Affiliate Report - December 2023

Details
Throughout this season we’re going to check in on how the Florida Panthers are doing, how former Checkers are helping them and how various alumni are faring around the world with the Affiliate Report - presented by Eastway Regional Recreation Center!

PANTHERS

20-12-2, 2nd in Atlantic Division

The Panthers have navigated through their fair share of ups and downs through the month of December thus far. The highlight was a three-game winning streak early in the month, which was unfortunately followed by a stretch in which the Cats lost three of their next four contests - including getting shut out in back-to-back road contests. The Panthers were able to steer out of that skid, however, and pulled off an enormous win over the defending champion Golden Knights to head into the holiday break on a high note. After a quick three-day pause, Florida kept that momentum rolling in its return to the ice by besting the Lightning on their own ice Wednesday night to remain in a battle for the top of the Atlantic Division.

CHECKERS MAKING AN IMPACT

  • Will Lockwood was called up in mid-December and has been a mainstay in the lineup since, bringing his season total up to 12 games with the Panthers

PROSPECTS

  • Kai Schwindt has four points in 11 games since returning to the OHL and joining the Sarnia Sting
  • Schwindt is playing alongside Panthers fifth-round Sandis Vilmanis, who ranks second on the Sting in scoring and is currently representing Latvia at the 2024 World Junior Championship
  • Also at World Juniors is defenseman Marek Alscher - a third-round pick of Florida's playing for Portland in the WHL and representing his home country of Czechia

ALUMNI

  • Joey Daccord picked up his first NHL shutout on Dec. 12 - unfortunately against the Panthers :(
  • Daccord also earned a spot in the franchise record book
  • Five former Checkers are currently playing at the annual Spengler Cup tournament in Switzerland - Josh Jooris for Team Canada and Michael Fora, Klas Dahlbeck, Joakim Nordstrom and Tomas Jurco for HC Davos.