushed one past goaltender Rob Gherson. Ouellette scored his second goal of the game at 8:44 to end the scoring for the Checkers at four goals. Columbia tried to make the comeback when Jeff Miles received passes from Scott Sheppard and Anthony Battaglia as he scored his 12th goal of the season through the legs of Checkers goaltender Alex Westlund at 11:25.

The Inferno will host the Pensacola Ice Pilots on Monday, January 15th at 1:05pm. Tickets will be available starting at 11:30am.

[SD12]

THE STATE (http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/16456445.htm)

OLD TROUBLES RETURN TO BEDEVIL INFERNO

Power play, soft goals allowed condemn Columbia to third loss in row

by JOHN DEVLIN
Special to The State

COLUMBIA, SC - After raising hopes during a recent run of five wins in six games, the Columbia Inferno returned to more familiar territory.

Troy Mann’s Jekyll and Hyde team dropped a 4-2 decision to the Charlotte Checkers Saturday night at the Carolina Coliseum to fall 13 points behind South Carolina and the Checkers in the race for the fifth and final playoff spot in the ECHL South Division at the midway point of the season.

The loss was the third in a row for Columbia (13-19-1-3, 30 points) and the second home loss in as many nights. The Inferno is 4-10-0-2 at home this season.

“There’s still a lot of hockey left, and we can make up ground pretty quickly if we start winning because most of our games are in the division,” Mann said.

“But, right now, that we’re back to where we were a few weeks ago, so it’s gut check time. .”

Two problems have resurfaced: a lack of scoring, especially on the power play, and erratic goaltending.

Columbia has scored five goals in the past three games. The Inferno failed to convert on the power play for the third consecutive game at home and has a .097 conversion rate at the Coliseum this season.

Goalie Robert Ghersonhas allowed 17 goals and is 0-3 against the Checkers this season.

The Inferno entered the third period trailing 2-1 and had a great chance to tie the score when Jeff Miles snapped off a wicked wrist shot from the left circle. The puck glanced off Checkers goalie Alex Westlund’s glove and hit the post.

Eleven seconds later at the other end, Hugh Jessiman’s shot from the left circle hit off Gherson’s glove and fell into the net.

“That goal just took the wind out of the guys’ sails,” said Mann.

Jeff Miles and Steve McJannet scored the Inferno goals.