Ice cheX
10-05-2007, 11:24 AM
COMING OFF 42-27-3 SEASON
Talented roster means tough choices for Checkers (http://www.charlotte.com/checkers/story/306353.html)
Checkers open camp with strong core, young players who'll challenge
CLIFF MEHRTENS
cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com (cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com)
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<!-- Start: /pubsys/production/story/assets/story_link.comp -->Charlotte Checkers training camp roster (http://www.charlotte.com/sports/story/306352.html) <!-- End: /pubsys/production/story/assets/story_link.comp -->
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<!-- END /pubsys/production/story/story_assets.comp -->There are several familiar names among the Charlotte Checkers this season.
The twist? For the first time in coach Derek Wilkinson's four years, almost every roster spot is up for grabs.
Camp starts today at the Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail, with physicals and team meetings. The first practice will be at 9 a.m. Saturday.
"We really like what we have now," Wilkinson said. "We have a good core, guys who know the league, the city and know what our owner (Michael Kahn) expects. We also have a bunch of young kids who will challenge."
The Checkers were 42-27-3 last season, and reached the second round of the ECHL playoffs. Wilkinson said it's the deepest roster he's ever had, talentwise, heading into camp. The key will be making the right decisions on whom to keep.
Charlotte drew a lot of attention from offseason free agents who'd heard it was a good organization to play for, Wilkinson said. He also received eight New York Rangers prospects from Hartford, its American Hockey League affiliate.
Several players have committed to come to camp if they're released from other AHL camps, Wilkinson said.
Wingers Dusty Jamieson and Brandon Cullen, who missed almost all last season with injuries, are back. So are defensemen Kenny Smith, Kirk DeWaele and Kenton Smith, and forwards Lee Falardeau, Blake Bellefeuille and Nathan Gillies.
Jamieson has scored 122 goals, the second-most in team history. He had 24 or more for four straight seasons, but missed 54 games (of 72) last season.
"We have a great opportunity for some kids to make impressions," Wilkinson said. "For us as coaches, we realize there may be good players who may not stay with us."
Rangers prospects Chris Holt and Matt Zaba (a rookie) are the goaltenders. Holt is 31-29-3 in two seasons with the Checkers. Zaba was 15-13-12 with a 2.39 goals-against average at Colorado College last season.
Talented roster means tough choices for Checkers (http://www.charlotte.com/checkers/story/306353.html)
Checkers open camp with strong core, young players who'll challenge
CLIFF MEHRTENS
cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com (cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com)
<!-- START /pubsys/production/story/story_assets.comp --><SCRIPT language=Javascript>function PopupPic(sPicURL, sHeight, sWidth) { window.open( "http://media.charlotteobserver.com/static/popup.html?"+sPicURL, "", "resizable=1,HEIGHT=" +sHeight+ ",WIDTH=" +sWidth); }</SCRIPT>Related Content
<!-- Start: /pubsys/production/story/assets/story_link.comp -->Charlotte Checkers training camp roster (http://www.charlotte.com/sports/story/306352.html) <!-- End: /pubsys/production/story/assets/story_link.comp -->
<!-- no polls to display -->
<!-- END /pubsys/production/story/story_assets.comp -->There are several familiar names among the Charlotte Checkers this season.
The twist? For the first time in coach Derek Wilkinson's four years, almost every roster spot is up for grabs.
Camp starts today at the Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail, with physicals and team meetings. The first practice will be at 9 a.m. Saturday.
"We really like what we have now," Wilkinson said. "We have a good core, guys who know the league, the city and know what our owner (Michael Kahn) expects. We also have a bunch of young kids who will challenge."
The Checkers were 42-27-3 last season, and reached the second round of the ECHL playoffs. Wilkinson said it's the deepest roster he's ever had, talentwise, heading into camp. The key will be making the right decisions on whom to keep.
Charlotte drew a lot of attention from offseason free agents who'd heard it was a good organization to play for, Wilkinson said. He also received eight New York Rangers prospects from Hartford, its American Hockey League affiliate.
Several players have committed to come to camp if they're released from other AHL camps, Wilkinson said.
Wingers Dusty Jamieson and Brandon Cullen, who missed almost all last season with injuries, are back. So are defensemen Kenny Smith, Kirk DeWaele and Kenton Smith, and forwards Lee Falardeau, Blake Bellefeuille and Nathan Gillies.
Jamieson has scored 122 goals, the second-most in team history. He had 24 or more for four straight seasons, but missed 54 games (of 72) last season.
"We have a great opportunity for some kids to make impressions," Wilkinson said. "For us as coaches, we realize there may be good players who may not stay with us."
Rangers prospects Chris Holt and Matt Zaba (a rookie) are the goaltenders. Holt is 31-29-3 in two seasons with the Checkers. Zaba was 15-13-12 with a 2.39 goals-against average at Colorado College last season.