Charlotte.com: Charlotte Checkers

Checkers might add more NHL ties

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:00 EDT

The Charlotte Checkers are considering expanding their NHL affiliations.

The primary affiliation will remain with the New York Rangers, but Checkers general manager/coach Derek Wilkinson said he's been approached by three other NHL teams.

In previous seasons, Charlotte has had an occasional player or two with an NHL affiliation, more on a situational basis.

A new affiliation would add more players.

“The number would be significant enough to do an affiliation,” Wilkinson said. “We're contemplating it.”

The positives would be quality prospects, whose salaries wouldn't count against the ECHL salary cap.

“We'd be gaining guys we couldn't get otherwise,” Wilkinson said. “The downside is you could get hurt with call-ups. … A good thing is the three teams that have called have worked in this league (ECHL) before, so they know the situation.”

Notes

Defenseman Kenton Smith, an alternate captain last season, signed with the Manchester Phoenix in England's Elite Ice Hockey League.

Smith, 27, has played eight pro seasons, including five with Charlotte. He played all 72 games the past three seasons, and in 2005-06 had career-highs in goals (10), assists (27) and penalty minutes (133).

“Obviously it's a hit for us,” Wilkinson said, “but we can't compete with the money they're offering some of the guys to go over there to play. We're happy for him.”

Charlotte re-signed defenseman Kenny Smith, 26, who played 53 games last season. Smith, a Harvard graduate, also had brief stints with the Providence Bruins and Springfield Falcons in the American Hockey League.

The ECHL's South Division will shrink to six teams (from nine) next season, with Augusta, Charlotte, Florida, Gwinnett, Mississippi and South Carolina.

Gone are the Texas Wildcatters (moved to Ontario, Calif.), the Columbia Inferno (voluntarily suspended because it has no arena lease) and the Pensacola Ice Pilots (folded).

The division's top four teams will make the playoffs.

Checkers will start season on the road

Mon, 05 May 2008 09:32 EDT

The Charlotte Checkers will be tested on the road early next season.

The ECHL team, beginning its 16th season, will open with six road games Oct. 17-26. The home opener will be Nov. 1 at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Home games will begin at the same times as last season -- 7 p.m. on weeknights, 7:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 4 on Sundays.

Eight of Charlotte's first 10 games will be on the road.

The Checkers were 34-31-7 last season, and eliminated by the Gwinnett Gladiators in the first round of the playoffs.

A handful of the games likely will be moved when the NBA schedule is released this summer. The Checkers share the arena with the Charlotte Bobcats, who get first choice when playing dates conflict.

"Once again, as in seasons past, there will likely be date changes once the NBA schedule is released later this summer," Checkers President Jeff Longo said. "However, we are excited to have a base of dates that we can start working with to plan for next season."

CHECKERS 2008-09 SCHEDULE

(HOME GAMES IN CAPS)

OCT. -- 17: at Florida; 18: at Florida; 21: at South Carolina; 24: at Mississippi; 25: at Mississippi; 26: at Mississippi.

NOV. -- 1: FLORIDA; 6: SOUTH CAROLINA; 7: at South Carolina; 8: at Augusta; 13: SOUTH CAROLINA; 14: PENSACOLA; 15: SOUTH CAROLINA; 20: MISSISSIPPI; 21: PENSACOLA; 22: FLORIDA; 25: at Augusta; 26; at South Carolina; 28: AUGUSTA; 29: at Augusta.

DEC. -- 3: PENSACOLA; 5: SOUTH CAROLINA; 7: at Gwinnett; 10: at Cincinnati; 12: at Dayton; 13: at Cincinnati; 14: at Dayton; 17: ELMIRA; 19: MISSISSIPPI; 20: GWINNETT; 26: at Augusta; 27: MISSISSIPPI; 31: at Florida.

JAN. -- 2: at Florida; 3: at Florida; 8: at Gwinnett; 9: GWINNETT; 10; SOUTH CAROLINA; 13: AUGUSTA; 16: at Pensacola; 17: at Pensacola; 18: at Pensacola; 23: AUGUSTA; 24: AUGUSTA; 26: at Pensacola; 27: at Pensacola; 30: at Gwinnett; 31: at South Carolina.

FEB. -- 6: at Augusta; 7: FLORIDA; 8: FLORIDA; 13: at Mississippi; 14: at Mississippi; 15: at Gwinnett; 21: GWINNETT; 22: AUGUSTA; 27: at Augusta; 28: at South Carolina.

MARCH -- 1: MISSISSIPPI; 4: TRENTON; 6: AUGUSTA; 7: PENSACOLA; 8: TRENTON; 12: SOUTH CAROLINA; 13: GWINNETT; 15: at Gwinnett; 20: FLORIDA; 21: at South Carolina; 26: MISSISSIPPI; 27: PENSACOLA; 28: MISSISSIPPI.

APRIL -- 3: GWINNETT.

Checkers assistant steps down

Mon, 05 May 2008 09:33 EDT

Allan Egeland left the Charlotte Checkers on Monday after four seasons as assistant coach.

Egeland, 35, also played two seasons with the ECHL team (2002-04), capping an 11-year professional career. He was a former minor-league teammate of Checkers coach/general manager Derek Wilkinson.

"We wish Allan and his family all the best in their future endeavors," Wilkinson said. "He was certainly a tremendous asset to our organization."

The Checkers won't fill Egeland's position. He will pursue other options in hockey, the team announced.

• Trainer Dennis Brogna announced his retirement from hockey, after one season in Charlotte.