Charlotte, NC.- After starting the season on the road, the Charlotte hockey team Checkers made their triumphant return to the Queen City over the weekend and earned a hard-fought victory against the Cleveland Monsters.
How’s his form, @CharlotteFC? 😂 pic.twitter.com/Lqe1gQkC9C
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) October 22, 2024
The Checkers put on a show for fans in the home opener, crushing the Monsters thanks to big nights from the trio of Kyle Criscuolo (four assists), Ryan McAllister (three assists) and Aidan McDonough (two goals) and a game stingy defensive backed by Chris Driedger.
The next night’s rematch had a markedly different feel, as the two teams spent most of the match locked in a low-scoring battle.
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Trailing by one goal and heading into the final two minutes of regulation, the Checkers got a decisive goal off a deflection by Matt Luff to tie the score and turn the tide in their favor, but Cleveland forward Trey Fix-Wolansky took a penalty just 16 seconds later and converted it to dash Charlotte’s comeback hopes and seal a Monsters victory.
As of Tuesday, Oct. 22, only three teams had a higher points percentage than the Checkers so far this season, who have a record of 3-1-0-0 for a .750 percent.
Through 14 seasons in the AHL, the Checkers have won three of their first four games of the season six times so far, with this campaign marking the second instance in recent seasons.
Accumulating goals
Charlotte’s offense is a huge catalyst for the team’s early success. The Checkers are tied for third in the AHL in goals per game and have reached the five-goal mark in two of their four games with all of their wins coming in games in which they scored at least three.
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That production promoted Charlotte’s entire lineup; In fact, 17 different players have recorded a point for the Checkers so far, a mark only one team in the AHL has eclipsed this season (San Jose has 19 players with a point).
