Big things lie ahead for this Charlotte Checkers team who will finish out the regular season with six straight games in a row. With the magic number sitting at five, Charlotte’s playoff-clinching scenarios could be much more clear by Friday. Let’s jump into this week’s In The Trapezoid, we’ve got plenty to discuss!
Contests in the Keystone State
Here’s the Checkers’ upcoming schedule over the next two weeks, with their final six all coming from Pennsylvania - Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Friday in Hershey, Saturday in Lehigh Valley, Tuesday in Hershey, Friday in Lehigh Valley and Saturday in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.All-in-all, the Checkers have two games against the current first-place team in the division (Hershey), a long-shot playoff contender (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), and a team that very well could be the Checkers’ first-round opponent if they snag a spot in the postseason (Lehigh Valley). Currently on a long skid, the Checkers will learn a lot about themselves during this road trip. Nothing is more dangerous than a hot team going into the playoffs, and with the opportunity to bond on the road, this very well could be the spark that leads to a raging fire throughout the playoffs.
Overtime Opportunities
With two out of three games going into overtime against the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Checkers have now played in 19 games which went beyond regulation. This is the third most in the league behind only Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (22) and Rockford (24). The Checkers have won 11 games in OT this year, dropping their other 8. Going into the second half of the season, Charlotte fared pretty well in extra time, but as of late it’s been tough sledding as the Checkers have dropped their last three.Conacher Contributions
Veteran Cory Conacher signed a professional tryout with the Charlotte Checkers back on Feb. 22. The 12-year pro skated in two games for the Belleville Senators to start the year, but some health concerns wedged him out of a roster spot until he landed in the Queen City a few months later. Since joining the Checkers, Conacher has played in 10 games with two goals and two assists for four total points. At 33, Conacher is one of the older players on the Checkers, but when you look at the 30+ year-old players on this Checkers roster, all of them have been massive contributors in the recent going including Gerry Mayhew (30 years-old), J-F Berube (31), Anthony Bitetto (32), Dalpe (33), Nash (33) and Conacher.Senden’s Debut
Mark Senden accomplished something that all players dream of when making their professional debut - scoring a goal. Though the Checkers ultimately lost to Springfield in the game, Senden netted his first pro goal on a gutsy play late in the third. Sticking hard in the paint, Senden found the puck after it was ripped in by Santtu Kinnunen. Congratulations to the former University of North Dakota forward on his first pro goal and first pro point.New Faces
Speaking of new players, the Checkers have brought on a few new faces in the past couple weeks. As is customary in the NHL and AHL, once the collegiate and junior seasons come to a close for teams, players begin to search for a professional team to sign with. I thought this would be a great chance to clue you in on the new players and where they’ve come from.- Josh Davies - F - Swift Current Broncos (WHL): Davies, 19, is a physical forward known for his backchecking capabilities. Davies put up 34 points in 62 games played for the Broncos who finished just outside of the playoff picture in the WHL.
- Ryan McAllister - F - Western Michigan (NCAA): The sixth-ranked scorer in the nation, McAllister is a talented looking prospect. Not only did he lead the Broncos in scoring, he did it as a freshman. The London, Ontario, native played three years in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (Junior B), with the Brooks Bandits before trying his hand at the collegiate game.
- Mark Senden - F - North Dakota (NCAA): The captain of North Dakota for the past two years, Senden has already made his pro debut and scored his first pro goal. The Minnesota native played 170 games for the Fighting Hawks with 26 goals and 47 assists.
