During the season, Checkers broadcaster Jason Shaya checks in each week with his 10 Thoughts - a series of observations about the team and the hockey world in general.
1. Trevor Carrick, in an effort to facilitate some momentum for Carolina against the Islanders, stepped up and fought one of the biggest players in the league on Saturday, Ross Johnston. During the intermission break, Carrick was interviewed by the great Mike Maniscalco and nearly the entire Checkers team, which had just finished a home game, stopped and watched him talk. It's pretty clear that Carrick's teammates love him and he's one of the veterans who help create a great atmosphere with Charlotte.
2. One of the toughest men in the history of hockey was Bob Probert. He was the first person I ever got an autograph from when I was probably 10 years old. His life story was a roller-coaster and it's being told in a new documentary. In an era of fighters, he was the undisputed heavyweight champ and both Chicago and Detroit fans fell in love with this man. I wish he was still around today. Watch the trailer here.
3. Referee Beau Halkidis was signed to an NHL contract this past summer after ascending the pro ranks rather quickly. The son of former NHL tough guy Bobby Halkidis, Beau grew up in Charlotte where he played his youth hockey. I've watched Beau ref several Checkers games the past few seasons, including playoff games, and he is clearly one of the best referees in the league. His games are always called fairly and efficiently. Which brings me to the overtime against Belleville on Wednesday last week when the Checkers were given a penalty for delay of game because the referee (not Beau), after little or no discussion, felt the team took too long to put the correct players on the ice following an icing. First of all, I have never seen that penalty called, let alone in overtime. That kind of shoddy and inconceivable judgment by an official makes a mockery of the game by taking the outcome away from the players and putting it into the hands of a referee. It's hard to find good officials and we need more referees like Beau calling games in every league.
4. After going a few weeks without putting up points with the Hurricanes, Warren Foegele found himself back on the top line with Jordan Staal and captain Justin Williams. Foegele took the puck to the net, created havoc on the forecheck and even baited goaltender Carey Price into checking him (how that wasn't a penalty call, I'm not sure). But, it looked more like the Foegele we saw in training camp and the early part of the season. If he continues to move in that direction, he will find himself generating offense again soon.
5. Last week, the Checkers returned home from a long 10-day trip to jump back onto the ice in a game two nights later against Belleville. It was one of the worst performances of the season and it was in stark contrast to the comeback 6-5 overtime victory against Wilkes-Barre just one game earlier. Head coach Mike Vellucci took his team leaders into a room and told them the loss and the effort was totally unacceptable. The consequences of another performance like that would fall on their shoulders. The following night, Charlotte won a comeback game in one of the most memorable regular season performances ever played at home. Vellucci has said often that he will tolerate mistakes but never a lack of effort. That win last Tuesday spoke volumes about why this team is currently on top of the AHL standings.
6. Since Vellucci moved Martin Necas to the right wing he's scored four goals in five games, including two game winners. Necas seems liberated on the wing with the ability to use his speed and shot more effectively. Vellucci says a player is best suited to stay in the lineup when he can play all three forward positions. Eventually Necas will move to the middle, but at this point, he is playing to his strengths and looks like a new player. Also, we can't forget to mention that in the last few weeks, Aleksi Saarela is playing his best hockey this season. Scoring five goals in his last five games, he's also had some great assists this season as he rounds out his game. When Saarela is confident and his shot is on net, it's only luck when a goalie can get in front of it.
7. Faceoff statistics: Greg McKegg and Clark Bishop are well above 50 percent in the faceoff department all season with Charlotte. Their ability to win key faceoffs all year has been something that isn't talked about much but is a major part of winning games. Before Necas moved to the wing he was winning draws at over 53 percent.
8. I talked to a scout after he watched Saturday's win against Laval. His words to me, "I'd have Clark Bishop on my team any day."
9. The Philadelphia Flyers, near the cellar of the Eastern Conference and recognizing their market share was dropping to other Philadelphia teams, decided they had to make a move to put the team in a better position. While larger corporations and bureaucracies are often weighed down by indecisiveness and lack of market signals, a sports team doesn't have the luxury of ambiguity. The results are there for all to see after every single game (note: I wrote a wonderful book on the purity of sports in the marketplace that no one wanted to publish). Nevertheless, the Flyers are an example of the need to move forward or to desperately languish at a financial peril. Answers were demanded from a very fervent fan base and the correct reaction was to give them what they wanted: change. The results of the new direction, once in place, will be there for all to see, and onward this thing of ours goes.
10. Jake Bean made his NHL debut last night in Montreal and one of his biggest supporters was also amongst the happiest for Jake. Checkers assistant coach Ryan Warsofsky was very bullish on Bean early this season even when things weren't going as well as many hoped. Warsofksy, who has received glowing praise by Vellucci, told me weeks ago he believed Jake would round into form as an NHL defenseman in time. Congratulations to Jake and his family for a moment I am sure he won't forget.
Charlotte goes back to a three games in a three days routine starting on Friday in Providence. The pregame show for Friday night begins at 6:50 with a 7:05 puck drop inside the Dunkin' Donuts Center which is also the single worst broadcast position in the entire league.
